Harley Benton GA 15 User manual

Owner‘s Manual
All Tube Guitar Combo Amp
GA 15

2
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of our guitar combo amp. With your GA 15
you can easily perform your music with great tone. Despite its compact
dimensions, this model reects vintage amp design and our unwavering
commitment to high quality.
The Harley Benton GA 15 provides Class AB tube amplication. Its engineering
philosophies represent a great deal of high quality and ease of operation while
maintaining exibility in tone. The GA 15 maintains a simple overall architecture
inspired by classic amplier design and crafting but is further enhanced by
modern techniques.
XPower: 15 watt, class AB
X3 band EQ, volume control
X1 x 10” speaker
XConnections: Line out, effects loop, speaker out, (4, 8, 16 ohm), head phones
XTubes: 2 x 12AX7 (preamp), 2 x EL84 (power amp)
To achieve the best performance and safety operation, you should read all of
this manual before using it in a live situation.
Safety instructions
For your own safety you must read this section in full rst!
Risk of electrical shock.
• Connect the device only to a properly wired and earthed electrical wall
socket providing the mains voltage indicated on the rear panel.
• NEVER operate the device if the power plug or the power cord is damaged.
• NEVER submerse the device in water. Wipe it only with a slightly damp
cloth. Liquid getting into the amp will risk a short circuit and will be
hazardous.
• NEVER expose the device to direct precipitation or moisture and never use it
in a damp or wet environment.
• Ensure that the power cord does not become wet during operation.
• Do not subject the amp to high temperatures, direct sunlight, severe
vibrations, shocks or tremors, or excessive dust.
• You must NEVER open the housing of the device or try to repair it. There are
no user serviceable parts inside. Warranty will become void if you open the
housing.
• Do not place objects containing uids, e.g. ower vases or beer bottles, on
or near the device.

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• Notice regarding power disconnection
To completely disconnect the device from the mains power source the power
plug must be removed from the power socket. For this reason the device
must be placed in a position where a constant unobstructed access to the
power socket is assured, thus in an emergency situation you are able to
immediately pull out the power plug. To eliminate the risk of re you should
completely disconnect the power plug from the power socket when the
device is not going to be used.
• Always grasp the power cord by the plug. Do not pull on the cord itself and
never touch the power cord with wet hands as this could result in a short
circuit or an electrical shock. Do not place the device, speaker cabinets or
anything else on the power cord and make sure that it does not become
clamped. Place the power cord in a position where it can not be trod on.
A damaged power cord can cause a re or an electrical shock. Check
the power cord from time to time. Should it become damaged contact our
customer service centre to have it replaced.
• Never manipulate the power cord of the plug. If a power cord is provided
with an earth lead, this is mandatory to ensure safe operation!
 Riskofre!
• NEVER leave the device unattended while it is switched on.
• Never cover the ventilation slots of the device while it is switched on. Avoid
placing this device in locations that provide insufcient ventilation or hot
locations and do not place the device in direct sunlight or under strong
articial light sources. Otherwise, it may overheat and become irreparably
damaged.
• Do not place any open sources of re, like candles, on the device.
• When a thunderstorm with the risk of lightening threatens please disconnect
the device from the mains power.
 Riskofpersonalinjury!
• Keep the power cable and device away from children. Children frequently
underestimate the dangers of electrical equipment.
• Ensure a safe location for the device.
• Do not operate the device if it has sustained a fall or is damaged. Arrange for
the device to be checked and/or repaired by qualied technicians.
• Important! Keep sufcient distance from the device when operated
with high volume level. Listening to music with high sound pressure
level may cause permanent damage to your hearing!
 Riskofdamage!
• Valve amps like GA 15 must never be operated without a proper speaker
load. The actual impedance of the connected speaker load must exactly
match the chosen speaker out socket (4, 8, or 16 ohm). Otherwise the
amplier will be seriously damaged.

4
Control elements
Front panel
q INPUT connect your guitar here
wBASS EQ bass control
e MIDDLE EQ mids control
rTREBLE EQ treble control
t VOLUME to control the volume of the amp
y PHONES to connect headphones (not supplied)
uSTANDBY Standby switch
i POWER to switch the amp on or off
Rear panel
oAC AC socket. Connect the power cord here.
aSEND Send connector of the effects loop. Here you
connect the input of an external effects unit.
s RETURN Return connector of the effects loop. Here you
connect the output of an external effects unit.
d LINE OUT Signal output with line level.
f SPEAKER 4|8|16 OHM Speaker output. Connect the built-in speaker to
the 8 ohm socket or connect an external speaker
box with 4, 8, or 16 ohm impedance to the
respective socket.
You must never operate this amplier without a
proper speaker load! Otherwise you risk a serious
damage of the unit.

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Connecting the amp
Mains voltage
Please ensure that your local area’s mains power voltage matches the mains
voltage indication on the unit’s rear label before you connect the unit to an AC
mains power outlet! If in doubt ask a technician.
Mains connection
Use the mains cable enclosed to connect the unit’s AC socket oon the rear
panel to a properly wired and earthed IEC power socket.
Input, Headphones
Plug a guitar into the INPUT socket q. Use the PHONES socket yto connect
headphones with a 1/4” plug. This disconnects the speaker outputs f.
Effects Send/Return
Use these sockets a& s to bring an external effects device into the signal
path of the amp. The effects loop on these ampliers is a Serial loop, i.e. the
effects signal is not mixed to the dry signal, it replaces the dry signal. This is
especially suitable for connecting sound processors like e.g. a compressor.
If you want to connect a reverb unit or the like, you might nd the amount of
effects signal coming out of the speaker to big. Then please reduce the mix
ratio between dry and wet signal on the effects device.
Line Out
Use this output d to connect a power amp, if you need even more power to
play your venue.
Operating the amp
Switching on / off
Make sure, that a proper speaker load is connected, then press on the upper
part of the POWER switch i, to switch the unit on. Press on the lower part of
the POWER switch i, to switch the unit off.
To disconnect the unit from the mains, disconnect the power plug from the
socket.
Standby
Most tube amps have a standby switch, that cuts the internal high voltage from
the valves, but not the heating voltage. During breaks or in order to preheat
the amp you should put the STANDBY switch u into the OFF position with the
POWER switched on. This will increase the lifetime of the tubes.

6
Volume & EQ
Turn the VOLUME control t to set the desired volume. Use the EQ controls w
erto shape the sound.
Technical specifications
Output Power 15 W
Circuitry design class AB power amp
Tubes 2 x 12AX7, 2 x EL84
Speaker 10” - 8 ohm
Power consumption 80W
Dimension (W x D x H) 425 x 390 x 255 mm
Weight 15.7 kg
As we continuously strive to improve our products, all specications and
appearance are subject to change without prior notice.

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Disposal
Do not dispose of the device at the end of its operating life in your
normal domestic waste. This device is subject to the European
Guidelines 2002/96/EC.
• Have the product disposed of by a professional disposal company of by
your communal disposal facility.
• Observe the currently applicable regulations. In case of doubt contact your
disposal facility.
• Dispose of packaging materials in an environmentally responsible
manner.

© 2010
Musikhaus Thomann e. K.
Treppendorf 30 • 96138 Burgebrach
Germany • www.thomann.de