Radial Engineering Tonebone JX-2 Switchbone User manual

®
™
CAUTION: You must read this manual
before connecting this device. There is a
strict procedure to follow especially when
connecting older vintage ampliers that are
not equipped with safety grounds.
RADIAL ENGINEERING
3 YEAR TRANSFERABLE WARRANTY
Radial Engineering Ltd. warrants this product to be free from defects
in material and workmanship and will remedy any such defects free
of charge according to the terms of this warranty. Radial Engineering
will repair or replace at its option any defective component(s) of this
product, excluding the nish, the tube, the footswitch (tubes and
footswitches are warranted for 90 days) and wear and tear from
normal use, for a period of three (3) years from the original date of
purchase. In the event that a particular product is no longer available,
Radial Engineering reserves the right to replace the product with
a similar product of equal or greater value. In the unlikely event
that a defect is uncovered, please call 1-800-942-1001 or email
[email protected] to obtain an RA number (Return Authorization
number) before the 3 year warranty period expires. Once you have
obtained an RA number you must return the product, freight prepaid,
within fteen (15) days after the date the RA number is issued. To
make a request or claim under this limited warranty, the product must
be returned prepaid in the original shipping container (or equivalent)
to Radial Engineering or to an authorized repair centre and you must
assume the risk of loss or damage. A copy of the original invoice
showing date of purchase and the dealer name must accompany any
request for work to be performed under this limited warranty. This
limited warranty shall not apply if the product has been damaged due
to abuse, misuse, misapplication, accident or as a result of service or
modication by any other than an authorized repair centre.
THERE ARE NO EXPRESSED WARRANTIES OTHER THAN
THOSE ON THE FACE HEREOF AND DESCRIBED ABOVE. NO
WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
SHALL EXTEND BEYOND THE RESPECTIVE WARRANTY PERIOD
DESCRIBED ABOVE OF THREE YEARS. RADIAL ENGINEERING
SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS ARISING
FROM THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU
SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER
RIGHTS, WHICH MAY VARY DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE
AND WHERE THE PRODUCT WAS PURCHASED.
www.tonebone.com
www.radialeng.com
1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 5M5
tel: [phone] fax: [phone]
email:[email protected]
JX-2 Users Guide v2.0 - Feb. 2010 Part #: R870 1030 00
Specications and appearance subject to change without notice. Copyright
© 2010 Radial Engineering Ltd.
www.radialeng.com
www.radialeng.com
True to the Music
Radial Engineering
1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam BC V3C 5M5
tel: [phone] • fax: [phone]
email: [email protected] • web: www.radialeng.com
JX•2 Switchbone
Users Guide
®
™

INDEX PAGE
Caution ............................................................................... 1
Introduction......................................................................... 3
Concept ............................................................................. 3
Grounding .......................................................................... 4
Feature set ........................................................................ 5
Getting started.................................................................... 6
Switch LED indicators ........................................................ 7
Drag™ Control ................................................................... 8
Boost Circuit ....................................................................... 8
Set-ups ............................................................................... 9
Questions & Answers ............................... Inside back cover
Warranty .................................................Outside back cover
Greetings from Radial! You are now an official Bonehead!
The following manual has been written to assist you with your new Radial
JX2 Switchbone. Please take the time to read it so you can take maximum
advantage of all the features that have been designed into this marvelous
device and are familiar with the safety procedures.
Should you have any questions on the Switchbone, please visit our web
site www.tonebone.com for up-to-date information. Occasionally, take
a few minutes to peruse the questions and answers section for helpful
tips that will surely emerge as more and more Switchbones are sold. If
by chance you have a question that is not covered in this manual or on
our web site, please feel free to contact Radial at [email protected]
and we will do our very best to get you an answer quickly. These ques-
tions are often the source for more FAQs on our site and serve to help
other Boneheads.
In the interim, enjoy! The Switchbone has been developed to help
you make music more fun and hopefully, enhance your creative spirit.
Now get out there and re up that double stack!
JX•2 Switchbone
User Guide
™
<<<<<<< CAUTION >>>>>>>
Please read before connecting
electronic devices to your JX2!
