Hartke Acr5 User manual

Owner's Manual

ACR5 Acoustic Guitar Amplifier

Important Safety Information

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK)

AS THERE ARE NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED

SERVICE PERSONNEL.

This lightning ﬂash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle

is intended to alert the user to the presence of non-insulated “dangerous

voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufﬁcient magni-

tude to constitute a risk of electric shock.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert

the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance in-

structions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

ATTENTION

RISQUE DE CHOC ÉLECTRONIQUE -

NE PAS OUVRIR

FCC Notice

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two

conditions: (1)this device may not cause harmful interference,and (2)this device must accept any

interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Changes or modiﬁcations not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void

the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital

device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable

protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,

uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with

the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no

guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause

harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the

equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of

the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is

connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

CAUTION

To prevent electric shock hazard, do not connect to mains power supply

while grille is removed.

Samson Technologies Corp.

45 Gilpin Avenue

Hauppauge, New York 11788-8816

Phone: 1-800-3-SAMSON (1-800-372-6766)

Fax: 631-784-2201

www.samsontech.com

ACR5 Acoustic Guitar Ampliﬁer 3

1. Read these instructions.

2. Keep these instructions.

3. Heed all warnings.

4. Follow all instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with dry cloth.

7. Do not block any ventilation openings.

Install in accordance with the manufactur-

er’s instructions.

8. Do not install near any heat sources such

as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or

other apparatus (including ampliﬁers) that

produce heat.

9. The apparatus shall be connected to a

mains socket outlet with a protective

earthing connection.

10. The mains plug or an appliance coupler is

used as the disconnect device, the discon-

nect device shall remain readily operable.

11. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the

polarized or grounding type plug. A polar-

ized plug has two blades with one wider

than the other. A grounding type plug has

two blades and a third grounding prong.

The wide blade or the third prong are pro-

vided for your safety. If the provided plug

does not ﬁt into your outlet, consult an

electrician for replacement of the obsolete

outlet.

12. Protect the power cord from being walked

on or pinched particularly at the plugs,

convenience receptacles, and at the point

where they exit from the apparatus.

13. Only use attachments/accessories speci-

ﬁed by the manufacturer.

14. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod,

bracket, or table speciﬁed by the manu-

facturer, or sold with the

apparatus. When a cart is

used, use caution when

moving the cart/appara-

tus combination to avoid

injury from tip-over.

15. Unplug the apparatus during lightening

storms or when unused for long periods

of time.

16. Refer all servicing to qualiﬁed personnel.

Service is required when the apparatus has

been damaged in any way, such as power

supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has

been spilled or objects have fallen into

the apparatus has been exposed to rain

or moisture, does not operate normally, or

has been dropped.

17. This appliance shall not be exposed to

dripping or splashing water and that no

object ﬁlled with liquid such as vases shall

be placed on the apparatus.

18. Caution-to prevent electrical shock, match

wide blade plug wide slot fully insert.

19. Please keep a good ventilation environ-

ment around the entire unit.

20. To prevent injury, this apparatus must be

securely attached to the stand in accor-

dance with the installation instructions.

21. WARNING: The battery (battery or batter-

ies or battery pack) shall not be exposed

to excessive heat such as sunshine, ﬁre or

the like.

22. CAUTION: Danger of explosion if battery is

incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the

same or equivalent type.

Important Safety Information

If you want to dispose this product, do not mix it with general household waste. There is a

separate collection system for used electronic products in accordance with legislation that

requires proper treatment, recovery and recycling.

Private household in the 28 member states of the EU, in Switzerland and Norway may

return their used electronic products free of charge to designated collection facilities or to a retailer

(if you purchase a similar new one).

For Countries not mentioned above, please contact your local authorities for a correct method of

disposal.

By doing so you will ensure that your disposed product undergoes the necessary treatment, recovery

and recycling and thus prevent potential negative effects on the environment and human health.

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the Hartke ACR5 Acoustic Guitar Ampliﬁer.

The Hartke ACR5 series faithfully reproduces the natural sound of the any

acoustic instrument, while providing versatility for practice and performance. The

ACR5 is a lightweight combo featuring a 50 watt power ampliﬁer section with a

6.5” woofer and 1” soft dome tweeter. The ACR5 has two independent channels,

each with a 3-band EQ, independent reverb and chorus controls, for connecting

acoustic electric instruments, microphones or line level devices. Additionally,

the ACR5 has a variable notch ﬁlter to help reduce feedback, a built-in tuner,

and an XLR direct out to connect to the front of house for larger performances.

The ACR5 is the perfect solution for electric acoustic guitars, and also, for multi

instrumentalists who play electric violin, mandolin, Dobro and other acoustic

electric instruments too. While the ACR5 is packed with all the features

demanded by the most discerning acoustic artists, what makes the ampliﬁer

special is the unmatched sonic performance. The result is sound reproduction

that is totally true to the sound of the instrument it is amplifying. Simply put, the

amp sound like your instrument, only louder.

