Ashdown Engineering Interstellar 600 Guy Pratt Signature Bass Amplifier User Manual
- June 9, 2024
- Ashdown Engineering
Table of Contents
Ashdown Engineering Interstellar 600 Guy Pratt Signature Bass Amplifier
THANK YOU
Thank you for purchasing your Ashdown Engineering Amplifier and welcome to the family! We really think you’ve made the right choice and know that this amplifier will give you years of great tone and service. It is a machine though and needs to be looked after, please read through this user manual which will help you get the most out of your new Amp and keep it running as long as some of our happiest and very famous customers.
REGISTER ONLINE
Please register this product online so we can make sure we give you years of
customer support through our friendly in-house service centre. Here is where
you need to visit to register your product:
http://www.ashdownmusic.com/pages/register-your-product
FRONT PANEL
REAR PANEL
FRONT PANEL
INPUT – There is a single instrument input provided linked to a PASSIVE/ACTIVE selector switch. The Passive input (switch out) is high sensitivity and also high impedance to suit the output from PASSIVE basses. The Active input (switch in) is low sensitivity and lower impedance to suit the output from ACTIVE basses.
INPUT CONTROL – The INPUT control sets the signal level through the preamp in conjunction with the INPUT LEVEL VU Meter. This is adjusted to give a reading of 0VU on the meter for average playing dynamics with occasional peaks into the red region. Please note that the setting of this may have to be re-adjusted after modification of the EQ controls.
PUSH FLAT / SHAPE – With this button in its OUT position a fixed E.Q. is superimposed on the preamp to give a bright but punchy character to the sound. Pushing this button IN returns the preamp to a flat frequency response.
TUBE DRIVE (THE BIG KNOB!) – This routes the signal either through a clean Solid State amplification section (control on zero) or through a Dual Triode Tube amplification/overdrive section in order to add either tonal character i.e. warmth with the control set at 9 o’clock, a slight edge in the sound at 12 0’clock through to an increasing degree of Tube distortion/overdrive as the control is advanced to maximum. A Mix of these two amplification sections can be achieved with this control. N.B. The degree of tube distortion provided by this control will also depend on the setting of the INPUT control.
TUBE DRIVE ON/OFF – This toggle switches the valve drive section ON or OFF. This function may also be controlled from the Ashdown 4 way footswitch. For the footswitch to operate this button must be in its OFF position.
E.Q. ON / OFF – This toggle switches the Equalisation section ON or OFF i.e. the Bass, Middle and Treble controls plus the two sets of sliders placed between each of these. This function may also be controlled from the Ashdown 4 way footswitch. For the footswitch to operate this button must be in its OFF position.
9 BAND EQUALISATION – This consists of BASS, MIDDLE and TREBLE controls with three sliders placed between each control. These can be used in a number of ways: Firstly as a very simple Bass, Middle and Treble tone control section as found on older traditional amplifiers. This is done by leaving the two sets of sliders interposed between these controls set in their centre positions and using only the BASS, MIDDLE and TREBLE controls to alter the overall tone. Secondly, if more control is required then the sliders can also be used to tailor the E.Q. In the regions between the main tone controls. This provides a very versatile equalisation section, it is simple to understand and operate, yet provides a wide degree of variation. It retains the simplicity of a three – control tone section but provides the flexibility of a graphic equaliser.
PUSH TO MUTE – When pushed IN this button mutes the output from the
preamp to the power amp, mutes the output from the D.I. Socket and mutes the
output from the LINE Out socket as well.
A blue LED is provided next to this switch to indicate when the amplifier is
muted. This function operates only from the front panel MUTE push switch. i.e.
pressing this button mutes all sound from the amplifier and allows a tuner
connected to the TUNER socket to operate for silent tuning. Release the button
and you are back in action again.
PRE / POST DI – This is a push button that allows the user to choose either a Pre E.Q. Signal (button pushed IN) or a Post E.Q. Post Sub and effects signal (button OUT).
FULL RANGE OUTPUT – This output socket provides a line level signal that can be used for a permanent connection to a tuner, alternative monitoring source or front of house. The signal from this socket remains active when all other outputs from the amplifier are muted allowing all sound from the amplifier to be silenced while tuning is in progress.
