Komet Vimana User manual

 
Komet  Vimana Owner’s Manual
Copyright 1999-2022 KometAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometAmplification

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
DO NOT OPEN UP THE AMPLIFIER! There are no user serviceable parts inside There are
lethal voltages present even when unplugged
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: make certain that your AC power cable is unplugged when replacing any fuse
ALWAYS: operate your Komet amplifier with the correct tube types listed in this owner’s
manual
ALWAYS: use a three pronged, grounded AC power cable and always plug into a properly
grounded outlet Failure to do so may result in injury or death
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 AC
voltage is 120 Volts Anything over this amount is considered transient and can damage
electronic devices that are plugged into an AC outlet Though power surges are brief and
measured in nanoseconds, they can cause considerable or permanent damage to electronic
equipment Electrical surges can damage electrical equipment by burning or fusing internal wires
or by the gradual degradation of a device’s internal components The best way to revent
damage is to un lug your am lifier 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: try to 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 amount of time in a
sun heated vehicle, trunk, trailer, or an extremely hot and humid - un-air conditioned
environment This is due to the glue used to apply the tolex to the wooden head box cabinet The
glue can become slightly molten from excessive heat, which can make the tolex movable, expand
and then shrink when cooled Excessive heat can only cause this tolex situation and this is not
covered under your Komet warranty
Copyright 1999-2022 KometAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometAmplification

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1 Read these instructions
2 Keep these instructions
3 Heed all warnings
4 Follow all instructions
5 Clean only with a dry cloth
6 Do not block any ventilation openings
7 Do not operate near any heat sources, such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other
apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat
8 Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus
9 Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer
10 Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when not used for long periods of time
11 Refer all servicing to qualified personnel Servicing is required when the apparatus has
been damaged in any way, such as a power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has
been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to
rain or moisture, does not operate normally or has been dropped
12 CAUTION: To disconnect the unit completely from the Mains, unplug the unit Turning
the power switch off does not completely disconnect the unit from the Mains
13 Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug A polarized 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 and the third prong are provided for your safety If the
provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the
obsolete outlet
14 The unit shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing of liquids, and that no objects filled
with liquids such as vases shall be placed on the unit
15 WARNING: This is a Class 1 apparatus This unit should be connected to a MAINS socket
outlet with a protective earthing connection
Copyright 1999-2022 KometAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometAmplification

EU ENVIORNMENTAL DIRECTIVES
RoHS This product is compliant with the EU Directive 2011/65/EU for the Restriction of
the use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment No lead
(Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), hexavalent chromium (Cr+6), PBB or PBDE is
intentionally added to this device Any traces of impurities of these substances contained
in the parts are below the RoHS specified threshold levels
REACh This product is compliant with the European Union Directive EC1907/206 for
the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of chemicals (REACh) and
contains none or less than 0 1% of the chemicals listed as hazardous chemicals in the
REACh regulation
WEEE This symbol on the product or its packaging indicates that this product must
not be disposed of with other waste Instead, it is your responsibility to dispose of your
waste equipment by handing it over to a designated collection point for the recycling
of waste electrical and electronic equipment The separate collection and recycling of
your waste equipment at the time of disposal will help conserve natural resources and
ensure that it is recycled in a manner that protects human health and the environment
For more information about where you can drop off your waste equipment for
recycling, please contact your local city recycling office or the dealer from whom you
purchased the product
CE This product complies with the European Union Council Directives and Standards
relating to electromagnetic compatibility EMC Directive (2006/95/EC) and the Low
Voltage Directive (2004/10)
Copyright 1999-2022 KometAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometAmplification

