DSP
BFX100
OWNER'S MANUAL
BFX100
BASS AMPLIFIER
WITH
DIGITAL SIGNAL
PROCESSING
Congratulations!
You are now the proud owner of the portable and powerful Crate BFX100 Bass
Amplifier with Digital Signal Processing. The BFX100 offers a wide selection of digi-
tal effects designed especially for the bass guitar, each of which are easily accessed
with a simple turn of a control knob. (No programmer's degree required!) The BFX100
boasts an improved cabinet design with a front port, an extended range bass driver,
an extremely clean power amp and very flexible tone circuitry. The balanced line out
jack has a level control for the best signal match to a recording console or live PA sys-
tem, and is selectable for either pre or post EQ. The built-in limiter ensures pure,
clean power even at its full 100 watts output. An effects loop, a headphones jack, and
an extension speaker jack add to the overall versatility of this incredible bass amp.
Your BFX100 is Musician Made in the U.S.A., using only the best components.
Extensive testing at the hands (and ears) of skilled technicians and musicians
ensures you that this amplifier is the absolute best it can be.
In order to get the most out of your new bass amp, we urge you to read this man-
ual before you begin playing.
And thank you for choosing
1. INPUT: The signal output from an instru-
ment (active or passive) or a line level signal
may be connected here by means of a
shielded instrument cable.
2. -15dB/0dB: This switch, when depressed,
attenuates the input signal by 15dB.
Attenuation allows the Gain control (#3) to be
functional over a larger portion of its range. If
the Gain control is near minimum and the
Peak LED (#4) is flashing (indicating clipping
of the input signal), attenuation is needed.
3. GAIN: This serves as the input signal level
control for the amplifier, allowing you to
adjust the amplifier for the best signal to
noise ratio.
4. PEAK LED: This LED flashes when the
signal level into the preamp approaches clip-
ping. Adjust the Gain control (#3) until a
strong signal from your instrument causes
this LED to flicker.
NOTE: If the LED flashes frequently with the
gain control at a low setting, use the -15dB
pad (#2) to attenuate the input signal, then
readjust the gain.
5: CONTOUR SHAPE: This control is only
active when the Contour Active switch (#6) is
depressed. The setting of this control shifts
the frequency where the contour effect is
centered, giving you a wide variety of tonal
variations, from a studio "V"-shaped tone to a
sound that's more "live" and up-front.
6: CONTOUR ACTIVE: This switch, when
depressed, activates the Contour Shape con-
trol (#5).
7. GRAPHIC EQ: Use these sliders to adjust
the output signal to best suit your playing
style, to match room acoustics, and to get the
best overall sound. The sliders control the
output of the frequencies indicated below
each control. The center position of each
control is flat (no boost or cut).
8. MASTER LEVEL: This is the overall out-
put level control for the amplifier.
9. LIMIT: The BFX100 uses an internal limit-
ing circuit to assist in keeping the power
amplifier's output "clean" at extreme volume
levels. (All amplifiers begin to clip their output
signals as they approach maximum output
levels, resulting in distortion which may dam-
age the speaker.) Whenever the amplifier is
at full power, this LED will flash. This is an
indication that the limiter is keeping peak sig-
nals from clipping the output.
The Front Panel:
BFX100 Bass Amplifier
INPUT
CONTOUR
EQUALIZATION
MASTER
1
2
6
3
4
7
8
5
BFX100 Bass Amplifier
R
DSP
BFX100
ON
10
11
12
13
16
15
17
14
9
10. DSP MODE: Select the type of digital
effect(s) applied to the signal with this control.
The effects are described as follows:
DELAY: Slapback delay effect
ECHO: Long delay effect with regeneration
CHORUS: Chorus effect
FLANGE: Light flange effect
FUNK-WAH: Touch-sensitive wah-wah ("T-Wah")
effect
OCTAVE: Adds secondary note one octave
lower than original note
CHO/HALL: Chorus effect with large hall reverb
effect
RM: Small room reverb effect
HALL: Large hall reverb effect
11. DSP LEVEL: This is the output level con-
trol for the selected DSP effect(s). For a dry
signal (no effect), rotate the control full
counter-clockwise. Rotating the control clock-
wise increases the magnitude of the DSP
effect(s) applied to the signal.
