Bones TWIN-CITY AB/Y User manual
True to the Music TWIN-CITY AB/Y
OWNER’S MANUAL
Radial Engineering Ltd.
Part # R800 7115
Bones Twin-City AB/Y
FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS
1. IN: 1/4" input jack for your guitar.
2. DRAG™: Reintroduces the natural loading that occurs
between your amplifier and the guitars pickups. Start
with DRAG set to 12 o’clock. Use your guitar pick like
a screwdriver to move the control until it sounds right to you.
3. OUT-A: 1/4” jack connects to amp-A. For safe operation always connect
to a properly grounded guitar amp equipped with a 3-prong A/C power
cord. See the warning on the other side of this manual.
4. OUT-B: 1/4” jack connects to amp-B. This output is transformer isolated
to eliminate hum and buzz caused by ground loops.
5. PSU: Connection for 9-12 volt DC (center pin negative ).
6. A/B STATUS LED: Two LED status indicators display the active amp while
in single output mode.
7. TOGGLE: Footswitch selects between amp-A or amp-B while operating
in single-amp mode.
8. BOTH: Footswitch activates both amps.An LED status indicator illuminates
when dual-amp mode is active.
9. LIFT: Disconnects ground at OUT-B to further reduce noise.
10. 180°: Polarity reverse switch inverts the signal phase of OUT-B to ensure
amps are in-phase and their speakers are moving in the same direction.
CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of the Bones Twin-City AB/Y amp
switcher. The Twin-City is an active switcher that enables you to connect two
amps and switch between them or drive them both simultaneously without
degrading your natural guitar tone in any way. In our view, changing the tone
of a ’57 Strat is not an option!
The Twin-City buffer lowers the output impedance and susceptibility to in-
terference allowing you to drive long cables without tone loss or noise. Drag
Control™ is a recessed “set-and-forget” control that lets you compensate
for cable signal loss and introduce the perfect load to replicate the way
your guitar’s pickups naturally interact with your amp. Advanced Electronic
Impulse Switching (EIS) is 100% noiseless and free from popping noises
produced by mechanical switches.
To eliminate ground loops that cause hum and buzz the Twin-City is
equipped with an isolation transformer on OUT-B. This output is further
augmented with a ground lift switch and 180º polarity reverse switch that
ensures both amplifiers play in phase while noise is reduced to an absolute
minimum even when using older amps that are prone to noise.
Bright, easy to see LEDs deliver on-stage switching cues so you know ex-
actly what your amp status is at all times. The Twin-City is a powerful ABY
switcher that delivers all of the natural tone, punch and clarity without the
inducing noise of any kind.
POWERING THE TWIN-CITY
Bones pedals require an external power adapter that outputs 9 to 12 volts
DC with a 2.1mm barrel jack wired center pin negative . Bones
pedals will draw a max of 100mA. Possible damage may occur if another
type of power adapter is used. Consult your dealer for more information.
CONNECTIONS AND SETUP
Before you begin, turn your guitar amplifiers OFF. Connect the power supply
adaptor. An LED illuminates indicating the pedal is powered up and ready
for use.
Connect your guitar to the IN jack.
Connect OUT-A to your “A” amplifier.
Connect OUT-B to your “B” amplifier.
Always test your connections with your amps
set at a low volume level. Turn your amps on.
If no sound is heard check the guitar and
power connections.
Activate amp-A by depressing the TOGGLE
footswitch (LED A on). Adjust your amp to a
comfortable volume for playing. Depress the
TOGGLE footswitch again and set up amp-B.
Next, perform a polarity test to ensure the
loudspeakers in both amps are moving in the
same direction. With both amps active and set
to equal volume flip the 180° switch to adjust
the polarity of OUT-B. Listen to the sound at
both positions and choose the one that sounds
the fullest.
Finally, if you notice hum or buzz, try lifting the ground by sliding the LIFT
switch. Use the position that produces the least noise and your ready to rock.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Drag Control™?
Drag Control is a unique proprietary load correction circuit that we employ inside select Radial, Bones and Tonebone
products to emulate the same input impedance and capacitance of a typical amp. When a guitar is connected directly
to an amplifier, the two devices interact as part of a closed circuit. When an active buffer is placed in between they can
sometimes sound bright or sterile. Drag Control counters this effect by reintroducing the load as if you were connected
directly to your amp.
What does the 180° polarity switch for OUT-B do?
The 180º polarity reverse allows you to correctly line up the phase of the amplifiers that you are using. If the amps are
out of phase the speaker cone(s) on one amp will be pushing out while the other amp will be pulling in. This causes the
sound to cancel out when both amps are active and reduces the lows end producing a hollow sound. It’s a good idea to
set both amps at an equal volume and test the system with the 180° switch in both positions.