Caution must be used when connecting electronic equipment to
the JX2 switchbone. The JX2 bridges all electronic equipment
connected to it so faulty wiring or incorrect grounding of any of
the equipment may cause a shock hazard to be present and/or
damage to the JX2 or other connected equipment. Because
grounding schemes differ between manufacturers, it is important
to check for correct polarity, in particular with older ampliers using
2-prong unprotected A/C cords. If the polarity is reversed on an
ungrounded amplier there may be a potential of 120V present
between the amp chassis and ground. Radial Engineering takes
no responsibility for this or how the JX2 is connected or used.
It is the user’s full responsibility to ensure that proper electrical
polarity is maintained on all equipment connected to the JX2 and
that proper building electrical codes have been followed wherever
the JX2 is being used.
To reduce opportunity for shock hazard or damage to the JX2 or
connected equipment, plug the ¼” connectors into the ampliers
rst and then to the JX2. This is especially important when using
old ampliers that do not have 3-prong plugs as the possibility ex-
ists to touch the chassis ground with the connector plug tip when
the plug is inserted into the jack.
Cautions for ampliers with ungrounded 2-prong A/C cords:
Before connecting any input to an ungrounded amplier, power the
amp up and listen to the residual hum. If the amp has a two-posi-
tion ground polarity reverse switch, set the switch in the position
that produces the least residual hum from the speakers. If there
is no polarity switch, reverse the A/C plug at the outlet to nd the
least residual hum.
To ensure an ungrounded amplier does not present a shock
hazard: Test for voltage potential by connecting a voltmeter be-
tween the amplier chassis and the JX2 chassis. If voltage is pres-
ent, reverse the amplier’s A/C supply polarity and test again.
Note that due to this potential problem, damage to the JX2 or
other connected equipment caused by improper A/C polarity is
not covered by warranty.
Radial Engineering Ltd. Switchbone™Users Guide
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Radial Engineering Ltd. Switchbone™Users Guide
True to the Music True to the Music

Of course, once you get these amps connected together, you have
to control them! This is where the Switchbone also shines! The
Switchbone is easy to use. The foot switch layout and LED readout
follows a ‘common sense’ and intuitive approach that is very natural.
We have also added a boost circuit to allow you to ‘step-up’ the output
to both amps simultaneously for a solo or extra saturation when playing
through a distorted sound. We have even added a separate output for
your tuner. This also takes the tuner out of the audio circuit thus ensuring
you get the direct tone of your guitar.
CAUTION:
When connecting two ampliers together you must ensure that they are
properly grounded as per the electrical code!
Unfortunately, we are unable to test every amplier on the market and
cannot assure that the electrical system in your house or venue has been
wired correctly. You must ensure that proper electrical codes have been
maintained and only equipment that has been certied by your country’s
electrical code is being used.
An important note about grounding:
Since guitar circuits are high-gain and high impedance,
RF noise, hum and buzz are easily induced. Connecting
equipment with different grounding schemes often results in
ground loops and more noise. The Radial JX2 addresses
these problems by employing a oating ground architecture
which requires an earth ground. This is accomplished via
the Channel-1 output. Channel-1 provides an electrical
ground from the JX2 chassis to the primary guitar amplier,
therefore always connect Channel-1 to a guitar amp with
a 3-prong grounded A/C power cord to enable a proper
ground and keep noise out.
To ensure an ungrounded (2 prong) amplier does not
present a shock hazard: Test for voltage potential by con-
necting a voltmeter between the amplier chassis and the
JX2 chassis. If voltage is present, reverse the amplier’s
A/C supply polarity and test again.
43
1. INTRODUCTION
The Radial JX2 Switchbone was born from the demand we received from
users like you. The Switchbone is in fact a pared down version of the
popular Radial JD7 Injector, a studio recording device that allows as many
as 7 ampliers to be driven from one guitar.
The Switchbone has been optimized for stage use and allows a guitar to
drive two ampliers and a tuner from one guitar input and do it without
introducing buzz, hum, or distortion.