In these pages, you’ll ﬁnd a description of the many features of your ACR5

Acoustic Guitar Ampliﬁer, instructions for setting up and using the amp, plus

full speciﬁcations. If you purchased the ampliﬁer in the United States you will

also ﬁnd a warranty card enclosed—please follow the instructions so that you can

receive technical support and so we can send you updated information about this

and other Hartke products in the future. Also, be sure to check out our website

(www.hartke.com) for complete information about our full product line.

We recommend you keep the following records for reference, as well as a copy

of your sales receipt.

Serial number: ____________________________________________

Date of purchase: __________________________________________

Dealer name: _____________________________________________

With proper care and maintenance, your ACR5 Acoustic Guitar Ampliﬁer will

operate trouble-free for many years. Should the product ever require servicing, a

Return Authorization (RA) number must be obtained before shipping your unit to

Samson. Without this number, the unit will not be accepted. Please call Samson

at 1-800-3SAMSON for an RA number prior to shipping your unit. Please retain

the original packing materials and, if possible, return the unit in its original

carton. If your ACR5 was purchased outside of the United States, contact your

local distributor for warranty details and service information.

ACR5 Acoustic Guitar Ampliﬁer 5

Features

The Hartke ACR5 Acoustic Guitar Ampliﬁer employs the

most advanced electronic and speaker design concepts in

acoustic instrument ampliﬁcation. Here are some of their

main features:

• Lightweight acoustic guitar ampliﬁer that weighs just

under 25lb

• 50 watts of power

• 6.5” woofer with butyl surround and 1” soft dome

tweeter

• Dual-channel design ideal for singer-

songwriters

• 3-band EQ with chorus and reverb

effects on each channel

• Variable Notch ﬁlter for feedback

control

• Contour EQ circuit for using the

ACR5 with electric guitars and basses

• Balanced XLR direct output for recording 1/4” (Guitar) and XLR/1/4” (Mic/

Line) combo inputs

• Stereo 1/4” and 1/8” Aux inputs for line level devices1/4” headphone output

• Chromatic tuner mutes the outputs for silent tuning

• Footswitch jack for controlling the reverb and chorus effects

• Molded strap carry handle

ACR5 Callouts

1. GUITAR INPUT - 1/4” phone jack for connecting instruments with passive or active

pickups.

2. Guitar VOLUME - Control knob is used to control the overall level of the GUITAR

INPUT channel.

3. MIC/LINE IN - XLR+1/4” combo input connector for connecting a low impedance

microphone or line level device.

4. MIC/LINE VOLUME - Control knob is used to control the overall level of the MIC/LINE

IN channel.

5. CONTOUR Switch - Pressing this switch engages a mid scoop curve to the Guitar

channel which makes the ampliﬁer sound more natural when plugging an electric

instrument to the ACR5, or allows an acoustic guitar to cut through the mix by

suppressing the mids and accentuating the highs.

6. BASS Control - This control is used to adjust the low frequency response. As it is

turned clockwise the frequency area is boosted; as it is turned counterclockwise the

frequency area is attenuated.

7. MID Control - This control is used to adjust the mid frequency response.

8. TREBLE Control - This control is used to adjust the high frequency response. As it is

turned clockwise the frequency area is boosted; as it is turned counterclockwise the

frequency area is attenuated.

9. CHORUS Send - Control knob used to set the amount of chorus effect on a channel

that is mixed with the channel’s input signal. As the control is rotated clockwise,

the amount of the effect is increased.

1 2

3 4

5 6 7 8

6 7 8 9 10

910 13

12 16

22 23 24 25

TOP PANEL

REAR PANEL

ACR5 Acoustic Guitar Ampliﬁer 7

ACR5 Callouts

10. REVERB Send - Control knob used to set the amount of reverb effect on a channel

that is mixed with the channel’s input signal. As the control is rotated clockwise,

the amount of the effect is increased.

11. TUNER - Chromatic tuner for tuning your instrument connected to the GUITAR IN-

PUT channel. When the tuner is engaged, all of the outputs are muted.

12. Tuner ON/OFF Button - Press and hold to activate the tuner. A short press with turn

the tuner off and pass signal to the ACR5 outputs.

13. NOTCH Switch - Pressing this switch engages the Notch Filter.

14. SWEEP - Used to set the center frequency for the Notch Filter.

15. Headphone Output - Connect any standard headphones to this 1/4” jack. When a

plug is inserted into the headphone jack, the speaker output is disconnected, allow-

ing you to use your ACR5 as a practice ampliﬁer. The level of the signal sent to the

headphones is determined by the setting of the VOLUME knob.

Note: Because the ampliﬁer is capable of generating extremely high headphone

signal levels, always start with the Volume knob at minimum and then slowly turn it

up.