Can I use a tuner with the Twin-City instead of a second amp?
Yes. Connect your amp to OUT-A and your tuner to OUT-B. By depressing the TOGGLE footswitch you can switch to
“silent” tuning mode. Depressing the BOTH footswitch will allow your tuner to see signal all the time for tuning on the fly.
Can the Twin-City be used to switch between 2 guitars instead of 2 amplifiers?
No. Because it is an active buffered pedal signal will flow one way, from input to output. You could however use the
Radial BigShot i/o.
Can the Twin-City switch between input channels on my amplifier?
Yes. This lets you use one channel for rhythm and the other for lead.
Why can’t the Texas be powered by a battery?
It’s because of the class-A topology. Class-A circuits sound best but are power hungry and will drain a battery in no time.
Bones require a 9-12 volts DC adapter with a 2.1mm barrel plug wired center pin negative. The Bones draw 100mA of
current to operate. Your adapter can be rated higher, for example 500mA, but not lower.
I hear a high frequency “whine”. What causes this and how do I get rid of it?
Most likely this is caused by the power adapter you are using. Some switching type power adapters can make noise that
bleeds into the guitar signal. If you encounter high frequency noise try a different adapter. We recommend standard linear
adapters although we have successfully tested the Bones with both types.
Radial Bones Twin-City Users Manual v1.0-Nov. 2008 • Part #: R870 1227 00 • © 2008 All rights reserved • Subject to change without notice.
www.radialeng.com
Radial Engineering Ltd. • 1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam, BC Canada V3C 5M5
RADIAL LIMITED THREE YEAR TRANSFERABLE WARRANTY
Radial Engineering Ltd. warrants this product to be free from defects in material and workmanship and will remedy any such
defects free of charge according to the terms of this warranty. Radial Engineering will repair or replace at its option any defec-
tive component(s) of this product, excluding the finish, the footswitch (tubes and footswitches are warranted for 90 days) and
wear and tear from normal use, for a period of three (3) years from the original date of purchase. In the event that a particular
product is no longer available, Radial Engineering reserves the right to replace the product with a similar product of equal or
greater value. In the unlikely event that a defect is uncovered, please call 1-800-942-1001 or email [email protected]
to obtain an RA number (Return Authorization number) before the 3 year warranty period expires. Once you have obtained
an RA number you must return the product, freight prepaid, within fifteen (15) days after the date the RA number is issued. To
make a request or claim under this limited warranty, the product must be returned prepaid in the original shipping container (or
equivalent) to Radial Engineering or to an authorized repair centre and you must assume the risk of loss or damage. A copy
of the original invoice showing date of purchase and the dealer name must accompany any request for work to be performed
under this limited warranty. This limited warranty shall not apply if the product has been damaged due to abuse, misuse,
misapplication, accident or as a result of service or modification by any other than an authorized repair centre.
THERE ARE NO EXPRESSED WARRANTIES OTHER THAN THOSE ON THE FACE HEREOF AND DESCRIBED ABOVE.
NO WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRAN-
TIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE SHALL EXTEND BEYOND THE RESPEC-
TIVE WARRANTY PERIOD DESCRIBED ABOVE OF THREE YEARS. RADIAL ENGINEERING SHALL NOT BE RESPON-
SIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS ARISING FROM THE
USE OF THIS PRODUCT. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER
RIGHTS, WHICH MAY VARY DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHERE THE PRODUCT WAS PURCHASED.
DECLARATION
OF CONFORMITY
Radial Engineering Ltd. declares that
this product conforms to the following
specifications:
Safety: IEC 60065 (1998), EMC: EN
55013 (1990), EN 55020 (1991)
Supplementary information: The
product herewith complies with the
requirements of the Low Voltage Direc-
tive 72/23/EEC and the EMC Directive
89/336/EEC as amended by Directive
93/68/EEC.
WARNING
Read Before Connecting
Only connect electrical equipment that
is properly grounded with a 3-prong
AC plug. Older amps with 2-prong
plugs should be serviced before using
them with any amp switcher. An im-
properly grounded amp can be a very
dangerous thing and never should be
used in multi-amp setups.
Radial Engineering takes no re-
sponsibility for how the Twin-City is
connected or used. It is the user’s full
responsibility to ensure that proper
electrical connections are main-
tained on all equipment connected to
the Twin-City and that proper building
electrical codes have been followed
wherever the Twin-City is used.
Note that damage to the Twin-City or
other connected equipment caused
by improper wiring or improperly
grounded equipment is not covered
under the warranty.
