IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
READ, FOLLOW, HEED, AND KEEP ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS. WE MAY COME TO YOUR
HOUSE FOR VERIFICATION.
• DO NOT REMOVE SCREWS ON BOTTOM OF UNIT. LETHAL VOLTAGES LURK INSIDE. BOO!
CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER FOR SERVICE INFORMATION. SERVICE MUST BE PERFORMED BY
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL, NOT YOUR COUSIN WHO WIRED YOUR BASEMENT.
• THIS AMPLIFIER IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HIGH SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS. YEAH! CONTINUED
EXPOSURE TO HIGH SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS CAN CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING IMPAIRMENT OR
LOSS. WHAT? USER CAUTION IS ADVISED AND EAR PROTECTION IS RECOMMENDED IF UNIT IS
OPERATED AT HIGH VOLUME, WHICH OF COURSE IT SHOULD BE.
• WHEN POWERED ON, THE TUBES MAY BECOME VERY HOT, HOT ENOUGH TO BURN SKIN ON
CONTACT. SO DON’T TOUCH ‘EM. AND KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS.
• DO NOT OPERATE WITHOUT SPEAKER OR OTHER SUITABLE LOAD CONNECTED TO THE SPEAKER
JACK, AS DAMAGE TO THE AMPLIFIER AND YOUR REPUTATION MAY RESULT.
• DO NOT OPERATE NEAR ANY HEAT SOURCE, ESPECIALLY A SWEATY ONE.
• DO NOT OPERATE WITH VENTILATION OPENING(S) COVERED, AS THIS MAY OVERHEAT THE
AMPLIFIER. DUH.
• DO NOT USE NEAR SPLASHING, FALLING, SPRAYING, OR STANDING LIQUIDS. AND DON’T EVER
LET SOME FOOL SET HIS DRINK ON YOUR RIG.
• CLEAN ONLY WITH A LINT-FREE DRY CLOTH. DO NOT USE CLEANING AGENTS. WHO CLEANS THEIR
AMP, ANYWAY?
• CONNECT POWER CORD ONLY TO A POLARIZED, SAFETY GROUNDED OUTLET WIRED TO CURRENT
ELECTRICAL CODES AND COMPATIBLE WITH VOLTAGE, POWER, AND FREQUENCY REQUIREMENTS
STATED ON THE APPLIANCE. THIS MEANS YOU.
• PROTECT THE POWER CORD FROM DAMAGE DUE TO BEING WALKED ON, PINCHED OR STRAINED.
IF YOU SMELL AN ELECTRICITY LEAK, CALL THE AUTHORITIES IMMEDIATELY.
• UNPLUG THE APPARATUS DURING LIGHTNING STORMS, WHEN NOT IS USE OR FOR LATE-NIGHT
SILENT OPERATION.
• REPLACE FUSE WITH CORRECT TYPE AND RATING AS INDICATED IN THIS MANUAL AND ON THE
APPLIANCE. DO NOT STUFF WITH FOIL FROM YOUR CHEWING GUM.
• ONLY USE ATTACHMENTS, ACCESSORIES, STANDS OR BRACKETS SPECIFIED BY THE
MANUFACTURER FOR SAFE OPERATION AND TO AVOID INJURY TO YOU AND MEMBERS OF THE
AUDIENCE.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Tube placement, left to right (facing front of chassis):
V5 V4 V V2 V1
GZ 4 5881 5881 6SL7 6SL7
Your amplifier is hard-wired for the correct line voltage for your region. The following data is for
120VAC line voltage.
Power: 120VAC, 60Hz, 1A
Fuse: 2A Slow Blow, Type AG, 1/4” x 1-1/4”
When replacing power tubes, always replace with a matched pair. It is not necessary to set the
bias.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS AND FEATURES, Right to Left
INPUT Standard 1/4” guitar input jack.
DRIVE Sets the amount of gain in the preamp section. DRIVE incorporates an original BC Audio
circuit that allows for a very wide range of rich clean to thick overdriven sounds. At low settings,
the amp produces a nice, full clean sound. As you turn up DRIVE, the bass becomes increasingly
tighter.
VOLUME Sets the overall loudness of the amplifier. At high VOLUME settings, the power tubes can
be overdriven, adding even more rich harmonic complexity to the sound.
PRESENCE This control works in the amp’s power section to adjust the amp’s overall brilliance.
SPEAKER (on ea panel of A8HB and A8C) Standard 1/4” speaker output jack. Always use speaker
cables - NOT guitar cables - to connect speaker cabinets, or damage to the amplifier may occur. Do
not operate the amplifier without a speaker or suitable load connected, as this can cause damage
to the amplifier.
FOOTSWITCH (A8HB and A8C only) If ordered with optional Gain Mod, the included footswitch
plugs into this jack.
POWER/STANDBY Amplifier No.8 is equipped with a combination Power/Standby switch. To turn
on the amp, move the POWER switch to the center STBY (Standby) position to allow the tubes to
warm up. After a half-minute or so, flip the switch up to the ON position. To turn the amp off,
simply flip the switch all the way down to OFF. There’s no need to put it in Standby when shutting
down.
Powe Indicato Illuminates when POWER is set to ON.
Mains Input (on ea panel of A8HB and A8C) Standard IEC power inlet. Always use a proper
grounded power cable. Your amplifier shipped with a Hospital Grade cable for reliability.
FUSE (on top of chassis of A8, on eal panel of A8HB and A8C) Replace with same type and rating
only.