16. MASTER Volume - Control knob used to control the overall level of the ACR5.

17. Power Indicator - This red LED illuminates when the ACR5 is powered on.

18. AC Inlet - Attach the grounded AC power cord here to connect your ampliﬁer to

mains power. This cord comes supplied with the appropriate plug for your geograph-

ic area.

CAUTION: Do not use an adapter to defeat the third grounding pin on this plug or

severe electric shock may result!

19. Fuse Holder - The fuse holder comes from the factory with the appropriately rated

fuse for your model. If you need to change this fuse for any reason, replace it with

one that has the same exact rating.

20. Voltage Selection Switch - This switch is used to select the ampliﬁers operating

voltage

NOTE: Before using your speaker, be sure the voltage selection switch is set to

the correct voltage for your country. Be sure to install the properly rated fuse when

changing the operating voltage.

21. Power Switch - Use this to power the ampliﬁer on or off.

22. FOOTSWITCH Jack - Connect a two button momentary footswitch to switch the reverb

and chorus effects on and off. The tip controls the reverb effect and the ring con-

trols the chorus effect.

23. 1/4” Line Input - 1/4” input for connecting an external line level signal like that from

a Drum Machine, CD or MP3 player.

24. 1/8” Line Input - 1/8” input for connecting an external line level signal like that from

a Drum Machine, CD or MP3 player.

25. DI OUT - This connector carries the Balanced signal from the ACR5’s main output

and can be used to connect to the input of a PA mixer.

Quick Start

Here are some basic steps for setting up and get started playing your Hartke

ACR5 Acoustic Guitar Ampliﬁer. Setting up your ampliﬁer is a simple procedure

which takes only a few minutes:

1. Remove all packing materials (save them in case of need for future service)

and decide where the ampliﬁer is to be physically placed. To avoid potential

overheating problems, be sure that the rear panel is unobstructed and that

there is good ventilation around the entire unit.

2. Connect the 3-pin AC plug into any grounded AC socket. Don’t turn the

ampliﬁer on just yet, though.

3. Use a standard 1/4” instrument cable to connect your acoustic guitar, or

other electric acoustic instrument to the GUITAR Input jack on the top panel.

4. Before turning the ampliﬁer on turn, set the ACR5 controls to the default

setting for getting good sound quickly. On the Guitar Input channel set the

VOLUME knob to the nine o’clock position and set BASS, MID and TREBLE

controls to the twelve o’clock position. On the MIC/LINE IN channel, set the

GAIN knob to the fully counter-clockwise position. Set the MASTER volume

control to the fully counterclockwise position.

5. Press the rear panel POWER switch to the ON position in order to turn on

the ampliﬁer.

6. Set the output of your acoustic to about 3/4’s the way up and then, while

playing, slowly turn the master VOLUME control up until the desired level

is achieved. If you hear distortion even at low MASTER volume settings,

back off the output of your acoustic guitar (or check for a faulty cable).

Note: As a “rule of thumb”, always try to keep the MASTER volume control

to a higher setting than the input channel VOLUME controls in order to get

the cleanest output.

7. For tonal control, the ACR5 features BASS, MID and TREBLE equalizer

controls. The BASS control is a shelving EQ, affecting low frequencies

around 80Hz, is used to ﬁll out the sound of guitar when playing solo or

thin it up when playing with an ensemble. The MID control is a peaking

EQ, affecting frequencies around 1.8kHz, which when boosted can help

the guitar to cut through to the front of the mix. The TREBLE control is a

shelving EQ affecting high frequencies around 15kHz, which can bring out

the air or sparkle of the guitar. Setting the BASS, MID and TREBLE knobs to

the twelve o’clock position produces a ﬂat frequency response.

8. You can add a splash of chorus or gallons of lush reverb to either input

channel using the ACR5’s on-board, 24-bit digital effects, by rotating the

CHORUS and REVERB send knobs on each input channel clockwise.

ACR5 Acoustic Guitar Ampliﬁer 9

Quick Start

Using the Mic Input

The second channel includes an XLR microphone input that you can use for

miking your acoustic instrument, or for connecting a low impedance vocal

microphone. The ACR5 is great for using as a small PA or can make a great vocal

monitor thanks to the ﬂat and natural response of its built-in speaker system.

Follow these steps for connecting a microphone to the ACR5:

1. Start by turning the MASTER volume all the way down. Connect a low

impedance microphone to the MIC/LINE IN jack with a standard XLR mic.

2. Next, raise the MASTER volume to the 12 o’clock position.

3. Now, slowly raise the microphone channel VOLUME control until you add the

desired amount of the microphone with your acoustic guitar. Keep in mind

that you may need to adjust the acoustic guitar and microphone VOLUME

controls to get the best blend between the two channels.

4. For tonal control, the ACR5 features BASS, MID and TREBLE equalizer