Komet Concorde User manual

Komet Concorde Owner’s Manual

consent from Ri erfront Music, L.L.C. d.b.a. KometAmplification.

Tube Placement and Installation Instructions

Please read the last paragraph from the section: TUBE CHOICES FOR

THE KOMET AMPLIFIER before you install your amplifier’s tubes.

Note: The power tube bias on your Komet amplifier is set here at our shop before

the amplifier is packaged and shipped. You can begin to play your amplifier as

soon as you install the three pre amp tubes, the two power tubes, and the rectifier

tube. You can easily check the mV ( milli olt ) bias status with a digital multimeter

meter with an mV setting. Please carefully re iew the section " Biasing The Komet

Amplifier " for the biasing procedure and details. The amplifier should read

anywhere from 28mV to 30mV, depending on your AC wall oltage.

Carefully un-screw the six insertion screws from back panel, then remo e back

panel evenly with both hands.

You are now looking at the back of your amplifier. Obser e the tube placement.

There are six tube sockets in total. Starting from the left, the first three tube

sockets, ( V1, V2 and V3 ), are nine pin, miniature pre amp tube types. The last

three sockets, ( V4, V5 ), are 8 pin octal types.

Each tube enclosed is labeled with a number for the tube’s required placement

within the amp.

V1, V2 and V3 are 12AX7 pre amp tubes.

V4 and V5 are matched Winged “ C “ JSC S etlana EL 34 power tubes.

Please note that each tube‘s pin configuration must be properly and perfectly

aligned with the tube socket for installation. Gently install each tube in the correc-

corresponding tube socket.

NEVER - force a tube into a socket.

Please ha e a qualified technician install the tubes if you are not comfortable with

this procedure.

Note: “ V “ stands for “ valve “, - term as used in England for audio tubes.

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PRECAUTIONS

TUBES ARE H T ! Make sure you allow the tubes in your amplifier to cool down before

handling them. They are also made of glass and can easily break. Wear safety glo es and

goggles when handling audio tubes.

ALWAYS: operate the KometConcorde with the correct tube types listed in this owner’s

manual.

ALWAYS: make certain that your AC power cable is unplugged when replacing any fuse.

NEVER: replace the Mains or H.T. fuse with a higher rated fuse! This will most certainly cause

se ere damage to your amplifier.

NEVER: use a shielded guitar or instrument cable as a speaker cable connection.

NEVER: operate any amp without a speaker load connected to the output jack(s).

ALWAYS: use a three pronged, grounded power cable and only plug into a properly grounded

outlet. Failure to do so may result in injury or death.

D N T PEN UP THE AMPLIFIER ! There are no user ser iceable parts inside. There are

lethal oltages present e en when unplugged.

ALWAYS UN-PLUG Y UR AMPLIFER WHEN Y U ARE D NE ! This is to protect

your amplifier from surges in electrical power, or transient oltage. The standard American

home oltage is 120 Volts. Anything o er this amount is considered transient and can damage

electronic de ices that are plugged into an AC outlet. E en though power surges are so brief that

they are measured in nanoseconds, they can cause considerable damage to electronic equipment.

Electrical surges can damage equipment by burning or fusing internal wires or by gradually, o er

time, wearing down the de ice’s internal components. The best way to prevent damage is to

unplug your amplifier when not in use.

N TE: De ices such as refrigerators and air conditioners require large amounts of energy to

switch motors and compressors on and off. Such de ices can create surges in power that disrupt

the steady flow of line oltage. Lightning, faulty wiring, downed power lines and faulty

equipment at the power source ( utility company ) can all cause power surges as well.

ALWAYS: keep your amplifier and / or speaker cabinet in a climate controlled setting. Failure

to do so can be problematic. The tolex on your amplifier head box cabinet can shift and shrink in

the Summer, especially if you lea e your amplifier for an extended time in a sun heated car,

trunk, trailer, or an extremely hot and un-air conditioned room. This is due to the glue used to

apply the tolex to the wooden head box cabinet. The glue will become slightly molten from the

excessi e heat which will make the tolex mo able and shrink. Excessi e heat can only cause

this tolex situation and this is not co ered under your Komet warranty.

consent from Ri erfront Music, L.L.C. d.b.a. KometAmplification.