Sounds easy enough… but it is not. For those that have tried connecting
two ampliers together using Y-cords or some of the other AB-Y boxes
that have come before, you are familiar with the many challenges:
Drop in gain, tone changes, buzz and hum just to name a few. The
Radial Switchbone is a remarkable device that deals with all of these
problems and brings forth a design that is easy to use, musical and
truly effective.
Please take the time to read this manual before you plug in. It will help you
get the most out of your Radial Switchbone and also eliminate potential
shock hazards that can occur when connecting equipment together.
2. CONCEPT
The Radial Switchbone begins with the concept that most ‘tone crazy’
players will generally use two amps on stage. (Of course more is better,
but then someone would have to carry all those amps to the gigs!)
When one drives two ampliers with one guitar, the signal from the pickup
is divided in two and the sound changes. To get around this problem,
the Switchbone employs a unique Class-A amplier circuit that has been
optimized for use with guitars. With customers like Eric Johnson, Carlos
Santana and Neal Schon, we are not allowed to alter the sound of their
favorite vintage axe. The sound must be real!
This leads to the next problem: Your guitar has now gone from being
passive to essentially becoming active. Your pickup is no longer
connected directly to the amplier. It is being ‘buffered’ (amplied). The
natural relationship is lost. To compensate for this, we have introduced
a feature called Drag™ control to allow you to reintroduce the natural
loading that is lost. With load-correction, the instrument goes back to
normal. It breathes!
Finally as soon as you connect two ampliers together they hum, they
buzz and sometimes even spark with hundreds of volts! This is due
to the way that each manufacturer builds their ampliers. Some use
positive ground, others negative. Some use the chassis as a ground
plane and some old designs from the 50’s and 60’s that do not have
proper 3-pin safety U grounds. The Radial Switchbone incorporates a
transformer isolated output, a ground lift switch and a polarity reverse
switch to allow your two ampliers to be used in tandem. These are
designed to separate and isolate the electrical current of each amplier
and eliminate ground loops.
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3. GETTING STARTED
The Radial Switchbone comes equipped with a 15VDC power supply.
Connect this to your pedal and then to the AC power outlet. Before
connecting your guitar and ampliers, make sure the ampliers are
turned off. The Switchbone will automatically turn on as soon as it is
connected to power. Before you start, make sure that the BOOST light is
off (boost turned off) and the BOTH switch/LED is also off. The only LED
that should be on is either 1(A) or 2(B) output above the toggle select.
CAUTION: Make sure you have read the electrical connections and
tested your amps for proper grounding as detailed previously.
To reduce opportunity for shock hazard or damage to the JX2 or connect-
ed equipment, plug the ¼” connectors into the ampliers rst and then
to the JX2. This is especially important when using old ampliers that
do not have 3-prong plugs as the possibility exists to touch the chassis
ground with the connector plug tip when the plug is inserted into the jack.
Connecting your ampliers is easy. Output 1(A) should be for your main
amplier. Output 2(B) will be the alternate. The 2(B) output incorporates
the isolation transformer, ground lift switch and 180 degree polarity
reverse. Output 1(A) is the ground channel and should connect to an
amplier that is equipped with a proper U safety ground.
You can insert effect pedals before or after the JX2 Switchbone to
create all kinds of pedal set-ups. This is discussed in ‘Set-ups’ later
in this manual.
Once your set-up is connected, make sure your amp volumes and effect
pedals are OFF before you turn on your amps. The following tests should
be done with both amps set on a clean setting so that you can hear any
potential noise, phase and hum problems.
6
1. 15VDC Supply center positive. Only use the Radial power supply
that came with your Tonebone.
2. TUNER output keeps tuner out of audio signal path.
3. OUT-2 is transformer isolated for your 2nd amp.
4. OUT-1 is your primary connection for proper grounding this needs to
be connected at all times.
5. GAIN is used to adjust the power booster gain level.
6. DRAG™ load connection let’s you dial in the proper load for your
pick-ups.
7. SWITCH SELECT allows you to assign the Boost Foot Switch to
mute, mid boost only, or gain and mid boost.
8. MID BOOST selector lets you add desired amount of mid range on
the power boost circuit.
