SONICTONE AMPLIFICATION Classic Series User manual

Classic Series
Fixed-Biased Tube Amplifier
50-Watt Head or 2x12 Combo
- or -
100-Watt Head
Owner’s Manual
www.sonictoneamps.com
Made in the USA
Standard Model / Lead Model

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Table of Contents
Introduction
Safety Instructions
Features
Front Panel
Rear Panel
Warranty
Specifications
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SonicTone Amplification, LLC
P.O. Box 24456
New Orleans, LA 70184
[e-mail]
www.sonictoneamps.com
Made in the USA

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Introduction
I’d like to personally thank you for purchasing the SonicTone ‘81 Special tube amplifier. I know
how important every player’s tone is to them and that consideration goes into every amp.
Carefully designed and hand-built here in the U.S., the ‘81 Special represents the arrival of a
new wave of rock and metal sounds that exploded on the scene in the early 1980’s. From early
break-up crunches to a tight, rich harmonic overdrive, this amp will deliver some fantastic
tones for you to use when playing live or in the studio. Good luck and enjoy the amp!
Sincerely,
Nick Sagona
Always use the correct types of tubes for this amplifier.
Always match the impedance to correct value of the speaker load.
Do not attempt to bypass the fuses or use different fuse values.
Please only use the provided SonicTone footswitch, which is compatible with this amplifier.
Please only use an active 5-pin DIN cable to connect the footswitch to the amplifier.
Please operate the amplifier in dry and safe conditions.
Please store the amplifier in a reasonable, climate-controlled environment.
If you are experiencing issues with the amplifier, please have it worked on by a qualified
service technician only. Do not attempt to open the amp and work on it yourself.
WARNING!
Dangerous and potentially lethal voltages may be present in the amplifier even after it has
been turned off and unplugged. Do not open the amp yourself or touch the inside of it.
Only have a qualified service technician open up and work on the amplifier.
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Safety Instructions

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Features
The ‘81 Special is a fixed-biased tube amplifier that uses four (4) 12AX7 preamp tubes. The 50-watt model uses two
(2) EL34 power tubes and the 100-watt model uses (4) EL34 power tubes. The features include:
Footswitch Operation:
The footswitch requires the active 5-pin DIN cable to be inserted into the footswitch jack on the rear panel as well
as the jack on the footswitch. In order for the footswitch to operate correctly, the corresponding switches on the
amp must be set to the OFF position. The left button (orange LED) engages channel 2.
On the Standard model, the right button (green LED) engages the FX loop.
On the Lead model, the right button (red LED) engages the solo boost.
2 channels with independent gain controls (footswitchable)
Shared 3-band EQ with presence
Master volume
Bright switch on channel 1
Classic/Hotrod switch on channel 2
Tube-driven buffered FX loop
Half-power pentode/triode switch
3-way output impedance switch (16, 8 or 4 ohm)
Two (2) 12” Celestion 65-watt 8 ohm Creamback speakers,
wired for 16 ohm (stock combo version only)
Birch plywood cabinet with finger-jointed construction
2-button footswitch
Standard
Bypassable and footswitchable FX loop
FX loop series/parallel switch with send
and return controls
Lead
Solo boost control, bypassable and
footswitchable
Bypassable FX loop

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Front Panel
Pilot Light – illuminates when the amp is turned on.
Power Switch – turns the amp on.
Standby Switch – allows the amp to be played. When the standby is off, the tubes are kept warm, but
the amp will not make any sound.
Presence – active tonal control that can be used to brighten up the amp’s overall sound.
Bass, Middle and Treble – passive equalization controls to adjust the tone of the amp.
Master – the overall master volume of
the amp.
FX Loop or Solo Boost LED –
illuminates when the feature is
engaged.
Volume 2 – control to adjust the overall
volume on channel 2.
Hotrod/Classic – switch to engage a bolder tone on channel 2. In “Hotrod” mode, channel 2 will have
additional gain and a more aggressive, slightly brighter voicing.
Gain 2 – control to adjust the amount of gain on channel 2.
Bright Switch – switch to engage a slightly brighter tone for channel 1.
Gain 1 – control to adjust the amount of gain on channel 1.
CH 1 / CH 2 Switch & LED – switch to change between channels 1 and 2 when not using the
footswitch. The LED illuminates when channel 2 is engaged.
Input Jack – mono input jack to plug your guitar into.
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97 11 13 14
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6 8 10 12
‘81 Special
INPUT
BASS
BRIGHT NORMAL
CH 2
CH 1
MIDDLE TREBLE
MASTER VOLUME 2 GAIN 1
2 8
0 10
4 6
PRESENCE
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
GAIN 2
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
POWER STANDBY
ON ON
HOTROD CLASSICFX LOOP
‘81 Special
INPUT
BASS
BRIGHT NORMAL
CH 2
CH 1
MIDDLE TREBLE
MASTER VOLUME 2 GAIN 1
2 8
0 10
4 6
PRESENCE
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
GAIN 2
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
POWER STANDBY
ON ON
HOTROD CLASSICFX LOOP
‘81 Special Lead
INPUT
BASS
BRIGHT NORMAL
CH 2
CH 1
MIDDLE TREBLE MASTER VOLUME 2 GAIN 1
2 8
0 10
4 6
PRESENCE
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
GAIN 2
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
POWER STANDBY
ON ON
HOTROD CLASSICSOLO
Lead