Thank you for purchasing a Trainwreck EngineeredTM KometTM Amplifier.

The Komet Concorde is a straightforward and easy to operate amplifier. This manual is

intended to help you “ get to know “ your Komet amplifier, and make use of the many different

sounds which it is capable of.

FRONT CONTROL PANEL LAYOUT ( left to right ):

1. Power Switch: engages the wall AC / power to the amplifier.

2. Standby Switch: allow the amplifier to warm up for 60 seconds before engaging the

standby switch to the play position. This action will allow for all of the tubes to heat up

to the proper oltage required for operation and will help prolong their lifespan.

3. Pilot Light: illuminates when power switch is placed in the “ N ” position. The pilot

light is a type # 47 ( 6.3 Volt ) light bulb. ( See troubleshooting section for bulb replacement

information ).

4. Hi-Cut: this control allows shaping of the treble response in the power amp. For

players who prefer a darker tone, the only option with most amplifiers, is to roll down

the treble control. The treble control is passi e ( reduces a portion of the signal ), so the

result is a loss of gain, and “muddy” distortion. The Hi-Cut feature allows the Komet

owner to set the preamp EQ for the right balance. Then you can darken or brighten the

o erall tone using the Hi-Cut control without changing the basic EQ setting.

5. Presence Control: affects the highest frequencies in the output stage. It is normal to

hear a “scratchy” sound when turning it the Presence control. This is due to this

amplifier’s particular circuit design.

6. Bass Control: controls the low end range bass frequencies.

7. Midrange Control: controls midrange frequencies.

8. Treble Control: controls high end range treble frequencies.

9. Volume Control: controls o erall olume and gain of the amplifier.

10. Input Jack: accepts standard ¼ inch plug. Input impedance is 1 Megohm.

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BACK CONTROL PANEL LAYOUT ( left to right ):

1. AC Input Jack: This IEC jack accepts standard DIN AC power cable. All Komet

amplifiers can be modified to run on either 120V or 240V. Please inquire with Komet

Amplification for AC con ersion information.

2. Mains Fuse: 3 Amp " slow-blow " fuse ( a.k.a. MDL 3A)( size: ¼ inch by 1 and 1/4 inch )

on 120V model, 2 Amp slow-blow fuse on 240V model. CAUTI N: ALWAYS MAKE

SURE Y UR AMPLIFIER AC CABLE IS UN-PLUGGED BEF RE REPLACING A

FUSE.

3. H.T. ( High Tension ) fuse: ¾ Amp or 750mA ( a.k.a. AGC 750 mA ) a.k.a.“ fast acting “

fuse ( size: ¼ inch by 1 and 1/4 inch ). If the high oltage H.T. fuse repeatedly fails in your

Komet, replace the fuse and replace the power tubes with a new set. Make sure your

bias is properly set. Your amp may need ser icing by an authorized technician if the

problem persists. CAUTI N: NEVER REPLACE ANY FUSE WITH A HIGHER

RATED FUSE. This will most certainly cause se ere damage to your amplifier.

4. Bias Test Points ( V1, Ground, V2 ): See “ Biasing The KometAmplifier ”. You will

need a digital multimeter with an mV ( milli olt ) setting.

5. utput Impedance Selector: set this selector according to the appropriate speaker

impedance you are using. 4, 8, and 16 Ohm settings are a ailable.

6. utput Jacks: standard ¼ inch speaker jacks, which accommodate any quality

standard speaker cable. Note: ne er use a shielded guitar cable as a speaker cable. You

can se erely damage an amplifier.

7. T UCH RESP NSE: A circuit in ented by Ken Fischer of Trainwreck



 Circuits.