9. BOOST on or off LED monitors the Boost status.
10. BOOST on or off foot switch.
11. INPUT from your guitar.
12. TOGGLE SWITCH AND LED INDICATORS Foot switch toggles
input signal between out-1 and out-2. LED indicators show output
status.
13. BOTH Foot Switch turns BOTH 1 & 2 amps on or off.
14. GROUND lift disconnects the ground at output 2(B), to reduce
noise.
15. POLARITY reverse toggles output 2(B)’s polarity to bring your
amps or pedals into phase.
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Start with 1(A) by turning your amp volume up. Now do the same by
switching to 2(B). Once both channels are working and are set to
relatively the same volume, depress the BOTH foot switch. Both amps
should now be on.
Now listen to the residual noise. Try lifting
the ground switch on output 2(B). If you
cannot hear a difference, then leave the
ground connected. Now try reversing the
polarity. This will give you a sense of
spacious-ness when out of phase and a
more unied and centered sound when
in phase.
The polarity reverse has been designed
to allow you to connect to two different ampliers or two amp channels
and compensate for the way these have been wired. It should be not-
ed that many effect pedals also reverse the polarity as sound passes
through them.
4. SWITCH LED INDICATORS
With the Switchbone, you do not have to tap dance to get your set-ups.
The innovative ‘Toggle mode™’ switch allows you to toggle between two
amps with the touch of a switch. Each amp has an LED indicator that
lets you know what is on.
When the BOTH switch is depressed, the BOTH LED will go on and the
newly activated amplier LED will begin to ash. The ashing light tells
you that when the BOTH is disengaged, this amp output will turn off. The
cool thing about this feature is that when both amps are on, you can hit
the TOGGLE switch and the ashing LED will toggle from Amp-1 to Amp-2.
This means that you can pre-determine which amp will be turned off by
simply depressing the TOGGLE switch so
that the amp that you intend to shut off is in
the ashing mode. No tap dancing!
78
Example:
When amp 1 is on, the channel 1 LED
next to the TOGGLE switch will be lit.
Depress the BOTH switch and the 2nd
channel is now activated. The new chan-
nel LED will ash.
Hit the TOGGLE foot switch and the
ashing LED will toggle between the two
channels.
To go back to single channel operation,
depress the BOTH switch again and the
ashing channel will go off.
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5. DRAG™ CONTROL
Drag™ control was originally introduced on the Radial JD7 Injector as
a means to correct the loading that is lost when a guitar signal passes
through an ‘amplication stage’ or a buffer.
Here’s the scoop: When you connect your
guitar directly to your amp, the amplier’s input
impedance reacts with the pick-up and this
relationship plays a critical role in the tone of
the instrument and amplier combination. Since
the Switchbone is essentially a pre-amplier, it
actually turns your passive guitar into an active
one. The problem is that your guitar no longer
‘sees’ your amplier. It is seeing a ‘perfect’ load
from the Switchbone. But no matter how perfect ‘perfect’ is, sometimes
perfect may not sound right. With one simple control, Drag™ allows you
to reintroduce the relationship that is lost.
Start with DRAG set to 12 o’clock. This is about normal for a Fender Strat
and a Twin. As you go clock-wise, you are reducing Drag. This sounds
like a slightly high frequency or presence boost. Move the control until it
sounds right to you. We have purposely recessed the Drag™ control so
that once set, it is not easily changed. Use a guitar pick like a screwdriver
to make the adjustments.
6. BOOST CIRCUIT
The Switchbone is equipped with a power booster to allow you to kick up
the output level for solos, or to compensate when using only one amp.
The boost level is variable and is controlled by the recessed potentiometer
next to the Drag control.
There are also two slider switches that
are associated with the boost circuit.
The rst switch assigns the way the
foot switch is being used. There are
3 settings:
Position 1 – MUTE: disengages the
boost function and turns this into a
mute switch. This allows you to mon-
itor the Tuner output without having
any sound pass through to the output of the JX2. Be careful! This is
usually the rst place to look if you are not getting any sound out of your
Switchbone!
