Carstens Amplification Warm Machine User manual

Warm Machine Owner's Manual
Congratulations on buying a Carstens Amplification™ Warm Machine amplifier! This
amp was hand-built with a lot of care and pride by Brian M. Carstens. If you have any
questions, or comments please feel free to contact me, Brian M. Carstens at
[e-mail]
Performance
It is recommended that when turning the Warm Machine on to flip the Power switch
On (down position). Wait 30-60 seconds for the power tubes to warm up. Then flip
the Standby switch On (down position).
The Warm Machine is quite a versatile amplifier. It incorporates a Master Volume
circuit that allows you to achieve a very power tube-like overdrive at low volumes.
You may notice that the higher the Preamp Volume is set the warmer the tone. Yet,
even with the Preamp Volume set high the amp still has great clarity and note
separation.
Setting the Master Volume all the way up essentially takes the Master Volume out of
the amps circuit. This setting will make the amplifier behave like a non-master volume
amp and result in a clear, more transparent response with higher clean headroom.
The Boost switch enhances the amount of gain in the early stages of the preamp. It is
also a boost to the lower midrange frequencies.
The Warm Machine was meticulously designed with selected Mercury Magnetics
transformers and a hard-wired Mercury Magnetics audio-grade AC power cord.

Warranty
If you are having any trouble with your Carstens Amplification™ product I want to
know. My goal is to help get your product back into the best shape possible, so an
open and fair dialog is the best first step.
Carstens Amplification, LLC warranties all of its products under a Limited Lifetime
Warranty against workmanship, or defect. This warranty is valid only to the original
owner and is therefore, non-transferrable.
Any modifications done to the Warm Machine will void the warranty, unless
authorized, or performed by Carstens Amplification, LLC.
Tubes are covered under a 30 day warranty.
The Mercury Magnetics transformers hold a 10 year warranty.
Cosmetic wear, wear and tear and/or misuse are not covered under warranty.
* ALWAYS OPERATE THE WARM MACHINE AMPLIFIER WITH SPEAKER
ATTACHED!
Failing to do this could result in transformer failure and will void the warranty. It is
necessary to operate this amplifier using a speaker cable.
* POWER THE WARM MACHINE WITH 120VAC ONLY *
* USE SPECIAL CARE TO NEVER TURN THE BIAS POT UNINTENTIONALLY,
OR WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT IT DOES. THIS COULD CAUSE POWER TUBE
FAILURE AND/OR AMP FAILURE *
!
*Biasing of the power tubes should be performed by a professional amp technician.
There are bias test points located on the rear of the chassis. Using a multimeter, simply
measure millivolts between the black center test point to each of the red test points
individually. Adjust the bias by slowly turning the bias pot located on top of the
chassis near the front control panel. Recommended setting for EL34’s is 30-34
millivolts.
*USE SPECIAL CARE TO NEVER TURN THE BIAS POT UNINTENTIONALLY, OR
WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT IT DOES. THIS COULD CAUSE POWER TUBE FAILURE
AND/OR AMP FAILURE*
!