RedSeven Amplification The Dirt User manual

The Dirt
model: The Dirt
User Manual

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INDIEX
INTRODUCTION pg 3
POWER SUPPLY pg 3
PREMISE pg 5
SOUND DESCRIPTION pg 6
TECHNICAL FEATURES pg 7
FIRST USAGE pg 9
LOOP FX pg 10
TUBE LAYOUT AND CABINET pg 11
TROUBLESHOTTING pg 12
WARRANTY pg 13

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INTRODUCTION
“The Dirt” is a single channel guitar tube based amplifier. Born with the idea of being the quintessential
of ‘80s rock/hard rock/metal in a very lightweight and portable format is now available in 35 limited
edition pieces worldwide.
Additional information and audio/video demos can be found at www.redseven-amplification.com or
you can contact us any time at [email protected]
POWER SUPPLY
The Dirt is shipped with hardwired primary voltage. 240V, 230V or 115V must be chosen at order time.
DIMENSION AND WEIGHT
The Dirt is 490mm wide, 240mm height, 230mm depth. Weight is 13Kg

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NOTE: IMPORTANT…NOT TO DO!
• Do not try to change output jacks (impedance) while the amplifier is on. You
must turn STANDBY and POWER switches to OFF position before changing the
output impedance.
• Do not try to change input/output levels of you devices plugged into fx loop
while the amplifier is on. You must turn STANDBY and POWER switches to OFF
position before changing input/output levels of your gear plugged into fx loop
or at least disconnect cables form SEND and RETURN jacks.
THIS OPERATIONS CAN LEAD TO FINAL BREAK OF THIS AMPLIFIER. IN THESE
PARTICULAR CASES RED SEVEN AMPLIFICATION WILL NO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
DAMAGES TO AMPLIFIER ITSELF OR PEOPLE. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND YOU ARE
HANDLING A DEVICE WITH POTENTIALLY LETHAL VOLTAGE. PLEASE CAREFULLY
READ THIS MANUAL BEFORE TURING ON THE AMPLIFIER.
RED SEVEN AMPLIFICATION ARE NOT RESPONABLE FOR ANY PARTS SUBJECT TO
WEAR (LIKE TUBES, POTS, CAPACITORS, ETC).
WARNING!!
This amplifier uses potential lethal voltage, it must be inspected
only by expert people!
WARNING!!
Before insert power cord inside The Dirt, check the voltage plate
written near IEC socket and be sure to match wall voltage of your
country.

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PREMISE
By developing this amplifier we had few visions in our minds:
– THE AMPLIFIER MUST SOUND GOOD IN A MUSICAL CONTEST AND NOT IN YOUR
BEEDROOM EXCLUSIVELY.
This can be hard to understand to some people, but in every step of our developing
process we recorded it through a professional studio recording system, making sure
that all useless frequencies which can fight with bass guitar, synths or maybe cymbals
in a live/recording environment are gone.!A huge quantity of useless gain and can be
a bad thing and we have taken care of this issue as well.!
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NEW IMPROVED LOOP FX AND TOTAL BYPASS
For first time since 2018 we update our fx loop circuit and we give the chance of entirely
bypass it. What this means? Anyone in the business know loop fx stage change a little
bit the sound of the amp, it’s a written law and you can’t do anything about it. A great
designer can only try to minimalize this tonal change to a point where it’s near to 0.
Bypassing loop fx in The Dirt will completely remove both send and return stage, for a
direct and purer connection between preamp and power amp.
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MANTA RV24 MIL STYLE POTENTIOMETER
Research for tone is endless but we’re enjoying the travel so far. For this episode, we
discovered a new brand of audiophile grade, military style potentiometers which we
believe to be very fine and superior to what we used until today. We’re happy to have
introduced them in this design and we’re looking forward to integrate them in future
designs.
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MIXED BUILDING METHOD
Endless debate on PTP vs PCB. Thirty-five units seems a little number but once you hand
build all of them can be considered a quite high number.
For The Dirt we choose best of both worlds: main circuit is design on PCB, to offer a
virtually infinite life, when we wired every single cable and connection by hands,
putting all our experience in the work.

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SOUND DESCRIPTION
First born in 2020 as a custom request by our dear friend/customer Giovanni, “The Dirt”
showed up couple years later in 2022 at our laboratory for some fresh tubes, when we
almost forgot about it.
Once set it up and polished a little bit, we have a moment of joy and love for this
amplifier, moment who led us to think it was really a waste of time to have just one
example of this custom developed circuit in the world for just one guy.
This is how the limited edition “The Dirt” was born.
As the name suggest, “The Dirt” was thought with the aim of recreate the iconic
distorted sounds of the biggest ‘80s rock/glam/hardrock/metal bands.
For the first time in our history, we approached a different philosophy and style of build.
A single channel amplifier with not so many options, voted to simplicity and purity
(opposite to our Duality series, for example).
The only one channel available is the epitome of “british” distorted sounds, from the
lightest crunch to what can be considered a lead sound and everything in between.
The “set and forget” approach for the player was another thing we wanted to offer, by
limiting various tonal option and to be able to focused on playing only. Matter of fact
there’s no footswitch or possibility to change sound on the fly.
This can be considered a perfect amplifier for recording session due to his simplicity
and immediate usage, but also can be used in any live situation.