Thank you for purchasing one of our amplifier products!
The Komet Vimana is a straightforward and easy to operate amplifier The goal of this manual is
to help you "get acquainted " with your Komet amplifier, and how to make use of its many
capable sounds
FRONT CONTROL PANEL LAYOUT
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 voltage required for operation and will help prolong their lifespan
3 Pilot Light: illuminates when power switch is placed in the "On" 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 passive (reduces a portion of the signal), so the result is a loss
of gain, and "muddy" distortion The Hi-Cut feature allows you to set the preamp EQ for
the right balance by "darkening" or "brightening" the overall tone without changing the
basic EQ setting
5 Bass Control: controls the low end range bass frequencies
6 Midrange Control: controls midrange frequencies
7 Treble Control: controls high end range treble frequencies
8 TSB: (Tone Stack Bypass) control gradually bypasses the tone control section as it is
turned up This increases gain, mid-range and harmonics
9 Volume Control: controls overall volume and gain of the amplifier
10 Bright Switch: middle position off, bottom position bright, top position most bright
11 In ut Jack: accepts standard ¼ inch plug Input impedance is 1 Megohm
Copyright 1999-2022 KometAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometAmplification

BACK CONTROL PANEL LAYOUT
1 AC In ut: this IEC receptacle 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 conversion information
2 Mains Fuse: 3 Am "slow-blow" fuse (a k a MDL 3A size: ¼ inch by 1 and 1/4 inch) in
120V, 2 Am "slow-blow" fuse in 240V CAUTION: ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR
AMPLIFIER AC CABLE IS UN-PLUGGED BEFORE REPLACING A FUSE
3 HT Fuse: (high tension fuse) ¾ Am or 750mA (a k a AGC 750 mA a k a "fast acting"
fuse size: ¼ inch by 1 and 1/4 inch) CAUTION: NEVER REPLACE ANY FUSE WITH A
HIGHER RATED FUSE This will most certainly cause severe damage to your
amplifier
4 Out ut Im edance Selector: set this selector according to the appropriate speaker
impedance you are using 4, 8, and 16 Ohm settings are available
5 Out ut Jacks: two, standard ¼ inch speaker jacks MAIN input for single cabinet use
AUX for second cab You must plug into the MAIN input first The amplifier will
sound weak and lifeless if you only plug into the AUX Note: never use a shielded
guitar cable as a speaker cable; you can severely damage an amplifier
TUBE CHOICES
All Komet amplifiers are designed and voiced to utilize current production audio vacuum tubes
to their maximum potential
The stock power tubes are a "matched" set of the Genelex KT88 power tubes (Made in Russia)
They are excellent sounding and reliable Note: matched power tubes ensure that all of the power
tubes will operate and react equally within the amplifier They guarantee better harmonics, a
better sonic performance, and an extended tube lifespan
The current stock 12AX7 pre amp tubes (from the far left to right) V1 and V3 - are the Sovtek
12AX7 LPS, V2 is a T A D  ECC83 With this power and pre amp tube compliment, the Komet
Vimana model 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
Note: the Genelex KT88 power tubes and the 12AX7 pre amp tubes in your Vimana amplifier are
internally self biased and need no adjustment
(continued)
Copyright 1999-2022 KometAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometAmplification

Please note: you may find that some pre amp tubes, whether newly manufactured, used, or even
n o s , may be too "micro honic" 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 In this scenario, a tube can "feed back", 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 moving the microphonic tube to the V3 phase
inverter socket where microphonics are not as noticeable The microphonic 12AX7 may be
quieter in the V3 position as opposed to the V1 or V2 position
Please 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
Please note: your amplifier produces heat Prolonged gigs, outdoor or non-climate controlled
venues, only multiply that factor We suggest (after extended periods of play) that you allow for a
sufficient amount of time to pass so as to let your amplifier cool down prior to moving or
loading This action will help protect and extend the lifespan of the audio tubes and internal
components from excessive vibration or damage
Caution: please pay close attention when extracting and installing the power and pre amp tubes
The pins of the tube - must align perfectly - into the tube’s socket Bent pins, especially when
forced into a tube socket, will cause serious damage to an amplifier’s tube socket pin inserts
99% of the time this results with the tube socket needing to be replaced To avoid this
contingency, we recommend that you purchase a miniature pinned, nine hole, pre amp tube pin
straightener These can be found online from many vintage tube retailers This easy to use device
guarantees that your 12AX7 pre amp tube 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
TUBE REPLACEMENT
A noticeable deterioration in your amplifier’s overall sound is an indication of an imminent tube
replacement You may notice symptoms such as "muddy" or "saggy" power chords, a loss of
tightness or "unch", a weak sounding treble and bass, and loss of certain sonic frequencies or
note "bloom" We suggest that you first start by replacing your KT88 power tubes We suggest
that you purchase your KT88s from a reputable dealer that matches and selects each power tube
for plate voltage and plate current
The pre amp tubes can last a very long time, and do not necessarily need to be replaced as often
as the power tubes However, we do recommend that you have them properly tested by a
technician between servicing
Copyright 1999-2022 KometAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometAmplification

SPEAKERS
The Komet Vimana is a big and bold sounding amp It is voiced for a sparkling clean sound at
low volumes, and a smooth, dynamic - harmonic overdrive and strong midrange punch You
will find the Komet Vimana excels with both closed back and open back speaker cabinets
Please see our website www.kometam s.com for full speaker cabinet information, or e-mail us
info@kometam s.com on having a matching silver tolex cabinet custom made for you You
can also inquire on our new Vimana 4 X 10 and 2 X 12 open back cabinets, and the AmbiKab Jr
Whichever cabinet you do use, make sure you set the im edance 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
A S ecial Note on S eaker Cable, Cabinets and S eakers: It is crucial that you always
maintain a solid, un-interrupted signal between your amplifier and speaker cabinet Sub-standard
speaker cables as well as sub-standard cabinet wiring can become problematic, intermittent and
fail over time This can possibly causing damage to your amplifier and speakers We recommend
that you use quality brand speaker cables (18 gauge is sufficient) made with quality male input
plugs The speaker cable plugs should be soldered directly on to the internal speaker cable wires
Using a quality made speaker cable will ensure a tight fit from the amplifier’s speaker jacks to
the speaker cabinet
Your speaker cabinet should be equipped with a quality brand input jack We prefer and use the
Switchcraftâ #11 mono input on our cabinets, amplifiers and vintage repairs Many vintage
speaker cabinets from the 1960’s to 1970’s used the #11 jack It is reliable, solid and time tested
Many modern made brand speaker cabinets use the Switchcraftâ #11, but not all Some
manufacturers have their speaker jacks panel mounted on the back of their cabinets which
incorporate an internal circuit board on which the jacks are soldered This type of system is not
designed for a type #11 jack, and conversion to the #11 jack can be very tedious All electrical
work should be performed by a professional and knowledgeable technician
We also strongly urge you to inspect and make sure that all of your internal speaker cabinet wire
leads are soldered at the speaker jack and soldered at the speaker terminals We do not
recommend using the "slide on" type gripping speaker wire terminals These grip type terminals
loosen over time causing an interruption or failure of the signal These recommendations help
guarantee a solid, un-interru ted signal from the amplifier to the speakers at all times
Komet Amplification recommends using resistive load attenuation devices in conjunction with
any Komet amplifier and speaker cabinet The Komet Airbrake owner’s manual is also located at
the end of this manual
Copyright 1999-2022 KometAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from 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 your amplifier to speaker cabinet signal chain 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 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 the bulb
replacement, gently turn the jewel lens cap counterclockwise and remove 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
Main’s fuse - "Blowing"
Un-plug amplifier from the wall AC Remove 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 serviced
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 defective
If the high voltage H T fuse blows, it is most likely a defective power tube, or your bias setting
may be too high
Am Lights U - 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
Note: check the speaker jack connection Neutrikâ type plugs often do not connect well to
Switchcraftâ input jacks, causing a weak or complete signal interruption
Copyright 1999-2022 KometAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometAmplification

