Komet Songwriter User manual

Songwriter Owner’s Manual

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PRECAUTIONS

TUBES ARE HOT ! 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 gloves and

goggles when handling audio tubes

ALWAYS: operate the KometSongwriter 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 severe 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

DO NOT OPEN UP THE AMPLIFIER ! There are no user serviceable parts inside

There are lethal voltages present even when unplugged

ALWAYS UN-PLUG YOUR AMPLIFER WHEN YOU ARE DONE ! This is to protect

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

home voltage is 120 Volts Anything over this amount is considered transient and can

damage electronic devices that are plugged into an AC outlet Even 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, over time, wearing down the device’s internal components. The best

w y to prevent d m ge is to unplug your mplifier when not in use.

NOTE: Devices such as refrigerators and air conditioners require large amounts of energy to

switch motors and compressors on and off Such devices can create surges in power that

disrupt the steady flow of line voltage 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 leave 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 excessive heat which will make the tolex movable and shrink

Excessive heat can only cause this tolex situation and this is not covered under your Komet

warranty

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THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING THE KOMET SONGWRITER

The Komet Songwriter is a real 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 power to amplifier

2 St ndby Switch: allow the amplifier to warm up for 60 seconds before engaging the

standby switch to the play position This action allows for the tubes to heat up to the

proper voltage required for operation and will help prolong the lifespan of your tubes

3 Pilot Light: illuminates when power switch is in “ ON ” position The pilot light

uses a type # 47 ( 6 3 Volt ) light bulb For bulb replacement, gently turn the jewel

lens cap counterclockwise and remove Now the bulb is exposed Using the tips of

your fingers, gently push and turn the bulb counterclockwise, extract bulb and

replace Note: Your amplifier will continue to operate with no problem with a

shorted bulb or with no bulb at all

4 B ss Control: controls low end bass range frequencies

5 Volume Control: adjusts ( clockwise ) the overall level and gain of the amplifier

6 Treble Control: controls high end treble range frequencies

7 Bright Switch: Three way selector switch. Middle position is off, Down position –

slightly bright, Up position – most bright Note: the brightness factor of this switch,

in either position of brightness, is very subtle

8 Input J ck: accepts standard ¼ inch plug Input impedance is 1 Megohm

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BACK CONTROL PANEL LAYOUT ( left to right ):

1 AC Input Recept cle: This IEC jack accepts standard DIN AC power cable All

Komet amplifiers can be modified to operate on either 120V or 240V Please

inquire with KometAmplification for AC conversion information

2 M ins Fuse: 3 Amp slow-blow fuse ( a k a MDL 3A ) ( size: ¼ inch by 1 and ¼ inch )

on 120V model, 2 Amp slow-blow fuse on 240V model CAUTION: ALWAYS

MAKE SURE YOUR AMPLIFIER AC CABLE IS UN-PLUGGED BEFORE

REPLACING A FUSE.

3 H.T. Fuse ( High Tension ): ½ mp or 500mA fast acting ( a k a AGC 500mA )

( size: ¼ inch by 1 and ¼ inch ) CAUTION: NEVER REPLACE A FUSE WITH A

HIGHER RATED FUSE. Using a fuse rated higher than the manufacturer’s

recommendation will most cert inly cause severe damage to your amplifier

4 Output Imped nce Selector: set this selector according to the appropriate speaker

impedance you are using 4, 8, and 16 Ohm settings are available

5 Output J cks: standard ¼ inch speaker jacks, which accommodate any quality

standard speaker cable Note: never use a shielded guitar cable as a speaker cable

You can severely damage an amplifier

6 Tube Ch rt: Displays the placement of the power and pre amp tubes

TUBE CHOICES FOR THE KOMET SONGWRITER

CAUTION: Always allow the power and pre amp tubes to cool down before handling They

are made of glass and can easily break Wear safety goggles and heat protective gloves when

handling hot tubes Never remove or replace the power or pre amp tubes while an amplifier

is on

The KometSongwriter was designed and voiced to utilize current production tubes to their

maximum potential The current stock power tubes ( V4, V5, V6 and V7 ) are a matched set

of Sovtek EL 84s / 6BQ5s

( continued )

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The current stock pre mp tubes from the f r right to left:

V1 ( input stage ) and V2 ( the phase inverter position ), are either 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 factory stock tube compliment, the KometSongwriter

sounds powerful, complex and detailed The distortion is balanced and harmonically rich

Other brands of audio tubes will operate in your Komet amplifier But there are much better

tubes available than the stock, modern available tubes If you want more info, read on…

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

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

Telefunken, Valvo, Tung-Sol, RCA, and others Unfortunately, all of these companies have

discontinued audio tube production Very few of these brands remain available from military

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

N.O.S.