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Rear Panel
Footswitch Jack – 5-pin DIN jack to plug the provided footswitch cable into.
FX Series/Parallel Switch (Standard) – switch to operate the FX loop in either series or parallel mode. In
parallel mode, the original signal is allowed to pass through unaffected and the send control acts as a “wet/
dry blend” to mix the level of affected signal into the mix with the unaffected signal. In parallel, depending
on the amount of “wet” signal set by the send control, the overall signal may be louder due to the dry and
wet signals being mixed together. In this scenario, it is recommended to use the return control to balance
out the overall volume.
FX Loop Return Jack – mono input jack for the FX loop return signal.
FX Loop Bypass Switch – switch to fully bypass the FX loop circuit.
FX Loop Send Jack – mono input jack for the FX loop send signal.
FX Loop Return Level (Standard) – control to adjust the level of the return signal to the amp.
FX Loop Send Level (Standard) – control to adjust the level of the send signal to the outboard FX chain.
Solo Boost Level & Switch (Lead) – control to adjust the level of the solo boost. Pull out to activate.
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Lead
Standard
A note about the FX Loop – When the FX loop is off (bypassed), the entire signal will bypass the FX loop circuit
altogether. However, the send and return jacks are switched jacks that are connected together when nothing is
plugged into them. Therefore, when the circuit is on, signal will be allowed to pass through the FX loop if nothing is
plugged into it. Once a cable is inserted into either one of the jacks, that connection is broken and will the signal will
go out through the send jack and have to be returned through the return jack. If the FX loop is not being used, the
return control can be used as an additional volume control to reduce the volume when the FX loop is on, and then
boost the volume when the FX loop is switched off. This will effectively provide a volume “boost” option.

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Parallel Speaker Jacks – mono input jacks to plug the speaker(s) into. PLEASE NOTE: The jacks are in parallel,
so if you plug two equal impedance speaker loads into them, you must set the impedance switch to half their
impedance. For example, with two 16 ohm speaker loads plugged in, the impedance switch should be set to 8
ohms.
Impedance Selector Switch – switch to select the correct impedance of the speaker load hooked up to the amp.
Bias Probes – test jacks to check the bias values of the power tubes.*
Full/Half Power Switch – switch to change the power setting between half and full power. This feature changes
the operation of the power tubes between pentode (full) and triode (half.) The amount of power reduction in
wattage is approximate.**
Fuse Holders – receptacles for the amp’s fuses.
AC Jack – jack to plug the provided AC cord into.
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The bias pot is located on the top of the amp chassis
near the power tubes. Please only have the bias
adjusted by a qualified technician.
Please note, the power reduction in wattage does not
equate to a 50% reduction in overall loudness (dB.)
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Rear Panel (continued)
2-Year Limited Warranty
This amplifier is protected with a limited, 2-year warranty for any and all defective issues with the build
workmanship and parts, excluding tubes, transformers and speakers. The warranty does not cover general wear
and tear, neglect, misuse or abuse, damage from liquids (water, alcohol, etc.), disasters, acts of God or unauthorized
modifications. Any modifications made to the amp by the owner or a technician will void the warranty. The owner
is responsible for all warranty shipping costs. Once the warranty work is completed, the customer will be notified
and sent a final shipping invoice. The owner then is required to pay the shipping invoice to have the repaired amp
shipped back to them. Returned warranty shipping will be insured and will require a signature.

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Specifications
Product Series:
Product Model:
Classic Series
‘81 Special Head or 2x12 Combo
www.sonictoneamps.com
Made in the USA
Width: 30 in
Height: 10.75 in
Depth: 9 in
Weight: 42.5 lbs
Width: 30 in
Height: 10.75 in
Depth: 9 in
Weight: 32.5 lbs
AC Input & Fuses:
Dimensions:
Footswitch:
U.S. Standard IEC jack rated for 120V @ 60Hz
Slo-blo mains fuse: 50W - 3A; 100W - 4A
Slo-blo high voltage (B+) fuse: 50W - 0.5A; 100W - 1A
2-button SonicTone footswitch
5-pin active DIN cable required for proper operation
50W 2x12 Combo100W Head50W Head
Width: 30 in
Height: 20.75 in
Depth: 10 in
Weight: 55.0 lbs
Speakers:
Two (2) 12-inch 65W 8 ohm Celestion Creambacks, wired for 16 ohm (Stock Combo Only)
Tubes & Power Output:
50-watt Model 100-watt Model
Four (4) 12AX7 preamp tubes
Two (2) EL34 power tubes
50W @ 16, 8 or 4 ohms
Four (4) 12AX7 preamp tubes
Four (4) EL34 power tubes
100W @ 16, 8 or 4 ohms