Effectrode Fire Bottle FB-1A User manual

Specifications
• Input impedance:Greater than 1M
• Outputimpedance: Less than 1K
• Controls: Tone and Boost
• Features: Variable resonance switch
• All tube: Based on N.O.S.mil-spec
subminiaturetriode tube operatingin class-A
• Gain: Continuously variable from 0dB (unity
buffer) to a huge 30dB
• True bypass: With ‘anti-pop’ or ‘thump’ foot-
switching circuitry
• Power requirements: 12VDC@ 600mA-
Centre positive 2.1mm barrel connector
• Dimensions: Width 4.75"; Depth 3.75"
• Weight: 12oz (onEarth); 2oz (the Moon)
• Construction:Solid die-castaluminum box
• Finish: Tough Ferrari-red powder coat
Serial #
Copyright © 2017 Effectrode®Thermionic
12 Broughton Crescent, Barlaston,
Staffs,England. ST129DB
www.effectrode.com
FB-1A

Introduction
Thankyoufor purchasingthe Fire Bottle™ model
FB-1A.This uniquebooster pedal featuresanall-
tube signal path,modified ‘Harvard’ style tone
control andselectable input impedancespecially
designedto enhancethetoneof magnetic guitar
pickups. TheFB-1A canimprove clarity for abigger,
bolder tone or fatten up the soundof asingle coil
pickup togive it thecharacteristic warmth of a
humbucker pickup.Gain is continuously variable
from 0dB(unity) to ahuge30dBallowing the Fire
Bottle tooperateasanaudiophile unity gain buffer,
clean boost or push a tube amp into overdrive.
The FB-1Aisdesigned for flexibility,simplicity and
outstanding soundquality.Audiophile grade
components andsilver solderare used throughout
the circuit with precision metal-film resistors for low-
noiseandstability,polyester coupling capacitorsfor
theirability to resolve finesignal detailandground-
plane layout. Theresult is an outstandingbooster
pedal that exhibits alevel of purity and natural tone
not foundin solid-state germanium or silicon
designs.
Thankyoufor trusting Effectrode tobeyoureffects
company.Wewishyou manyyears ofmusical
enjoyment from this hand-built, all-tubepedal.
Phil Taylor – Designer
Tubes
The FB-1Asignal pathis basedon
aN.O.S. Sylvania mil-spec 6112
subminiaturetwin triodetube.
Raytheon (meaning,“light of the
Gods”) developedsubminiature
tubesfor military applicationsin the
1950s.The 6112 tubeis
manufactured to meet stringentMil-
E-1 specificationfor reliability and
designedfor long service life under
conditionsof severe shock,
vibration (20,000G!), high
temperature andhighaltitude.
Subminiaturetubesrepresent thepinnacle of tube
technologyandoffer moreconsistent musical
performance than early germanium transistors.

The figureaboveshows the equivalent circuit for a
magnetic guitar pickup.The resonant frequencyof
the pickup isdeterminedbythe inductanceL(in
moststockpickups, between1and10 Henries)and
the capacitance C.Cis the windingcapacitanceof
the pickup coil(approximately 80 -200ρF)plusthe
cable capacitance(about 500-1000ρF).
Capacitancevaries betweendifferent cable
manufacturersand lengths, altering theresonant
frequency and hence, the toneof a given pickup.
Controls
Boost knob controls the level ofthe Fire Bottle’s tube
gain stage,whichis electrically identical to the vintage
Fender®amp input stages. Rotating it clockwiseadds
gain ranging from 0dB(unity tubebuffer) to a
substantial 30dB.Electric guitar players canutilise the
Fire Bottle asatool to add "punch"to solosor push a
tube ampinto creamyoverdrive.Additionally,acoustic
guitarists, bassists, NSand Chapman Stickplayers
canaddsomesubtlevolume lift (3 to6dB)and
warmth for soloing. This audiophile quality boost pedal
canaddclarity and definition tomanyinstruments and
other audio sources.Studio engineerscan take
advantageof the warm and natural boostcapability to
augmenttherecording levelsof various instruments
and microphones.
Tone knob canbeusedto tailor the character and
bodyofthesignal.Thetone control is based on the
classic 1940s Fender®’Harvard’ tube amp tonecircuit,
which controls the critical frequenciesfor electric
guitar and is avery usable control.Additionally an
internal trimpot allows further adjustment of filter ‘Q’ to
balance high andlow frequencies so thattheFB-1A
integrates into practically anyamp/guitar rig.
Vari-Z toggle switch alters theinput characteristicsof
the tube gain stage.The Fire Bottle should be placed
first in the signal chain toallow theinput circuitry to
interact with the guitar magnetic pickup.

The Vari-Z switchis designedespecially to work with
single coilpickups of the typeinstalled in Stratocaster™
or Telecaster™ guitars. With the switchin the‘centre’
position theresonant peak isunaffected.Inthe‘down’
position theresonant peak dropsdownabout 2KHz
giving single coilpickupsawarmer tone similar to a
vintage humbucker.Inthe ‘up’ position the resonant
peakdropsevenfurther down(around4KHz)creating a
much fuller and fatter sound.
Footswitch allowsselection betweeneffectified
(compressed) andnon-effectified (dry) signal.Silent
true bypassswitching ensuresthere areno‘pops’ or
‘thump’ whenengaging the effect and that there is
absolutelynolossof tone fromyourguitar to youramp
whentheeffect isdisengaged.Additionally,thetube
signal path in this pedal is built to demandingaudiophile
specification toensure hi-fidelity and signal integrityat
alltimes -thebenefit that yourguitar tonealways
remains pure and intact.
TheoryofOperation
The Fire Bottle is atool that canbeusedto tailor the
resonantfrequency,gain andtoneof amagnetic pickup
to alter thefundamental timbreor character of an
electric guitar.Theresonant frequencydetermineshow
fat or thin the soundis -alower frequencysoundsfatter
and ahigher frequencysoundsthinner.The resonant
peakdeterminesthecharacter ofthesound.Ahigher
peaksoundsmore ‘edgy’ andalower peak sounds
smoother.For example,Stratocaster™ single coil
pickupshaveabright soundbecause oftheirhigh
resonantfrequencywith ahighpeak. Les Paul™
humbucker pickups have amellower,warmer tone
becausetheresonant frequency islower withamore
dampedpeakbecause of the increases coil resistance.
The resonant frequencyof most magnetic pickupsin
conjunction withatypical guitar cable lies between2to
5KHz. The human ear is mostsensitive tofrequencies
in this region.Subjectively,boostingfrequenciesin the
2KHzregion soundwarm andmellow; at 3KHzhave
more presence and at 5KHzmore brittle and thin.The
height of the peakalso alters the quality of thesound -
ahigh peak producesa“lively” sound,whereasalow
peakproducesaweaker sound.Theresonantpeak
amplitudes of mostmagnetic pickupsrange between0
to 12dB,being dependentonthecompositionof the
magnetic material in the coil,external resistive load and
metal case shield.