The best of the n o s tubes are in every aspect superior to any currently modern

manufactured tube N O S tubes are very expensive and are rapidly disappearing You may

decide that they are worth the expenditure to enhance the performance of your amp The

improvement gained by a proper tube selection is quite noticeable in a refined amplifier such

as a Komet You may not want to use them for practicing, but save 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

Mull rd / V lvo EL 84 / 6BQ5 The yardstick used most to measure all EL 84s by Their

internal construction and sonic quality are superior to modern available EL84s Many were

manufactured and distributed under different brands or labels Valvo, Mullard, Brimar,

Amperex, & Telefunkin are excellent n o s choices Note: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

the Bi sing Section on next page of this manual

ECC 83, 12AX7, 7025, and CV4004 are interchangeable There are many brands to choose

from The tone and clarity can vary between each of these tube types and brands We

generally prefer the European brands: Telefunkens, Brimars, Mullards, Amperex, Phillips

Mini Watts, etc Each amplifier has its own personality that may be complimented by a

specific selection or manufacturer ( brand ) of audio tubes You may want to research for more

information on n o s tubes before you make a purchasing decision Note: when purchasing

tubes, be careful not to confuse modern re-issue audio tubes, like the re-issue Mullard,

Genelex, Tung-Sol, etc with original and more expensive n o s audio tubes

Ple se note: you may find that some new, used, or even 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 vibration and amplify it

into the audible range ( continued )

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In this scenario, a tube can “ feed b ck ”, or give off a loud, high pitched squealing noise

Feed back can occur intermittently, even without an instrument plugged into the input of the

amp This does not mean that the tube(s) are completely unusable One possible solution you

can experiment with is reversing V1 to the V2 phase inverter socket where microphonics are

not as noticeable The V2 position 12AX7 may be quieter in the V1 position

Ple se note: a small amount of “ hiss “ is normal for high gain amplifiers An excessive

amount of hiss, especially when the volume control of the amplifier is all the way down and

with no instrument plugged in the amplifier’s input, usually denotes a bad pre amp tube

Some n o s audio tube suppliers offer “ select “, or hand picked pre amp tubes, which are

superior in all aspects of quality, especially when it comes to being quiet and non-

microphonic

Ple se p y close ttention when extracting and installing the power and pre amp tubes The

pins must lign perfectly into the tube’s socket Bent pins, especially when forced into a

tube socket, can cause serious damage to an amplifier’s tube socket pin inserts This results

99% of the time with the tube socket needing replacement To avoid this contingency, we

recommend that you purchase a miniature pinned, nine holed, pre amp tube pin straightener

These can be found on line from many vintage tube retailers This easy to use device

guarantees that your pre amp tube and 6BQ5 / EL 84 power tube pins will be straight and

aligned for socket insertion

NOTE: KometAmplification’s Warranty will not cover damage done to a tube socket’s

insertion pins from forced or accidental mis-alignment / and or bent / crimped insertion pins

BIASING THE KOMET SONGWRITER

The KometSongwriter is a cathode biased amplifier ( no bias adjustment should be necessary

) An internal resistor sets the amplifier’s power tube bias To guarantee your amplifier will

operate properly in conjunction with the supplied voltages and current draw of the Komet

Songwriter, we recommend that when you replace your power tubes, that you purchase a

m tched set of EL 84 / 6BQ5s with a low IP ( or a low current draw ) grade / configuration

Most reliable and reputable audio tube vendors and n.o.s. tube dealers sell their power tubes

in matched, output power or current draw - numerically rated - sets

You should be able to request a certain IP grade or range from your tube vendor Some

ex mples: the Sovtek / New Sensor EL 84 grade for the Songwriter is an IP number range

from # 12 through # 18 The Groove Tube scale for the Songwriter is a grade # 1 through #

Note: the 12AX7 pre mp tubes in your amplifier are internally self biased and need no

adjustment

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WARNING: Do not remove any of the four EL 84 power tubes in order to attempt cutting

the power of the amplifier in half The KometSongwriter’s EL 84 power tube circuitry

shares only one cathode resistor Removal of one or more of the power tubes will cause the

other EL 84s to catastrophically malfunction and fail

SPEAKERS FOR THE KOMET SONGWRITER

The KometSongwriter is a big sounding amp It is voiced for a sparkling clean sound at

low volumes, - smooth, dynamic, and harmonic at higher volumes In our opinion, these

characteristics are best complimented with a closed back, ( preferably vintage ) 4 X 12 speaker

cabinet

Our favorite reference speakers for Komet amplifiers in general are original coned, vintage

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, ( an opened or closed back