Check the ower and the re am tubes and make sure that they are installed correctly and that
the filaments within each tube are lit Im ortant Note: occasionally, audio vacuum tubes can
look operational - (with the filaments lit) - but be defective in not passing signal This is rare, but
can occur Check each tube individually against a spare (good) 12AX7 in each pre amp tube
socket
The power tubes can easily be ruled out by testing the bias of each tube with your volt meter
Check / test / replace - the HT fuse for continuity with a digital Ohm meter It may be blown
Am is making a "Humming", "Hissing", "Feedback", "Crackling" or "S uttering" sound
This is most likely a bad pre amp tube Pre amp tubes can develop problems over their life span
They may be operating flawlessly, 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" or a "crackling" sound They
can begin to feedback or have microphonic or "ringing" symptom, or develop filament
"humming" - which is a low background hum, often mistaken for a problematic filter cap
Filament "humming" is much more common with new, modern available pre amp tubes, as
opposed to n o s power and pre amp tubes Unfortunately, you will most likely have to replace
one of more of your pre amp tubes that develop or have this problem
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!
PLEASE NOTE! a smart phone / iPhone placed near or in the vicinity of your Komet amplifier
can make a sputtering sound come from your amplifier / speaker cabinet This is due to the
frequencies emitted by your phone Always make sure you keep your smart phone away from
your equipment when recording
Over time, the input jack may occasionally make a "crackle" sound when you extract your
instrument cable from the front panel of your amp This is usually due to a dust /
contaminates build up on the input jack’s ground shunt This would require that the inside
of the input jack be cleaned professionally We recommend using DeoxIT® Gold G5
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 design and service has been applied to the
construction of all Komet amplifier models We have been inside thousands of amps and we have
seen every type of problem that can occur Great care has been taken to anticipate and prevent
such problems in your Komet amplifier
(continued)
Copyright 1999-2022 KometAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometAmplification

Every part and component in this amp is carefully chosen for its specific performance Some
parts are proprietary and some are difficult to acquire 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 service technician if you do not feel
comfortable changing the tubes Should your Komet amplifier ever need servicing or repair,
please make arrangements to have your amp shipped back to Komet Amplification for factory
service
SPECIFICATIONS
• Dimensions: 21 75” x 10” x 9 5”
• Weight: 38 lbs
• Power: 55 Watts RMS
• Tubes: 3 - 12AX7, 2 - KT88
• Mains Fuse: 3 Amp "slow blow" a k a MDL 3A - rated at 250V ( 2 Amp / 240V operation )
• H.T. Fuse: ¾ Amp "fast acting" a k a AGC 750 mA - rated at 250V
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 Its responsiveness, musicality and immediacy - places you in charge of
your sound It can handle any live / club performance situation with ease 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 also improve; the tone will sweeten up and become
even more fluid and resonant Have fun!
Thank you for purchasing our product
Michael Kennedy
Holger Notzel
Co-owners
Komet Amplification
Copyright 1999-2022 KometâAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometâAmplification

CONTACT
Komet Amplification
1865 Dallas Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70806-1454
[phone]
Email: info@kometam s.com
Website: www.kometam s.com
Facebook: htt s://www.facebook.com/kometam s/
Tumbler: htt ://kometam lification.tumblr.com/
Twitter: htt s://twitter.com/kometam s
Reverb Store: htt s://reverb.com/sho /kag
Customer’s Folder: htt s://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1Tb6bHKD9l0yINkahMwznwchCPFXtc7vn
Holger Notzel
Michael Kennedy
Co-owners
Komet Amplification
Airbrake operational manual below
Copyright 1999-2022 KometâAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometâAmplification

Komet®Airbrakeä Manual
Copyright 1999-2022 KometâAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometâAmplification

The Komet Airbrakeis a resistive load power attenuator, which connects between an amplifier’s
speaker output jack and a speaker cabinet It allows the user to "turn up" the amplifier’s volume,
utilizing the amplifier’s harmonically rich output stage distortion, while reducing the signal sent
to the speakers This lowers the amplifier’s overall sound pressure level and is useful when high
volume is not required
All power attenuators by design reduce the interaction between an amplifier’s output stage and
the speakers, which is a critical part of the sound and feel of a tube amp An attenuator can
change the human ear’s perception of the frequency spectrum by reducing the sound pressure
level Accordingly, there is no power attenuator that does not change the overall sound of an
amplifier
The Komet Airbrakesounds very natural and "transparent" at reasonable levels of attenuation It
allows the user to bring the level of a 50 / 60 Watt Kometamplifier down to that of a
"cranked " 20 to 25 - watt amplifier, all the while retaining its distinct voice and dynamics It
is therefore best suited to match Kometamplifiers to a smaller room, or in a quieter playing
setting
Features of the Komet®Airbrake:
- operates on 8  or 16  speaker loads only
- designed for a maximum power handling capability of 100 Watts
- five graduated attenuation settings via a six position rotary switch
- 3dB drop in first step of attenuation, approx 17 dB each step after
- the first (12 o’clock) position of the six position rotary switch is a true bypass
setting (under no attenuation)
- one input, two parallel output jacks
- line level signal out control
Copyright 1999-2022 KometâAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometâAmplification

