BC Audio Grand Prix 100 User manual

LIMITED WARRANTY
BC Audio warrants this product against defects in materials and workmanship for ONE (1) YEAR
from date of original retail purchase (30 days for tubes). BC Audio reserves the right, before having
any obligation under this limited warranty, to inspect the damaged product, and all costs of
shipping the product to BC Audio for inspection shall be borne solely by the purchaser. In order to
recover under this limited warranty, Purchaser must make claim to BC Audio within 30 days of
occurrence, and must present acceptable proof of original ownership (such as original receipt) for
the product. BC Audio, at its option, shall repair or replace the defective unit covered by this
warranty.
This limited warranty does not cover any damage to this product that results from improper
installation, accident, abuse, misuse, neglect, natural disaster, insufficient or excessive electrical
supply, abnormal mechanical or environmental conditions, or any unauthorized disassembly,
repair, or modification. This limited warranty also does not apply to any product on which the
original identification information has been altered, obliterated or removed, has not been handled
or packaged correctly, has been sold as second-hand or has been resold contrary to the US export
regulations.
This limited warranty covers only repair or replacement of defective BC Audio products, as
provided above. In the event of a claim, BC Audio's sole obligation shall be replacement of the
product.
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
EXCEPT FOR THE LIMITED WARRANTY PROVIDED HEREIN, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, BC
AUDIO DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ALL WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES MAY NONETHELESS EXIST BY OPERATION OF LAW, ANY SUCH WARRANTIES
ARE LIMITED TO THE DURATION OF THIS WARRANTY. SOME STATES/PROVINCES DO NOT ALLOW
LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY
NOT APPLY TO YOU.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THIS PRODUCT, AS PROVIDED HEREIN, IS YOUR EXCLUSIVE REMEDY.
BC AUDIO SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROPERTY DAMAGE, LOST REVENUES, LOST PROFITS, RENTAL
OF REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT, DOWNTIME, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, AND THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS,
ARISING OUT OF ANY THEORY OF RECOVERY, INCLUDING WARRANTY, CONTRACT, STATUTORY OR
TORT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TERM OF ANY LIMITED WARRANTY OR ANY WARRANTY IMPLIED
BY LAW, OR IN THE EVENT THAT ANY LIMITED WARRANTY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE, IN NO
EVENT WILL BC AUDIO'S ENTIRE LIABILITY EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THIS PRODUCT. SOME
STATES/PROVINCES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS
THAT VARY FROM STATE TO STATE AND PROVINCE TO PROVINCE.
©2017 Bruce Clement, BC Audio, San Francisco
Other copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
www.bcaudio.com
bc audio hand-made all-tube non-clone guitar amps
OWNER’S MANUAL
Model GP100
The Grand Prix 100 Dual Power Guitar Amplifier features two channels, two modes per channel, 3-
band EQ, Presence & Depth controls and an effects loop – plus a revolutionary Dual Power
footswitch-activated function that gives the performing guitarist the power to step out in front of
the mix for solos. The amp utilizes Octal preamp tubes and true point-to-point wiring. Construction
is heavy-duty, meant for real-world use and abuse. Made with the highest quality components and
USA iron.
I sincerely hope you enjoy playing your new Grand Prix 100 as much as I enjoyed building it.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Tube placement, left to right (facing the rear):
V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7
6SL7 6SL7 6SL7 EL34 EL34 EL34 EL34
Your amplifier is hard-wired for the correct line voltage for your region. The following data is for
120VAC line voltage.
Power: 120VAC, 60Hz, 3A
Mains Fuse: 4A Slow Blow, Type 3AG, 1/4” x 1-1/4”
H.T. Fuse: 1A, Type 3AG, 1/4” x 1-1/4”
When replacing power tubes, always replace with a matched quad and have the bias checked and
adjusted by a qualified professional. For detailed information on setting the bias, have your amp
technician contact BC Audio.

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.
CHANNEL MODES
CHANNEL 1 - CLEAN: Rich, full-bodied cleans, with warmth and chime. Breaks up nicely at higher
settings. Perfect for jazz, blues, country or as a pedal platform.
CHANNEL 1 - CRUNCH: Thick, classic-flavored overdrive, highly responsive to your touch. A solid
rock sound, with great harmonic overtones.
CHANNEL 2 - VINTAGE: Mid-focused high gain. Cuts through the mix with a singing sustain. A great
voice for solos.
CHANNEL 2 - MODERN: Tons of gain, nicely saturated, a huge but tight bottom end. A modern
heavy sound, highly touch-sensitive, with clarity and girth.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS AND FEATURES, Right to Left
INPUT Standard 1/4” guitar input jack.
CHANNEL 1 &2 GAIN and Mode Switches See channel descriptions, above.
BASS, MID & TREBLE Tone-shaping controls, shared by both channels.
CHANNEL 1 & 2 VOLUME and Channel Indicator Post-effects loop Master Volumes. When the LED
is lit, Channel 2 is active; when not lit, Channel 1 is active.
PRESENCE & DEPTH These controls works in the amp’s power section to adjust the amp’s overall
brilliance and low-end thump, respectively. You may hear some scratchiness when rotating
PRESENCE and DEPTH. This is normal.
Dual Power Mode Indicator Footswitch controlled. When lit, amp is in 100w mode (4 power tubes
active); when not lit, amp is in 50w mode (2 power tubes active).
POWER, STANDBY & Indicator When powering up, switch POWER to ON while leaving STANDBY
in the OFF position to allow the tubes to warm up. After a half-minute or so, flip STANDBY up to the
ON position. To turn the amp off, simply flip both switches down to OFF. There’s no need to put the
amp in standby mode when shutting down.
REAR PANEL CONTROLS AND FEATURES, Left to Right
FOOT SWITCH Standard 1/4” jack for the included foot switch. Right switch = Gain Boost, left
switch = Volume Boost.
Effects Loop SEND and RETURN Jacks Designed for use with guitar pedals. The Send signal is
always present, even when the RETURN jack is not in use.
IMPEDANCE Matches the amplifier’s output impedance to your speaker cabinet(s).
SPEAKER Two standard 1/4” speaker output jacks. 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.
Fuses Replace with same type and rating only. The MAINS fuse is on the main power input to the
amplifier. The HT or High Tension fuse is on the B+ plate voltage supply.
Mains Input Standard IEC power inlet. Always use a proper grounded power cable. Your amplifier
shipped with a Hospital Grade cable for reliability.