Position 2 – MID boost ONLY: This bypasses the boost function and directs
the signal through a mid boost. The mid boost is used to increase sustain
for soloing. There are three settings on the mid boost circuit. Flat, 5dB
and 10dB. These have been carefully selected to provide a functional
increase that will match most guitars.
Position 3 – Mid Boost and GAIN boost: This is the most often used
setting. This allows both gain and mid boost to be boosted as needed.
Simply adjust the boost level and away you go.

10
7. SET-UPS
The Radial Switchbone has been designed for maximum exibility on
pedal boards or as a stand alone amplier switcher / controller. As such,
the Switchbone can be positioned at the input of the signal chain, the
output or in between. Where you use the Switchbone is entirely based
on how you intend to use it. As such, the combinations are truly endless
and the only way to truly approach the subject and bring value to you the
player is by discussing options and a philosophical approach to creating
your sound. (Of course all the while having fun!)
Take a moment to consider how the boost circuit will work within a given
set-up. For instance, if you are using an amplier that is distorted, the
boost will not increase perceived loudness but increase the saturation or
distortion. This would for instance, add greater sustain during a solo.
Activating the BOOST with a clean amplier will on the other hand increase
the loudness. Therefore if one were to use the Switchbone after a distortion
pedal, one could get a boost for soloing. Used in front of a distortion pedal
would once again yield more saturation.
As shown here, the Switchbone can be used in countless congurations
based on how your guitar amps are designed, the type of sounds you are
looking for and what effect pedals you use. Ultimately, it will open the
door for new sounds and combinations never before realized.
9
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True to the Music True to the Music
SWITCHBONE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Can I use any two ampliers with the Switchbone?
Yes….the Switchbone should be able to be used with any two guitar ampliers without problems.
Make sure you follow the set-up procedures to ensure your equipment is safe. If you are not
sure consult a qualied technician.
What happens when I reverse the polarity of the 2nd amp?
The polarity reverse allows you to correctly line-up the polarity of the devices that you are
using. For instance, some ampliers will be ‘out of phase’ with others and some amp channels
even on the same amplier will be out of phase with each other. The Switchbone allows you
to compensate or create new sounds by purposely setting one channel out of phase with the
other.
What is the difference between out-of-phase and polarity reverse?
In guitar lingo these terms are interchanged however in true electrical terms they are different.
Reversing the polarity is switching the positive and the negative wires around. Phase is actually
in the time domain. A signal can be 30 degrees out of phase with another causing the sound to
be muddy. 180 degree absolute phase shift is essentially identical to reversing the polarity.
What is an AB box?
An AB box is a switcher that allows the musician to select one amp (A) or the other (B). These
are usually passive devices that are simply a switch wired to two outputs.
What is an AB-Y box?
This is a box that allows AB functionality as above with the added features of being able to turn
both amps on at the same time like a Y-jack.
How does the Switchbone eliminate Switch noise?
Most AB boxes cause a click or thump when switching. The Switchbone uses a series of
expensive devices called photo cells (2 per switch) to perform this task. We go to this extreme
because when a guitar amp is set to distortion the input sensitivity is increased dramatically
and clicks and pops caused by switching are amplied.
Why do most AB-Y boxes sound so bad?
The problem is mostly due to the Y or when driving more than one amplier at the same time.
The moment you try to drive more that one amplier, the guitar level will drop by half or 3dB
unless amplied. This causes the guitar to lack punch and denition. You can x the problem
by introducing an amplier but unless done very carefully, the sound of the guitar will change.
Then of course you have to deal with the hum, buzz and polarity problems.
Why is there a mid boost connected to the power boost circuit?
Guitars live in the mid range. This means that if you want your guitar to cut through the mix
during a solo or if you intend to increase sustain, adding mid range is critical.
Will Drag™ Control still work if pedals are in front of the Switchbone?
Yes although it is most noticeable with true bypass pedals.
Can I use the Switchbone in the studio?
Yes of course! The Switchbone is extremely clean and will work ne in the studio. You can
also use it to ‘re-amplify’ your amps or effects by recording a dry track, and then sending the
signal to the Radial X-Amp which converts low-impedance signals to high-impedance guitar
signals. The X-Amp would then be connected to the Switchbone.