The following is Ken Fischer’s own description:

“ THE TRAINWRECK



 T UCH RESP NSE CIRCUIT “ 

Introducing TRAINWRECK’S proprietary T UCH RESP NSE CIRCUIT for guitar

amplifiers. This TRAINWRECK ENGINEERED circuit enables the musician to alter the touch

response characteristics of their amplifier to suit their playing style. A simple flick of a switch

lets you choose between a gradual or fast response to your picking dynamics and guitar’s olume

control settings. The T UCH RESP NSE CIRCUIT is not an extra gain stage or gain boost

circuit. Instead it works by magnifying subtle changes in pick or finger attack along with subtle

changes in guitar olume. This circuit allows a clean player to run the full range of dynamics

without breaking into unwanted distortion. A blues player can play on the edge of distortion

easily going from clean to blues o erdri e using pick attack as the controlling factor. An o er

the top player can go from clean to scorch using the fast setting. The slightest change in pick

attack or guitar olume setting will translate to huge changes in dynamics and power. To sum it

up, the T UCH RESP NSE CIRCUIT lets you choose the response and feel you want and

makes your amplifier capable of playing e ery style of music.

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Note: if you are using effects pedals with your Komet, you may want to experiment with the

two different Touch Response settings to see which one works best with your particular pedal

of choice. Please note: when you flip the Touch Response switch with the standby switch in

the “ PLAY ” position, you will hear a slight “ thump “ coming from the speakers. This is

normal and not indicati e of a problem. Engage the “ STAND BY “ switch before changing the

Touch Response  switch setting if you would prefer not to hear the thump sound.

Note: be aware that the tone controls on all Komet models are passi e, but ery powerful. If

you come across a set of parameters, which does not work well with your guitar / speaker

combination, simply change the settings, and a oid that particular setup in the future.

BIASING THE KOMET60 AMPLIFIER

You will find the Bias Probe Test Points on the Back panel of the amplifier. They are labeled

V1 ( red ), Ground ( black ), and V2 ( red ). These jacks will accept a standard digital multi-

meter’s red and black probe tips. V1 is for measuring the bias current draw of the left power

tube, V2 is for measuring the right power tube. Remo e the back panel. ( see instructions on last

page ) On top of the amplifier’s chassis, close to the power tubes, you will find the bias

adjustment control dial. This sil er colored, hand turned de ice controls a 10-turn, precision

potentiometer. You will notice that there is a counter ring on the bottom of the bias dial. This

ring automatically turns one digit for e ery 360 degree rotation of the dial. Please be cautious

of the hot power tubes nearby when operating this control.

Note: the bias control has a small brake lever to lock the dial. This is to pre ent the dial from

accidentally being turned and changing your bias setting. Remember to gently release the lock

mechanism on the dial when preparing to adjust bias.

Using a standard digital multimeter, insert the probes into the corresponding test points, - red

probe lead into V1, black probe lead into the black insert labeled ground. There are no

dangerous oltages present and you will not damage anything. Set your multimeter to the

milli olt ( mV ) setting. Note: do not set your meter to the mA setting. Make sure your amp is

plugged into a speaker cabinet and with no instrument plugged into the input of your amp. Turn

on the amp. After a minute - now that the tubes ha e warmed up, flip the standby switch to the

“ PLAY ” position.

You will notice a numerical mV reading on your meter. This mV number corresponds exactly to

the amount of bias current ( mA ) that is being drawn from either V1 or V2. Example: Insert

probe into V1. Let’s say the meter reads for example 25mV = V1 tube draws 25mA of bias

current. Then measure the other tube ( V2 ). The reading should be close and no more than 5mV

apart for the power tubes to be considered a matched pair. You can also use this Komet bias

method to match your own EL34s. Just plug in different pairs, measure each side and mark the

ones that are close. Turning the bias control clockwise will increase the reading and vice versa (

disengage the brake le er first ). ( continued )

consent from Ri erfront Music, L.L.C. d.b.a. KometAmplification.