LINE LEVEL OUTPUT – This output socket provides a line level/post Output Level control signal for connection to an external power amplifier driving additional speaker cabinets.
OUTPUT LEVEL – The OUTPUT control adjusts the overall level of the amplifier. Adjust this for your preferred overall stage playing volume. On the INTERSTELLAR-600 we have implemented a second VU meter to register the output level as a visual reference.
REAR PANEL
4-WAY FOOTSWITCH SOCKET – For the 4 way footswitch to operate it is essential that the corresponding front panel push buttons be in the OUT position. This is a mono jack socket for connection of the Ashdown 4 way footswitch (sold separately) only. Always connect this prior to turning on the power to the amplifier as the footswitch derives its power from the amplifier and sends a serial data stream to the amplifier in order to operate the various functions. Each of the 4 facilities available for selection is indicated by an LED that will light when that facility is selected from the footswitch. N.B The amp features Compression & Sub Harmonics and can be turned on using the footswitch, there are no controls on the front panel and the FX are pre-set to Guy’s preferred settings.
TAURUS INPUT – The rear panel has a Line Input socket tuned for connecting to a Moog Taurus bass pedal. This can also be used for plugging a CD, Tape or MP3 player into the amplifier for practising, rehearsing or for connecting a second pre-amp into the system.
FX SEND / RETURN – A serial effects loop is provided at a level of 0dB. The EFFECTS SEND socket can also be used as a Line Out socket if required as the signal path through the preamp is only broken when a jack plug is inserted into the EFFECTS RETURN socket. The EFFECTS SEND is situated after the EQ, the Valve section the Compression and the Sub Bass Processor.
SPEAKER OUTPUT – The Interstellar-600 has one power section rated at 600 Watts RMS with two Neutrik combi speakon out-puts. You can either use Speakon or Jack Speaker cables to connect to your cabinet. Each Power section has a minimum load of 4 ohms.
DIRECT INJECT (D.I.) – A balanced D.I. Is provided on a latching XLR socket. The output signal from this XLR socket is set to a level and impedance suitable for connecting directly into the Microphone input of a mixing desk for either Direct Injection into the PA system or for recording. This must ONLY be used into a Balanced Microphone input, it is not intended for any other type of connection. This has a floating ground that is referenced to the mixing console it is plugged into and should not need ground lifting. It is also unaffected by Phantom Powering on the Microphone input. Make sure your XLR plug does not have the shell of the plug internally connected to signal ground or this will connect the system to chassis ground of the INTERSTELLAR-600 and may cause problems with hum.
SPECIFICATIONS
INPUTS
- High Input: Impedance 3.9M Ohms Input range 150mV to 20V p-p
- Low Input: Impedance 10K Ohms Input range 300mV to 40V p-p
- Line Input: Impedance 22K Ohms Input level 0dBu nominal
- Effects Return: Impedance 22K Ohms Input level 0dBu nominal
OUTPUTS
- Tuner Output: Impedance 1K Ohms Level 0dBu nominal
- Line Output: Impedance 10K Ohms Level 0dBu nominal
- Effects Send: Impedance 22K Ohms Level 0dBu nominal
- D.I. Output: 600 Ohms balanced Level -20dBu nominal
EQUALISATION
- Shape (Push Flat): +8dB @ 50Hz & 4kHz, -8dB @ 400Hz, filter slope – 6dB/octave
- Bass: +/-15dB @ 45Hz
- Middle: +/-15dB @ 660Hz
- Treble: +/-15dB @ 7kHz shelving
- Slider 1: +/-15dB @ 100Hz
- Slider 2: +/-15dB @ 180Hz
- Slider 3: +/-15dB @ 340Hz
- Slider 4: +/-15dB @ 1.3kHz
- Slider 5: +/-15dB @ 2.6kHz
- Slider 6: +/-15dB @ 5kHz
- Frequency Response: -3dB at 17Hz and 22KHz
- Speaker Outputs: Minimum impedance 4 Ohms
- Output Power: 600watts RMS into 4 ohms. Per Power Section