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TECHNICAL FEATURES
FRONT PANEL:
(from left to right)
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POWER ON / POWER OFF SWITCH:
turn the amplifier on or off.
•
STANDBY / ON SWITCH:
turn the amplifier in standby mode or in operative
mode.
•
ORANGE LED
: this led will indicate the state of incoming power supply. It will
turn on if everything is ok.
•
INPUT JACK
: this is where you want to insert your guitar cable.
POTS:
•
PRESENCE:
global setting for presence control. It acts on every channel.
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MASTER VOLUME:
global volume for the amplifier, placed after return jack;
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TREBLE:
treble control for EQ section;
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MIDDLE:
middle control for EQ section;
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BASS:
bass control for EQ section;
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GAIN:
global amount of gain for the amplifier.
SWITCHES:
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LOOP FX:
ON/OFF for loop fx;
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FLAT/MID BOOST:
standard or boosted setting for mid frequencies;
•
NORMAL/+++:
dual mode for gain structure. Normal had the less gain and less
compression. +++ mode has more gain and compression.

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REAR PANEL
(from left to right)
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SEND & RETURN:
Connection between pre amp and power amp. D100 is
shipped with pedal friendly signal level.
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OUTPUT:
output jacks for connect the amp to cabinets. Please read carefully the
impedance before connect your cabinets.
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HT FUSE:
high tension fuse. Replace ONLY with same type.
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IEC SOCKET:
connect power cable here.
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MAIN FUSE:
input voltage fuse. Replace ONLY with same type.

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FIRST USAGE
Before plugging in the power cord, make sure to check input voltage of the amplifier
and be sure to match it with your wall voltage, and then insert the power chord.!Before
plugging in the speaker cable, check the impedance of your cab and match the output
impedance of the amplifier with the impedance switch on the rear panel, then connect
the speaker cable from cabinet to amplifier.
Now you are ready to put the Power Switch in “POWER ON” position. Leave the amplifier
in this state for at least thirty seconds.!Plug your signal cable into input jack then you
are ready to put the Standby Switch to “ON” position. Now you can rockʼnʼroll!

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LOOP FX
Loop effects on “The Dirt” is placed between preamp output and power amp input,
right before master volume. It’s a buffered 100% serial loop fx with instrument level
signal.
When loop effect is engaged 100% of your sound will pass thru the effect wired to
send/return jacks. When it’s bypassed, the signal goes straight from preamp to power
amp.

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TUBE LAYOUT
This amplifier comes with EL34B type tubes in the power amp section and 12AX7B in
preamp.
Power tube can’t be changed with other type of tubes (i.e 6L6s, KT88s, etc), they can be
substitute only with other EL34 type tubes. You need to check the bias every time
power amp tubes are changed. For any assistance please contact us at info@redseven-
amplification.com
Do not try swap P.A. tubes without adjusting bias current. In the most case this can lead
to a simply tube failure, in some other you can make some serious damages!
(from left to right):
V1: 12ax7. Gain stage 1 & 2.
V2: 12ax7. Gain stage 3 & 4.
V3: 12ax7. Phase inverter.
V4 & V5: EL34. Power amp tubes.

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CABINET AND SPEAKERS
For the best sonic experience ever we highly suggest to play this amplifier with
RedSeven Pro Cab series, especially with 4x12 model.
We develop this amplifier thru this cabinet so this is the natural extension for it.
We suggest you to try “the Dirt” with Creamback 65W (G12M). This is our first choice.
Other speakers model/brand can be good too.
TROUBLESHOTTING
• The Dirt IS NOT TURNING ON
Check the power chord, sometimes it will be loose and cannot make good
contact with IEC socket. Replace it. If this doesn’t work check MAIN fuse, if it’s
blown replace with SAME type and try again to turn on again. If fuse continue to
blown, turn off the amp and contact RedSeven Amplificaton.
• The Dirt IS TURNING ON (ORANGE LED IS ON) BUT WITH NO SOUND
First of all be sure to connect speaker cable properly, both amplifier as the cabinet.
Check the input signal from guitar too. If this doesn’t work check HT fuse, if it’s
blown replace with SAME type and try again to turn on again. If fuse continue to
blown, turn off the amp and contact RedSeven Amplificaton.
• The Dirt IS MAKE NO SOUND
If everything works properly be sure to master volume and gain not at 0.
For any problem and in any time you can contact a qualified tech at: info@redseven-
amplification.com
We will replay to you as soon as possible.

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WARRANTY DESCLAMER
Please, do not try to open the amplifier in any case. For any problem contact your seller
or write to us. This amplifier runs at very high voltage that can lead to death. Any
inexpert person should not even think of do anything inside this amplifier. RedSeven
Amplification offer a standard two year fully warranty for any component (except to
wear subjects).
By removing the amplifier form his wood cabinet or by making any modification to the
original state will violate standard warranty and RedSeven Amplification will not
responsible for any damage to people, things or animals.
Revision 1.0
March 2023