Many musicians do not like to contend with the technical aspects of an amplifier. They would

rather lea e these details to a technician. Then again, you may find yourself in an emergency

situation ( li e performance ) where you may ha e to make a quick tube change due to a power

tube failure. In this scenario you could install a new set of matched tubes in the amp, gently

unlock the brake le er, set the bias at 30mA per tube ( 30mV on the meter ), lock the brake le er,

and your done. The amp will work great, sound great, and be reliable. For those of you who

would like to tweak the amp for maximum performance, read on.

IMP RTANT: The bias control has a ery wide operating range. It is possible to turn the bias

dial to the point where the power tubes exceed the maximum current threshold for which a

particular set of power tubes is designed to safely operate. This can se erely damage the tubes

and / or an amp. We recommend you closely monitor your olt meter and power tubes, and

strongly recommend you do not bias your stock power tubes any higher than 30mV. This will

guarantee an efficient life span of your power tubes. Note: the pre amp tubes in your amp are

self biasing and need no adjustment.

The setting of the power tube’s bias is a critical factor in the o erall tone of the amplifier. The

bias setting affects the distortion characteristics, harmonic content, note separation, and

headroom, among other things. Many technicians and book authors recommend a specific

amount of bias current for a certain tube type. This approach is not wrong, but it allows for a

ery quick biasing procedure. Time is money, especially in the mass production of amplifiers.

Unfortunately, this method disregards the most important aspect of biasing – the sound.

A change of a few milliamperes in bias current, in a sensiti e amp such as the KometConcorde,

will result in a noticeable difference in tone. This amplifier reacts differently for each new set of

audio tubes, e en if from the same manufacturer. Therefore we recommend setting the bias by

ear. This is an acquired art, takes time to learn, and demands a good set of ears and a lot of

concentration. This method is more time consuming than any other method, but it’s fun to learn

and will benefit you in many different ways:

CAUTI N: KometAmplification is not responsible for any damage to the tubes or amplifier

as a result of improper biasing. If you ha e any doubt about your understanding of this

procedure, - PLEASE STOP ! - and bring your amplifier to a qualified technician for help or

ser icing.

BIASING BY EAR

Start with the bias control turned all the way down ( counter clockwise ). Let the amp warm up for

a minute and flip the standby switch to the “ PLAY ” position. Nothing should be plugged into

the input of the Komet at this point. Disengage the bias dial’s brake le er, insert the olt

meter’s probes into the proper test points. ( continued )

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Turn the bias control clockwise to approximately 30mV on the meter ( 30mA of bias current ).

Now check the other tube. The power tubes should be within 5mA of each other after 10 to 20

minutes of warming up. Unfortunately, you do not ha e a matched pair of power tubes if they

are farther than 5mA apart. Plug a guitar into the amp and begin to play. Turn the bias control

half a turn at a time ( in either direction ) and listen again. Always check your oltmeter and make

sure you stay between 18 mV to 30 mV Please read the whole bias chapter before you start

experimenting. ( Note: it is common for the mV readings to fluctuate somewhat when measuring the

power tube bias o er a period of a few hours. This is due to the fact that some power tubes " drift "

somewhat. Again, this is not un-common and not a problem with your amplifier ).

This is what you may notice: generally speaking, lower bias current settings ( 18mV to 25mV )

will yield more headroom and note separation. There will be more clean olume a ailable and

as the amp breaks up, the distortion can be slightly harsher and grittier. The treble strings will

sound thinner. Power chords, especially with emphasis on the bass strings, will sound clearer

and more defined, with more “space” between the notes. As you increase the bias current, ( past

25mV to 33mV ), the treble strings will sound fatter and “sing” more. The amp will distort more

readily and with more harmonic content. The bass will stay consistent and strong. Also, listen

to the clarity of the pick attack, the “envelope” of the note and the sustain characteristics. Try

playing double stops and chords and listen to the blend of notes and their harmonic o ertones.