), is another excellent choice, but care should be taken to select speakers that can handle the

power, the low end, and attack

The Komet Amplification speaker cabinet lineup is another excellent option Please see our

website www.komet mps.com for full speaker cabinet information Whichever cabinet you

do use, m ke sure you set the impedance selector correctly If you use two cabinets, keep

in mind that the 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

If you operating on two 8 Ohm cabinets, set the selector to 4 Ohms We do not recommend

using two 4 Ohm cabinets Speaker wiring diagrams are located at the end of this owner’s

manual

NOTE: KometAmplification RECOMMENDS RESISTIVE LOAD ATTENUATION DEVICES

in conjunction with any Komet amplifier and speaker cabinet

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

• Dimensions: 20 5/8" long by 10" deep by 9 ½" tall

• Weight: 35 lbs pounds

• Power: 33 Watts RMS

• Tubes: 2 - 12AX7s 4 - EL 84 / 6BQ5

• M ins Fuse: 3 Amp “ Slow Blow “ a k a MDL 2A 250V ( 1 Amp / 240V operation )

• H.T. Fuse: ½ Amp “ Fast Acting “ a k a AGC 500mA 250V ( ½ Amp a k a 500mA )

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SERVICING

We are very confident that your Komet amplifier is one of the most reliable amplifiers ever

built A combined experience of many decades of amp design and service has been applied

to the construction all Komet amplifier models We have been inside thousands of amps

and we have seen every kind of problem that can occur Great care has been taken to

anticipate and prevent such problems in your Komet amplifier Every part and component

in this amplifier has been carefully chosen for its 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 bring your Komet amplifier to only a qualified service

technician, especially if you should feel un-comfortable changing / installing audio tubes

Should your Komet amplifier ever need servicing or repair, please make arrangements with

us to have your amp shipped back to KometAmplification

TROUBLESHOOTING

When troubleshooting a problem, we recommend that you remove all effects pedals and only

go direct with your guitar and guitar cable into the amplifier Also, remove any attenuation

device from amp to speaker cabinet This way you can easily and quickly rule out or

discover if your amplifier is the source of the problem

Pilot Light Not On

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

the back of the amp

Make sure the AC connection at the back of amp’s IEC input is secure, and pushed in all the

way

Check the type 47 pilot light bulb It may be burned out

Check the 3 amp “ slow blow “ AC supply M ins fuse to see if it is blown If blown,

replace the blown fuse with a 3 amp slow blow ( a k a MDL 3A 250V )

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M ins Fuse “ blowing “

Unplug amplifier from the wall AC Remove the power tubes. Install a new 3 amp slow

blow fuse ( 2 Amp 240V )

Plug into the wall AC and turn the amp on If amp continues to blow the mains fuse, your

amp will need to be serviced If the fuse does not blow, and the amp lights up, turn amp off,

and install a new set of matched EL 84 power tubes Turn the amp back on If the fuse does

not blow, play the amp and monitor If the high voltage H T fuse blows, it is most likely a

defective power tube, or your bias setting / current draw may be too high

Amp Lights Up, - No Sound

Check / test / replace - the 1/2 amp H.T. fuse for continuity with a digital Ohm meter It may

be blown Check the speaker connection at back of amp and at the input of cabinet

Bypass all pedals and effects and plug your guitar into only the amplifier

Check your 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 they can look operational - ( with the

filaments lit ) - but be defective in not passing signal

Amp h s Humming, Hissing, Feedb ck or Cr ckling sound

Most likely a bad pre amp tube Pre amp tubes can develop problems over their life span

They may operate flawlessly over time, and they may also test fine on a tube tester, but for

what seems like for no reason, they can suddenly begin to make a “ hissing “ sound, or

develop filament “ humming “ noise or exhibit a “ cr ckling “ sound They can also begin

to feedback or have microphonic or “ ringing “ symptoms ( See previous section titled: ECC

83, 12AX7, 7025, and CV4004 )

Unfortunately, you may have 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 Also, check your guitar cable if you discover that the problem is

not a pre amp tube

Over time, the input jack may occasionally make a " cr ckle " 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

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Under-bi sed Power Tubes:

EL 84 / 6BQ5 power tubes that are under bi sed, ( or drawing to much current ), will usually

create the following symptom: a low, background “ hum “ sound coming from the amp,

which may get louder over time Inspect the plates of the power tubes ( the flat grey colored,

metallic, square section inside the center of the power tube/s ) Do not confuse the yellow /

orange filament glow on the top and bottom of the power tubes for the center plates If the

plates in the center of the tube are glowing a dull “ red “ or are “ cherry colored “ from the

center, ( see reference photo below ), then the power tubes are under biased and will need to

be replaced with a lower ( IP ) current drawing set If not replaced, they will fail and “ short

out “ in short order, and the H.T. fuse will blow

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CLEANING

We recommend cleaning your head box / tolex with a slightly damp, warm cloth towel.