12. DSP FOOTSWITCH: Connect a one but-
ton footswitch (such as the Crate CFP-1) here
for remote on/off control for the internal DSP
effects.
13. INSERT: Connect an external effects
device using this jack. Use a stereo 1/4" male
Y-cord: ring = send, tip = return, sleeve =
ground. See the illustration to the right for
more information.
14. HEADPHONES: For private listening,
connect a pair of stereo headphones into this
jack. The internal speaker is disconnected
when headphones are plugged in.
15. SPEAKER: Use this jack to connect the
amplifier to an external speaker with a mini-
mum impedance rating of 4 ohms. The inter-
nal speaker is disconnected when this jack is
used.
WARNING: TO AVOID POSSIBLE
HEARING DAMAGE, DO NOT USE
HEADPHONES IN THE SPEAKER
JACK!
16. ON LED: This LED will illuminate when
the amplifier is turned on.
17. POWER: This switch applies AC power to
the amplifier. The amplifier is ON when the
side of the switch with the indicator (|) is
depressed.
BFX100 Bass Amplifier
LEVEL
PRE
POST
BALANCED LINE OUT
18
19
20
21
22
The Rear Panel:
18. FUSE: This protects the unit from dam-
age due to overload conditions or power line
surges. If the fuse blows, replace it only with
the same size and type.
19. AC LINE CORD: Plug this cord into a
properly wired, grounded, 120 volt, 60 cycle
outlet. DO NOT attempt to defeat the
ground connection of this power cord! If
your amplifier was purchased outside of the
United States, see the unit's rear panel label-
ing for its power rating, and follow the above
guidelines.
20. BALANCED LINE OUT: This XLR-type
connector supplies a balanced preamp output
signal for connecting to a house mixing board,
recording console or external amplifier with
balanced inputs. The signal can be set to Pre
or Post EQ by the Pre/Post switch (#21). The
line out signal level can be controlled by the
Balanced Line Out Level control (#22).
21. PRE/POST SWITCH: You can select
either Pre or Post EQ for the signal at the
Balanced Line Out jack (#20) with this switch.
When the switch is depressed, the signal at
the jack is pre-EQ--a direct output, not affect-
ed by the gain, contour, or graphic EQ. When
the switch is in the out position, the signal is
post-EQ--the output signal is affected by the
gain, contour and graphic EQ controls.
22. BALANCED LINE OUT LEVEL: Use this
control to adjust the output signal at the
Balanced Line Out jack (#20). This control
works independently from the the front panel
Master Level control.
Connecting to the Insert jack:
The Insert jack (#13) lets you patch external
effects into the amplifier just prior to its power
amp stage. Use Crate's CYC6MS stereo-to-
mono Y-cord or an adapter such as Crate's
CA11Y and 2 1/4" mono signal cables to con-
nect to the effect as shown below.
TIP
RING
SLEEVE
RETURN
SEND
GROUND
Stereo-to-mono Y-cord:
to Insert jack
(CYC6MS)
(CA11Y)
"Send"
plug:
to
effect
"IN"
"Return"
plug:
from
effect
"OUT"
External Effect
TIP
RING
SLEEVE
Y-adapter and 2 cables:
to Insert jack
to
effect
"IN"
from
effect
"OUT"
Tip =
"Return"
Ring =
"Send"
External Effect
Suggested Starting Tone Settings:
System Block Diagram:
CONTOUR
EQUALIZATION
MASTER
OUT
CONTOUR
EQUALIZATION
MASTER
IN
CONTOUR
EQUALIZATION
MASTER
IN
CONTOUR
EQUALIZATION
MASTER
IN
ROCK:
JAZZ:
COUNTRY:
FUNK:
INPUT
ON/
OFF
PEAK
LED
SHAPE
BAL. LINE
OUT LEVEL
BAL.
LINE
OUT
GAIN
INSERT
FOOT
SWITCH
EXT.
SPEAKER
HEAD
PHONES
POWER
AMP
LEVEL
CONTOUR
8-BAND
GRAPHIC
-15dB PAD
POST
EQ
PRE
EQ
LIMIT
LED
LEVEL
MODE
DSP
R
T
BFX100 Bass Amplifier