As you experiment with different bias settings, you’ll find certain “ sweet spots “ where things

just fall into place. The bass to treble balance is just right and the amp sparkles with harmonics.

At that point you ha e biased your amp perfectly for the tubes your using, the guitar your

playing, your playing style, your string gauge, your speakers, etc. Don’t forget to carefully lock

the bias control’s brake le er at this point. In order to be able to replicate your setting, just make

a note of the dial setting of the bias pot. You can do this for any number of different tube sets and

types. This will allow you to simply plug in a set of tubes, set the dial to the noted setting and be

done. Instant tube change and perfect bias without a meter!

What is the safe bias setting range? Use these guidelines: the lowest usable bias current ( in our

opinion ) is somewhere around 10mA ( mV on the meter ). This depends on the power tube type

and manufacturer, among other things. Going lower will cause the amp to first cut in and out and

finally quit working all together. It will sound like a fuzz box with a dying battery. At this point

the amp is “over biased ” ( ery low bias current ). No damage will occur; the sound of the

amplifier is just unusable.

In most amplifiers, biasing abo e 50mA + will cause the plates of the power tubes to glow red.

The plates are the large gray or black metal parts inside the tube. In this condition the amp is

described as “under biased ” ( too much bias current ). You do not want this to happen. An under

biased amplifier can damage the tubes right away and kill them within minutes. So keep an eye

on the power tubes' plates and back off the bias control immediately should they start to glow.

Again, - we recommend that you do not bias this amplifier higher than 30mV with the stock, or

modern made power tubes, ( non - n.o.s. ) to guarantee an efficient life span of your power tubes.

consent from Ri erfront Music, L.L.C. d.b.a. KometAmplification.

TUBE CHOICES FOR THE KOMET CONCORDE

The KometConcorde was designed and oiced to utilize current production tubes to their

maximum potential. The stock power tubes are the “ CE Winged Logo “ JSC Svetlana EL 34

( Made in Russia ). These are excellent sounding EL 34s and are reliable. This tube has similar

tonal characteristics to the great Mullard EL 34. The current stock 12AX7 pre amp tubes, V1,

V2 and V3 - ( from the far left to right ) - are the Sovtek 12AX7 LPS or the re-issue Sovtek

Mullard 12AX7. The LPS is an excellent sounding 12AX7 and are used in all Komet amplifier

models. With this power and pre amp tube compliment, the Komet Concorde sounds powerful,

complex and detailed. The distortion is balanced and harmonically rich. This selection is only a

recommendation and is our standard factory set up. There are se eral other tube types that can

operate in the KometConcorde. There are better tubes a ailable than the stock and modern

a ailable tubes. If you want more info, read on…..

In the Golden Age of tube technology ( 1950’s, 60’s and early 70’s ), - irtually all tubes were

manufactured by European or American companies such as Mullard, Brimar, Amperex,

Telefunken, Val o, Tung-Sol, RCA, and others. Unfortunately, all of these companies ha e

discontinued audio tube production. Very few of these brands remain a ailable from military

stock, repair shops, etc. These tubes are generally referred to as “ New - ld Stock ” a.k.a.

N. .S. The best of the n.o.s. tubes are in e ery aspect superior to any currently modern

manufactured tube. N.O.S. tubes are ery expensi e and rapidly disappearing. You may decide

that they are worth the expenditure for your amp. The impro ement gained by a proper tube

selection, in a refined amplifier such as the Komet, is quite noticeable. You may not want to use

them for practicing, but sa e them for recording and important performances. Remember:

always purchase from a reputable n.o.s. tube dealer. The following contains brand

recommendations based on our experience.