Using the Komet®AirbrakePower Attenuator:
You will need two, quality constructed, standard speaker cables At the bottom of the Airbrake,
below the Komet logo, you will find three input jacks arranged in a triangle formation The top
input jack (of the triangle formation) is the Airbrake’s input jack Connect one speaker cable
from one of the amplifier’s speaker outputs into the top input of the Airbrake
Note: (see last page for descriptive layout)
The bottom two jacks of the triangle formation are the two parallel outputs Connect the second
cable from one of the two KometAirbrake outputs into the speaker cabinet input If you only use
one speaker cabinet, you may plug it into either one of the two, bottom output jacks on the
Komet Airbrake Note: (see last page for descriptive layout)
Set the amplifier’s impedance selector according to the impedance of the cabinet used
Remember to always use dedicated speaker cables of a sufficient gauge (we prefer 18 gauge) for
both connections WARNING: Never use instrument (guitar) cable as a speaker connection By
doing so will cause damage to the amplifier
If you plug two speaker cabinets into the Komet Airbrake’s parallel output jacks, make sure both
cabinets or both speaker loads are rated at 16 Keep in mind that the combined load of both
cabinets or both speaker loads will be 8 Set your amplifier’s impedance selector accordingly
to 8
Do not use two, 8 speaker cabinets The combined load will be 4 , which is below the Komet
Airbrake 8/16 Ohm operating range For the same reason, do not use two 4 cabinets Never
combine two cabinets of different impedance ratings (for example an 8 cab and a 16 cab)
The line level signal out control is the cream colored knob located at the top of the Komet
Airbrake The line level output jack is located to the right of the cream colored control knob The
line level signal out feature allows the user to send the un-attenuated signal from the amplifier
under attenuation, into another amplifier, say one with reverb or tremolo, or send a signal to a
recording or mixing console, or can be used to send the signal to a wet/dry rig Make sure you
use a quality constructed shielded instrument / guitar cable for this signal sending portion of the
device
Copyright 1999-2022 KometâAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometâAmplification

Important:
We recommend that if you intend on using your Komet Airbrake in conjunction with much
older, vintage am lifiers, that you set your vintage amplifier’s impedance selector to 8for the
first step of attenuation (or the first click of the rotary switch), regardless of an actual 16 Ohm
impedance of the speakers or cabinet used If your amp and speaker load is 8 set the
impedance selector to 4in the first step of attenuation This precaution will lower the current
flowing within the output tubes under full power We also recommend this same action with
EL84/6BQ5 powered amplifiers Set the impedance selector of your vintage amplifier according
to the speaker impedance being used in any other step of attenuation past the first click
We recommend that you do not use the Komet Airbrakewith a 100 Watt plus rated amplifier for
very long, extended eriods at very high volume levels (or with the volume controls “dimed out”)
This is because the Komet Airbrake is a 100 Watt rated device Any 100W amplifier can surpass
its 100W RMS rating when cranked way up This could possibly over-heat the attenuator causing
damage to one or more of the load resistors Note: The Komet Airbrake will increase its ability
to handle an amplifier’s wattage as the attenuation level increases The maximum load
capability for the Komet Airbrake is 200 Watts under full attenuation You should not have a
problem using the Komet Airbrake with a 100W amplifier, but it is always best to operate your
100W amplifier and attenuator within reason
Final note:
The Komet Airbrake power attenuator reduces volume by converting the amp’s excessive power
into heat The device will get very warm, even hot, during use Please make sure you place the
unit it in a well ventilated area and never have it covered up
The Komet Airbrake was designed for optimum performance with Komet and Trainwreckâ
amplifiers The Komet Airbrake will work equally well with most other manufacturer’s
amplifiers, but Komet Amplification only guarantees safe operation with Komet and
Trainwreckâ amplifiers
A S ecial Note on S eaker Cabinets and S eakers: we recommend that you use quality
speaker cable with quality brand male plugs This is to guarantee a tight fit to the speaker jacks
and cabinet We prefer the Switchcraftâ #11 mono input We also recommend that your speaker
cabinet wire leads are directly soldered to the to the speaker terminals instead of using the "slide
on" gripping terminals (See special note in the Speaker Cabinet section of this manual)
Copyright 1999-2022 KometâAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometâAmplification

