SONICTONE AMPLIFICATION Loyalist Modern Series User manual

Modern Series
50-Watt or 100-Watt
Fixed-Biased
3-Channel High-Gain
Tube Amplifier Head
Owner’s Manual
www.sonictoneamps.com
Made in the USA

2
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 Loyalist tube amplifier. I know
how important every player’s tone is to them and that consideration goes into every amp.
Part of the flagship Modern Series line up, the Loyalist is a British-voiced 3-channel high gain
machine. Carefully designed and hand-built here in the U.S., the Loyalist is full of features and
can produce blistering tones for the most demanding players. Whether playing live or in the
studio, this amp will deliver for you. 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 7-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 Loyalist is a fixed-biased, high-gain 3-channel tube amplifier that uses five (5) 12AX7 preamp tubes. The
50-watt model uses two (2) EL34 power tubes and the 100-watt model users four (4) EL34 power tubes. The
features include:
Footswitch Operation:
The footswitch requires the active 7-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 amp panel
switches must be set to their correct OFF positions. The CH1/CH2 switch must be set to CH2 and the CH2/CH3
three-way switch must be set to the middle OFF position. On the footswitch, the left button (green/red LED)
engages channel 1 or 2. When channel 2 is engaged, the second button (red LED) engages channel 3. The third
button (blue LED) engages the FX loop.
3 channels with independent gain and volume controls
2 separate 3-band EQs (Shared EQ between channels 2 and 3)
Presence and resonance controls
Master volume
A bright switch on channel 1
A clean/crunch switch on channel 1
Buffered FX loop, bypassable and footswitchable
FX loop series/parallel switch with send and return controls
Half-power pentode/triode switch
3-way output impedance switch (16, 8 or 4 ohm)
Birch plywood cabinet with finger-jointed construction

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BRIGHT NORMAL
FX LOOP
INPUT
CH 2/3
CH 1
CRUNCH
CLEAN
CH 3
CH 2
VOLUME 1 BASS MID TREBLE GAIN 1
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
RESONANCE PRESENCE BASS MID TREBLE
2 8
0 10
4 6
MASTER
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
28
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
POWER STANDBY
ON ON Loyalist
28
0 10
4 6
28
0 10
4 6
28
0 10
4 6
28
0 10
4 6
VOLUME GAIN
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.
Master – the overall master volume of the amp.
Resonance – active tonal control that can be
used to thicken up the amp’s overall sound.
Presence – active tonal control that can be
used to brighten up the amp’s overall sound.
FX Loop LED – illuminates when FX loop is
engaged.
Volume 2 – control to adjust the volume on channel 2.
Volume 3 – control to adjust the volume on channel 3.
Bass, Middle and Treble – passive equalization
controls to adjust the tone of the channels 2 & 3.
Gain 2 – control to adjust the gain on channel 2.
Gain 3 – control to adjust the gain on channel 3.
CH 2 / CH 3 Switch & LED – switch to change between
channel 2 and channel 3. The appropriate LED
illuminates when one of the channels is engaged. (The
switch must be set to the middle OFF position for the
footswitch to operate.)
Volume 1 – control to adjust the volume on channel 1.
Bass, Middle and Treble – passive equalization controls to adjust the tone of channel 1.
Bright Switch – switch to engage a slightly brighter tone for channel 1.
Gain 1 – control to adjust the gain on channel 1.
Clean/Crunch Switch – switch to engage more crunch on channel 1.
Input Jack – mono input jack to plug your guitar into.
CH 1 | CH 2/3 Switch & LED –
switch to change between channel
1 and channels 2 and 3. The LED
illuminates when channel 1 is
engaged. (The switch must be set
to the CH 2/3 for the footswitch to
operate.)
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4 5 7
86 11
1312
BRIGHT NORMAL
FX LOOP
INPUT
CH 2/3
CH 1
CRUNCH
CLEAN
CH 3
CH 2
VOLUME 1 BASS MID TREBLE GAIN 1
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
RESONANCE PRESENCE BASS MID TREBLE
2 8
0 10
4 6
MASTER
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
28
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
2 8
0 10
4 6
POWER STANDBY
ON ON Loyalist
28
0 10
4 6
28
0 10
4 6
28
0 10
4 6
28
0 10
4 6
VOLUME GAIN
16 181514 19 20
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Rear Panel
Footswitch Jack – 7-pin DIN jack to plug the provided footswitch cable into.
FX Series/Parallel Switch – 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 return FX loop signal.
FX Loop Bypass Switch – switch to fully bypass the FX loop circuit.
FX Loop Send Jack – mono input jack for the send FX loop signal.
FX Loop Return Level – control to adjust the level of the return signal to the amp.
FX Loop Send Level – control to adjust the level of the send signal to the outboard FX chain.
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.
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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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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:
Modern Series
Loyalist Head
www.sonictoneamps.com
Made in the USA
Dimensions:
Footswitch:
3-button SonicTone footswitch
7-pin active DIN cable required for proper operation
AC Input & Fuses:
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
Tubes & Power Output:
50-watt Model 100-watt Model
Five (5) 12AX7 preamp tubes
Two (2) EL34 power tubes
50W @ 16, 8 or 4 ohms
Five (5) 12AX7 preamp tubes
Four (4) EL34 power tubes
100W @ 16, 8 or 4 ohms
Width: 30 in
Height: 10.75 in
Depth: 9 in
Weight: 43.5 lbs
Width: 30 in
Height: 10.75 in
Depth: 9 in
Weight: 33.5 lbs
100W Head50W Head