Mullard EL 34s. The yardstick most used to measure all EL 34s by. Again, these tubes were

manufactured with many different labels. Telefunken, Brimar, & Amperex are also excellent

n.o.s. choices, ( possibly with the exception of the Siemens EL 34, which is more reliable at lower plate

oltages ). The American substitute for the European EL 34 tube is the 6CA7. Although they are

interchangeable, they look and sound completely different. Furthermore, it can be confusing, for

many European EL 34s are labeled 6CA7. A true American made 6CA7 looks much like a 6L6.

You can also experiment with KT77s in your amp.

ECC 83, 12AX7, 7025, and CV4004 are interchangeable. There are se eral excellent brands:

Telefunkens, Brimars, Mullards, Amperex, etc. These pre amp tubes, when operating at 100%,

can ha e an incredible lifespan. You can experiment with them in different “ V “ positions in

your amp. You may find that the o erall sound of your amp can ary among different pre amp

tubes, - including tubes of the same brand. This is why it is difficult for us to make a specific

n.o.s. tube brand recommendation - because - every amplifier has it's own personality - which

may be complimented by a specific selection of tubes. We suggest that you experiment and

choose what your ears like! Note: when purchasing, be careful not to confuse modern re-issue

audio tubes, like the re-issue Mullard, Tung Sol, Genelex, etc., with original and more expensi e

n.o.s. audio tubes. ( continued )

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Please note: you may find that some new, used, or e en n.o.s. preamp tubes may be too

“ microphonic “ for the first gain stage ( V1 ) of a Komet amplifier. A microphonic preamp

tube is a condition in which a tube will absorb mechanical ibration and amplify it into the

audible range. In this scenario, a tube can “ feedback ”, or gi e off a loud, high pitched

squealing noise. Feed back can occur intermittently, e en without an instrument plugged into the

input of the amp. This does not mean that the tube(s) are completely unusable. You can

experiment by mo ing each pre amp tube to one of the other two preamp tube socket “ V “

positions, where microphonics may not be as noticeable. Make sure you make note of each

tube’s pre ious position. A small amount of “ hiss “ is also normal for high gain amplifiers. An

excessive amount of hiss, especially when the olume control of the amplifier is all the way

down and with no instrument plugged in the input jack, denotes a bad pre amp tube. Some n.o.s.

tube suppliers do offer “ select “, or hand picked pre amp tubes, which are superior in all aspects

of quality, especially non-microphonic.

N TE: Please pay close attention when extracting and installing the power and pre amp tubes.

The pins must align perfectly into the socket. Bent tube pins, especially when forced into a tube

socket, will cause serious damage to an amplifier’s tube socket pin inserts. This results 99% of

the time with the tube socket needing replacement. To a oid this contingency, purchase a

miniature pinned, nine holed, pre amp tube pin straightener. These can be found online from

many intage tube retailers. This easy to use de ice guarantees that your pre amp tubes' pins will

always be perfectly straight and aligned for socket insertion. KometAmplification’s warranty

does not cover damage done to tube socket pins from mis-alignment/ and or bent tube pins.

SPEAKERS FOR THE KOMET CONCORDE

The KometConcorde is a big sounding amp. It is oiced for a sparkling clean sound at low

olumes, and a smooth, dynamic - harmonic o erdri e and strong midrange punch. In our

opinion, these characteristics are best complimented with a closed back, ( preferably intage ) 4 X

12 speaker cabinet. Our fa orite reference speakers for Komet amplifiers in general are

original coned, intage 12 inch Celestion speakers from the 1960’s. You may come to a

different conclusion, depending on your playing style and preferences. A 2 X 12 cabinet, ( open

or closed back ), is another excellent choice, but care should be taken to select speakers that can

handle the power, low end, and attack. The KometAmplification speaker cabinet lineup is

another excellent option. Please see our website www.kometamps.com for full speaker cabinet

information.

Whiche er cabinet you do use, make sure you set the impedance selector correctly. If you use

two cabinets, keep in mind that the amplifier’s outputs are in parallel. This means that if you are

operating the amplifier on two, 16 Ohm cabinets, you must set the amplifier’s impedance

selector to the 8 Ohm setting. Set the Ohm selector to 4 Ohms if you are operating two 8 Ohm

cabinets. We do not recommend using two 4 Ohm cabinets. Speaker wiring diagrams are

located at the end of this owner’s manual.