The Komet®AirbrakeLayout
Copyright 1999-2022 KometâAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometâAmplification

KOMET®AMPLIFICATION’S WARRANTY
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: any transformer failure will require a full inspection / diagnostic by the OEM transformer
manufacturer for the cause of failure Komet Amplification will not warranty Komet Amplification
warrants their amplifiers to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a (2) two year period
Komet Amplification will repair or replace any part there of 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
with a copy of the original and dated sales receipt from the authorized Komet dealer Komet
Amplification’s warranty is only applicable to the original owner of the amplifier Warranty is not
transferable
The Proper Return Authorization must be obtained from Komet Amplification in advance of a return Please call or
e-mail Komet Amplification 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 may be responsible for all costs of
transportation and insurance, both to and from Komet Amplification, depending on result of inspection and
validation of warranty request Customer may 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 Any output transformer found (by the OEM
transformer manufacturer) to be damaged from being overstressed or internally compromised by an
attenuation device
Warranty Exclusions and Limitations: Notwithstanding the foregoing, all warranty claims are excluded if:
Warranty Exclusions and Limitations: Notwithstanding the foregoing, all warranty claims are excluded if:
i the Product(s) is damaged or destroyed due to the effects of force majeure, including but not limited to:
Acts of God, flood, fire; Acts of War, government authority, acts of terrorism, riots, explosions, embargo;
Labor difficulty, strikes, breakdown of machinery or equipment, accidents; Shortage or inability to obtain
raw materials, equipment, fuel, power, transportation; or Any cause beyond KOMET's reasonable control
or due to environmental influences such as wind, hailstones, snow, frost, etc
ii the Product(s) is damaged from abuse, misuse, improper installation, or neglect;
iii the Product(s) is altered or appears to have been attempted repair by unauthorized personnel;
iv if the Product(s) has been modified in any way; or if a defective product has remained in use, resulting in
consequential damage to the Product(s)
(continued)
Copyright 1999-2022 KometâAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometâAmplification

SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS
Note: Komet Amplification highly recommends that you review all packaging, insurance
requirements, and shipping recommendations of the shipping company you intend to use
Komet suggests using a: 30 X 15 X 15 foam injected, 300 lb test, corrugated cardboard shipping
box
Komet also suggests having your amplifier professionally packaged to ensure safety
Shipped amplifiers should be insured for at least the full value of the amplifier
Please do not return ship your amplifier with the AC power cable
Please do not return ship your amplifier with n o s / expensive vacuum tubes
Please do not return ship your amplifier for “Home Delivery“ service or Saturday delivery
Please do not send for early morning delivery (before 9:00 A M ) Please mark afternoon delivery
Our address is commercial Please check any corresponding box on shipping label
Note: Komet Amplification 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 Any and all damaged
packages and their contents in which claims are filed for damage via shipping to Komet
Amplification are between customer and shipper Komet Amplification will do their
absolute best to help any customer with a shipping insurance claim
Our address:
Komet Amplification, L L C
1865 Dallas Drive
Baton Rouge, La 70806-1454
[phone]
E-mail: info@kometam s.com
Customer’s Folder: htt s://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1Tb6bHKD9l0yINkahMwznwchCPFXtc7vn
Copyright 1999-2022 KometâAmplification Group, L L C May not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from KometâAmplification