Ple se be very c reful when cleaning the front panel of your Komet  Songwriter head

box The plexi glass Komet logo could possibly catch on a cleaning cloth We recommend

that you clean the Komet logo starting from the center of the logo - to the outer edges of the

amp Repeat procedure always from the center Avoid using T-shirts or cloths that contain

graphics or embroidery They may scratch some surfaces of your amp

A FINAL WORD

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

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

thing that matters: your music The Komet's responsiveness, musicality and immediacy -

places you in charge of your sound It can handle any live performance situation with ease

and power to spare and is voiced to cut through the band mix Give 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 improve tremendously after being played over time The

harmonic complexity will continue to improve; the tone will sweeten up and become even

more fluid and resonant Have fun!

Thank you for purchasing our product

Holger Notzel

Michael Kennedy

Co-owners

KometAmplification

CONTACT

Riverfront Music, L L C

d b a Komet Amplification E-mail: komet [email protected]

1865 Dallas Drive Website: www.komet mps.com

Baton Rouge, LA 70806-1454

( 225 ) 926-1976

Exclusive Distribution through:

Ultrasound Music, Inc

251 West 30th Street 6FE

New York, NY 10001-2810

www.ultr soundrehe rs l.com

Gene Sinigalliano ( 212 ) 967-5626 email: ultr sound@ultr soundrehe rs l.com

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

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Tube Placement Instructions

Before you inst ll your tubes, ple se re d the l st p r gr ph from

the section: TUBE CHOICES FOR THE KOMET AMPLIFIER

Unscrew ( in small increments ) the two, back panel insertion screws

Remove the back panel evenly with two hands Use the reverse

instructions when installing back panel

Looking at back of your amp, observe the tube placement There are

seven tube sockets in total Starting from the left, the first four are the

power tube sockets, ( V7, V6, V5, and V4 ) These sockets as well as

V3 and V2 are miniature nine pin pre amp tube types

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

placement within the amp Please make sure to install each labeled

tube into the correct corresponding tube socket

V7 through V3 are for the EL 84 power tubes

V2 and V 1 are for the 12AX7 pre amp tubes

Gently install each tube in the correct corresponding tube socket

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

perfectly aligned with the tube socket for installation Do not force a

tube into its socket If correctly aligned, it should go into the socket

easily

Note: The “ V “ stands for “ v lve “, - term as used in England for audio tubes

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KOMET AMPLIFICATION’S LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY

KometAmplification warrants their amplifiers to be free from defects in materials and

workmanship for its usable lifetime KometAmplification will repair or replace any part

thereof which, upon inspection by KometAmplification, is found to be defective in

materials or workmanship As a condition to the obligation of KometAmplification to

repair or replace such a part, the product must be returned to KometAmplification together

with proof-of-purchase and or proof of original ownership satisfactory to Komet

Amplification and Ultrasound Music, Inc KometAmplification’s Limited Lifetime

Warranty is only applicable to the original owner of the amplifier Warranty is not

transferable

The Proper Return Authorization must be obtained from Ultrasound Music, Inc in advance

of return Please call or e-mail Ultrasound Music, Inc to receive authorization for warranty

repair All returns must be accompanied by a written statement setting forth the name,

address, and daytime telephone number of the owner, together with a brief description of any

claimed defects Parts or product for which replacement is made shall become the property

of KometAmplification The customer shall be responsible for all costs of transportation

and insurance, both to and from KometAmplification and shall be required to prepay such

costs

Komet Amplification shall use reasonable efforts to repair or replace any part covered by

this limited warranty within thirty days of receipt In the event repair or replacement shall

require more than thirty days, KometAmplification shall notify the customer accordingly

This warranty shall be void and of no force of effect in the event a covered product has been

modified in design or function, or subjected to abuse, misuse, (which includes operation of

amplifier with incorrect tube types), mishandling or unauthorized repair Further, product

malfunction or deterioration due to normal wear is not covered by this warranty This

includes the factory installed audio tubes and the amplifier’s tube sockets. Note: ny

tr nsformer f ilure will require full inspection / di gnostic by the OEM tr nsformer

m nuf cturer for the c use of f ilure. KometAmplific tion will not w rr nty ny

output tr nsformer found ( by the OEM tr nsformer m nuf cturer ) to be d m ged from

being overstressed or intern lly compromised by n ttenu tion device.

KometAmplification and Ultrasound Music, Inc will not be held responsible for any

Komet amplifier, amplifier component, or contents, damaged or lost during shipping to

Komet Amplification KometAmplification will not be held responsible for any damage or

loss of an amplifier due to improper packaging or labeling by the customer or packager

NOTE: We strongly recommend that you review all packaging, insurance requirements, and

shipping recommendations of the shipping company you intend to use We recommend

using a: 30 X 13 X 13 foam injected, 275 lb test, corrugated cardboard shipping box We

also recommend that you have your amplifier professional packaged. ALWAYS insure

your amplifier for ( at the very least ) the full value of the amplifier

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