N TE: KometAmplification REC MMENDS RESISTIVE L AD ATTENUATI N DEVICES in

conjunction with any Komet amplifier and speaker cabinet.

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TROUBLESHOOTING

When troubleshooting a problem, we recommend that you remo e all effects pedals and only go

direct with your guitar and guitar cable into the amplifier. Also, remo e any attenuation de ice

from your amplifier to speaker cabinet signal chain. This way you can easily and quickly rule

out or disco er if your amplifier is the source of the problem.

Pilot Light Not n:

Check to see if the amplifier’s AC cable is plugged in at wall and plugged in at the IEC

connection on the back panel of the amp. Make sure the DIN AC cable plug is securely inserted

into the IEC AC input connection, and pushed in all the way.

Check the type 47 pilot light bulb. It may be burned out. For bulb replacement, gently turn the

jewel lens cap counterclockwise and remo e. Using the tips of your fingers, gently push and turn

the exposed bulb counterclockwise, extract bulb and replace. Note: your amplifier will continue

to operate with no problem with a shorted type 47 bulb or with no bulb at all.

Check the 3 amp “ slow blow “ AC supply Mains fuse to see if it has blown. If blown, replace

the blown fuse with a 3 amp slow blow ( a.k.a. MDL 3A 250V ). 2 Amp S.B. if under 240 Volt

operation. ALWAYS: make certain that your AC power cable is unplugged when replacing any

fuse.

Mains Fuse “ blowing “

Un-plug amplifier from the wall AC. Remo e the power tubes. Install a new 3 amp “ slow

blow “ fuse. Plug into the wall AC and turn the amp on. If amp continues to blow the mains

fuse, ( with no tubes in the amp ), then your amp will need to be ser iced.

If the fuse does not blow, and the amp lights up, turn the amp back off again, and install the

power tubes or a new set of power tubes. Turn the amp back on. If the fuse does not blow,

check the bias and play the amp and monitor. If the fuse blows with the original set of power

tubes, but does not blow with new power tubes, then one or both of the original power tubes are

defecti e.

If the high oltage H.T. fuse blows, it is most likely a defecti e power tube, or your bias setting

may be too high.

Amp Lights Up - No Sound:

Check the speaker connection at back of amp and at the input of the speaker cabinet. Bypass all

pedals and effects and plug your guitar into only the amplifier. Check the guitar cable.

Check the power and the pre amp tubes and make sure that they are installed correctly and that

the filaments within each tube are lit. Sometimes audio tubes can look operational - ( with the

filaments lit ) - but be defecti e in not passing signal. The power tubes can easily be ruled out by

testing the bias of each tube with your olt meter. Check / test / replace - the H.T. fuse for

continuity with a digital Ohm meter. It may be blown. ( continued )

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Amp has Humming, Hissing, Feedback or Crackling sound:

Most likely a bad pre amp tube. Pre amp tubes can de elop problems o er their life span. They

may operate flawlessly o er time, and they may also test fine on a tube tester, but for what

appears like for no reason, can suddenly begin to make a “ hissing “ sound, or de elop filament

“ humming “ noise, or exhibit a “ crackling “ sound. They can also begin to feedback or ha e

microphonic or “ ringing “ symptoms. ( See pre ious section titled: ECC 83, 12AX7, 7025, and

CV4004 ) Unfortunately, you may ha e to replace one of more of your pre amp tubes. This is

another reason we stress purchasing N.O.S. tubes. They are less likely to go bad.

Fluorescent and neon lights, rheostat wall dimmers, and some appliances may cause your amp to

contain a “ hum “ or “ buzz “ sound. An internally shorted guitar cable or using a speaker cable

for a guitar cable can also create a “ buzz “ sound through your amp. Always check your cables!

