Valve Heaven The Stack User manual

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by Valve Heaven
by Valve Heavenby Valve Heaven
by Valve Heaven
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Valve Heaven / Australia /
Valve Heaven / Australia / Valve Heaven / Australia /
Valve Heaven / Australia / www.valveheaven.com
www.valveheaven.comwww.valveheaven.com
www.valveheaven.com

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Congratulations on your purchase o “The Stack” ampli ier, by Valve Heaven.
Everyone who has had the chance to hear this little powerhouse o an amp has been amazed at
the huge rock sounds it produces. Finally, you can have this great sound at your ingertips at a
home/apartment riendly volume!
Here are some instructions on use and optimisation o The Stack so you can maximise your
enjoyment o this unique ampli ier.
Features:
Features:Features:
Features:
•Appealing “retro” aluminium/chrome 1950’s styling.
•Very strong industrial construction.
•Tiny size and weight – it measures only 12cm x 8cm x 9cm and weighs only 650grams.
•In spite o its small size, it is a complete all valve ampli ier using the same topology as a
ull sized guitar amp.
•Meticulously hand constructed using time honoured “point to point” wiring or optimum
sound and reliability.
•Unique “plug and play” unction which allows you to easily change valves in your amp
with a wide range o valve types to customise tone and gain structure.
•Using an innovative power design, The Stack is powered by a 12V DC power pack. This
also allows battery operation o the amp or buskers or touring musicians on the road.
The Stack draws a tiny 450mA o current – 12V batteries can power the amp or up to 8
hours be ore recharging. It runs cool in operation.
•Minimalist controls that make it easy to amiliarise yoursel with the operation o the amp.
•Headphone adaptor plug included.
The Stack layout: Front
The Stack layout: FrontThe Stack layout: Front
The Stack layout: Front
Input:
Input:Input:
Input: The input socket will accept signals rom all types o guitar pickups.
Volume
VolumeVolume
Volume: This control sets the drive/distortion o The Stack. Used in conjunction with the guitar
volume control, the amp moves smoothly rom warm clean sounds towards over the top
overdriven tones. In addition, the volume control has a built in power switch activated by rotating
it clockwise – just like old vintage amps.
Tone:
Tone:Tone:
Tone: This control allows you to dial in tones rom dark and subdued to strident treble boost
sounds.
Input
InputInput
Input
Volume
VolumeVolume
Volume
Tone
ToneTone
Tone

The Stack Amp layout: Rear
The Stack Amp layout: RearThe Stack Amp layout: Rear
The Stack Amp layout: Rear
Output:
Output:Output:
Output: For connecting the speaker o your choice. Speakers rom 4 to 16 ohm are suitable.
Alternatively, headphones can be plugged in here via the included adapter. For recording, the
optional line out lead connects between the output socket and a recording input.
Power:
Power:Power:
Power: This socket provides the power input rom the supplied 12V DC adapter, or the optional
12V battery power lead.
Quick Setup Guide:
Quick Setup Guide:Quick Setup Guide:
Quick Setup Guide:
•Unpack your amp and remove valves rom their cardboard boxes.
•Insert the 12AX7 preamp Valve in the le t hand valve socket, located nearest to the input
socket. (To insert a valve, locate the pins in the correct position, and plug in the valve.)
•Place the 12AT7 power valve in the right hand valve socket. (To insert a valve, locate the
pins in the correct position, and plug in the valve.)
•Plug the power pack DC plug into the DC socket at the rear o the Stack.
•Plug the power pack into a mains power outlet.
•Connect the speaker o your choice into the output socket at the rear o the Stack.
•Plug your guitar lead into the input socket at the ront o the Stack.
•Rotate the volume control (the le t o the two controls) clockwise to turn on the amp.
•Adjust the tone control (the right control) to provide the tone that you pre er.
•Enjoy the sound o your amp!
Additional notes:
Additional notes:Additional notes:
Additional notes:
•The Stack is designed to drive just about any speaker combination and will happily work
with 4, 8, or 16 ohm speakers.
•It can be used with a separate speaker box o your choice. It can also drive the speaker in
a combo amp by removing the speaker lead that connects the speaker to the amp in the
combo and connecting that lead to the output socket o the Stack.
•You will notice that the volume/gain knob in the Stack acts also as a “compression”
control – the Stack is very touch sensitive and you can adjust the sound rom clean to
very overdriven just by digging harder into your guitar.
•The optional battery power lead allows or mobile/ battery operation – it has a standard
12V negative ground cigarette lighter plug attached. The amp is internally protected rom
accidental reverse polarity connection.
•Due to the nature o the double insulated 12V power supply, you may notice a small AC
buzz produced by your amp. This normally disappears when your ingers touch the
strings o your guitar. To remove any possibility o hum, the amp may be grounded by
attaching an earthed lead to any part o the chassis o the amp.
Output
OutputOutput
Output
Power
PowerPower
Power

Customising the sound o The
Customising the sound o TheCustomising the sound o The
Customising the sound o The Stack:
Stack: Stack:
Stack:
•The Stack is expressly designed to allow you to customise the tone o your amp by
changing valves.
•Your amp comes itted with a 12AX7 valve in the preamp position (le t valve) and a
12AT7 in the power valve position (right valve).
•Every brand o 12AX7/ECC83 and 12AT7/ECC81 has a unique sound. You can
customise your tone by substituting di erent brands o valves.
•In addition, there are a wide range o alternative valve types available which have
di erent gains/sounds which can be plugged into your Stack to provide custom tones.
•Valves which can be used in the preamp position include 12AX7, 12AT7, 12AY7, 5751,
12AZ7, ECC81, 12AV7, 7025, CC81E, CV4004, CV4024, CV455, CV492, ECC801,
ECC803, M8137, 6201.
•Valves which can be used in the power amp position include 12AT7, ECC81, 6201,
12AU7, 5814, 12BH7, 5965, 6414, 7062, CC81E, CV4003, CV4024, CV455, CV491.
•Valves can be changed while The Stack is turned on so that you can very quickly and
easily compare the tone o di erent valves.
•To change valves, gently li t the valve rom its socket. To insert a valve, locate the pins in
the correct position, and plug in the new valve.
Optional accessorie
Optional accessorieOptional accessorie
Optional accessories:
s:s:
s:
•12V power lead – allows you to power your Stack amp rom battery power. This allows or
portable operation or buskers and other “o the grid” operation.
•Line out cable or recording directly rom The Stack.
Speci ications:
Speci ications:Speci ications:
Speci ications:
•Output power: 1/3W clean power, 1W distorted.
•Valve complement: preamp 12AX7, power 12AT7.
•Input impedance: 1M to suit all pickup types.
•Output impedance: optimised or 8 ohm speakers but will also drive 4 and 16 ohm
speakers.
•Power: 12V DC rom the supplied plugpack or the optional DC power lead.
•Power rating: 12V DC @ 450mA – 5.4W power consumption.
•Power protection: protected rom reverse polarity connection.
•Controls: volume/drive with concentric power switch, tone control.
•Dimensions: 12cm x 8cm x 9cm.
•Weight packed: 1kg.
Warranty:
Warranty: Warranty:
Warranty:
Valve Heaven provides a back-to-base 12 month warranty or The Stack ampli ier and a 3
month warranty on the valves.
Sa ety in ormation:
Sa ety in ormation: Sa ety in ormation:
Sa ety in ormation:
Caution. Do not open. Risk o shock. No user serviceable components inside. To reduce the
risk o ire or electric shock do not expose to rain or moisture.