O er time, the input jack may occasionally make a " crackle " sound when you extract your

instrument cable from the front panel of your amp. This would require that the inside of the

input jack be cleaned professionally. We recommend using DeoxIT® GOLD G5.

SERVICING THE KOMET CONCORDE

We are ery confident that your Komet amplifier is one of the most reliable amplifiers e er

built. A combined experience of many decades of design and ser ice has been applied to the

construction of all Komet amplifier models. We ha e been inside thousands of amps and we

ha e seen e ery type of problem that can occur.

Great care has been taken to anticipate and pre ent such problems in your Komet amplifier.

E ery part and component in this amp is carefully chosen for it’s specific performance. Some

parts are proprietary or hard to find. We do not recommend replacing any of the internal

components with generic parts from different manufacturers. We also recommend that you

should bring your Komet amplifier to a qualified ser ice technician if you do not feel

comfortable changing the tubes. Should your Komet amplifier e er need ser icing or repair,

please make arrangements to ha e your amp shipped back to KometAmplification for factory

ser ice.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 22.5" x 9" x 9"

• Weight: 38 lbs.

• Power: 50 to 60 Watts RMS ( depending on output tubes )

• Tubes: 3 - 12AX7s, 2 - EL34s

• Mains Fuse: 3 Amp “ Slow Blow “ a.k.a. MDL 3A 250V - ( 2 Amp / 240V operation )

• H.T. Fuse: ¾ Amp “ Fast Acting “ a.k.a. AGC 750 mA 250V

consent from Ri erfront Music, L.L.C. d.b.a. KometAmplification

A FINAL WORD

Your Komet amplifier was designed to be played and enjoyed. By irtue of its unmatched

quality, it will free you from thinking about your equipment and concentrate on the ery thing

that matters: your music. The KometConcorde's responsi eness, musicality and immediacy -

places you in charge of your sound. It can handle any li e / club performance situation with ease

and is oiced to cut through the band mix.

Gi e yourself and your new amp a little time to get to know each other. No matter how good it

sounds right out of the box, your amp will break in and impro e tremendously after being played

o er time. The harmonic complexity will also impro e; the tone will sweeten up and become

e en more fluid and resonant. Ha e fun!

Thank you for purchasing our product.

Michael Kennedy

Holger Notzel

Co-owners

Komet Amplification

CONTACT

Ri erfront Music, L.L.C.

d.b.a. KometAmplification

1865 Dallas Dri e

Baton Rouge, LA 70806-1454

( 225 ) 926-1976

email: [email protected]

Website: www.kometamps.com

Exclusive Distribution through:

Ultrasound Music, Inc.

251 West 30th Street 6FE

New York, NY 10001-2810

www.ultrasoundrehearsal.com

Gene Sinigalliano ( 212 ) 967-5626 email: [email protected]

Ken Volpe ( 203 ) 966-2096 email: [email protected]

consent from Ri erfront Music, L.L.C. d.b.a. KometAmplification

PRECAUTIONS

TUBES ARE H T ! Make sure you allow the tubes in your amplifier to cool down before

handling them. They are also made of glass and can easily break. Wear safety glo es and

goggles when handling audio tubes.

ALWAYS: operate the KometConcorde with the correct tube types listed in this owner’s

manual.

ALWAYS: make certain that your AC power cable is unplugged when replacing any fuse.

NEVER: replace the Mains or H.T. fuse with a higher rated fuse! This will most certainly cause

se ere damage to your amplifier.

NEVER: use a shielded guitar or instrument cable as a speaker cable connection.

NEVER: operate any amp without a speaker load connected to the output jack(s).

ALWAYS: use a three pronged, grounded power cable and only plug into a properly grounded

outlet. Failure to do so may result in injury or death.

D N T PEN UP THE AMPLIFIER ! There are no user ser iceable parts inside. There

are lethal oltages present e en when unplugged.