OWNER'S MANUAL
©1998 SLM ELECTRONICS, A DIVISION OF ST. LOUIS MUSIC, 1400 FERGUSON, ST. LOUIS, MO. 63133
P/N 47-476-03 · 08/98
GFX-120/212 Amplifier
Congratulations!
You are now the proud owner of the Crate GFX-120/212 guitar amplifier. These
rugged amplifiers combine outstanding features with serious clean and distorted
sounds. An easy to operate DSP section lets you dial in a variety of digital effects such
as delay, flange, chorus and reverb with separate level control. Channel selection,
Crate's exclusive Shape circuit, and DSP on/off are controllable by the supplied three-
button footswitch. An insert jack allows virtually noise-free connection of your favorite
effects.
Like all Crate products, your GFX-120/212 is Musician Made in the U.S.A., using
only the best components. Extensive testing at the hands (and ears) of skilled techni-
cians and musicians insures you that this amplifier is the absolute best it can be.
In order to get the most out of your new amplifier, we strongly urge you to go over
the information contained in this manual before you begin playing.
And thank you for choosing
Crate continually develops new products, as well as improves existing ones. For this reason, the
specifications and information in this Crate manual are subject to change without notice.
Output Power Rating
115 watts RMS @ 5% THD 4 ohms load 120VAC
Speaker Size and Rating
GFX-120: (1) Custom Design 12", 4 ohms
GFX-212: (2) Crate Custom 12", 8 ohms
Input Impedance
470k ohms
Maximum Input Signal Level Accepted
7 volts, peak-to-peak
Total System Gain
Overdrive Channel: 110dB all controls @10, Gain 2; 88dB Gain 1
Clean Channel: 58dB all controls @10
Overdrive Channel:
Low Control:
11dB Range @ 80Hz
Shape Control:
Proprietary Circuit
High Control:
10dB Range @ 10kHz
Clean Channel:
Low Control:
22dB Range @ 80Hz
Mid Control:
14dB Range @ 600Hz
High Control:
28dB Range @ 10kHz
Input Power Requirements
120 VAC, 60Hz, 95VA
100/115VAC, 50/60Hz, 95VA
230VAC, 50/60Hz, 95VA
Cabinet Size and Weight:
GFX-120: 17-1/2" H x 19-1/4" W x 9-3/4" D, 44 lbs.
GFX-212: 21" H x 26-1/2" W x 11" D, 50 lbs.
The GFX-120/212 is covered with a durable Tolex material: wipe it
clean with a lint-free cloth. Never spray cleaning agents onto the
cabinet. Avoid abrasive cleansers which could damage the finish.
GFX-120/212 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
THIS EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED TO PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE OPERATION. IN ORDER TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF THE
UNIT AND PREVENT ACCIDENTAL DAMAGES OR INJURY, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONARY GUIDELINES:
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT OPEN CHASSIS; DO NOT DEFEAT OR REMOVE THE GROUND PIN OF THE POWER
CORD; CONNECT ONLY TO A PROPERLY GROUNDED AC POWER OUTLET.
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
CAUTION: NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
CAUTION: OUR AMPLIFIERS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HIGH SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS. CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO HIGH SOUND PRESSURE
LEVELS CAN CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING IMPAIRMENT OR LOSS. USER CAUTION IS ADVISED AND EAR PROTECTION IS RECOMMENDED IF UNIT IS
OPERATED AT HIGH VOLUME.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE COVER.
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
"IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE USER TO REFER TO THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL"
"ES NECESARIO QUE EL USUARIO SE REFIERA AL MANUAL DE INSTRUCCIONES."
"REFERREZ-VOUS AU MANUAL D'UTILISATION"
"UNBEDINGT IN DER BEDIENUNGSANLEITUNG NACHSCHLAGEN"
EXPLANATION OF GRAPHICAL SYMBOLS:
EXPLICACION DE SIMBOLOS GRAFICOS:
EXPLICATION DES SYMBÔLES GRAPHIQUES:
"DANGEROUS VOLTAGE"
"VOLTAJE PELIGROSO"
"DANGER HAUTE TENSION"
"GEFAHLICHE SPANNUNG"
=
=
ATTENTION
RISQUE D'ELECTROCUTION
NE PAS OUVRIR
ATTENTION: POUR REDUIRE D'ELECTROCUTION NE PAS
ENLEVER LE COUVERCLE. AUCUNE PIECE INTERNE N'EST REPRABLE
PAR L'UTILISATEUR. POUR TOUTE REPARATION, S'ADRESSER A UN
TECHNICIEN QUALIFIE.
VORSICHT
ELEKTRISCHE SCHLAGGEFAHR
NICHT OFFENEN
VORSICHT: ZUR MINIMIERUNG ELEKTRISCHER SCHLAGGEFAHR NICHT
DEN DECKEL ABENHMEN. INTERNE TEILE KONNEN NICHT VOM
BENUTZER GEWARTET WERDEN. DIE WARTUNG IS QUALIFIZIERTEM
WARTUNGSPERSONAL ZU UBERLASSEN.
GFX-120/212
GUITAR AMPLIFIER WITH
DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING
1: INPUT: Connect your guitar here using a shield-
ed instrument cable.
OVERDRIVE CHANNEL: A high gain channel giv-
ing you sounds from a slight edge to serious over-
drive.
2: GAIN 1: When active, sets the amount of com-
pression and distortion from the amplifier. At far
left, the sound will have a thick compressed quali-
ty. As you turn the control to the right the amount of
distortion increases. Gain 1 produces less intense
distortion than Gain 2 and is active only when the
Gain Select switch (#5) is out.
3: GAIN 2: When active, sets the amount of com-
pression and distortion from the amplifier. At far
left, the sound will have a thick compressed quali-
ty. As you turn the control to the right the amount of
distortion increases. Gain 2 produces more intense
distortion than Gain 1 and is active only when the
Gain Select switch (#5) is in.
4: SHAPE: Working in conjunction with the Gain 2
control, rotate the Shape control until you find the
sound you're looking for. Turning the control
towards the left enhances the mid frequencies;
turning it to the right enhances the low and high fre-
quencies. (Only affects Gain 2 when active.)
5: GAIN SELECT: Switches between Gain 1 (out)
and Gain 2 (in). A footswitch (#22) overrides this
switch.
6: LOW: Adjusts the low frequency output level: to
the left reduces the low frequency output; to the
right increases it. This control allows a range of
11dB at 80Hz.
7: HIGH: Adjusts the high frequency output level:
to the left reduces the high frequency output, to the
right increases it. This control allows a range of
10dB at 10kHz.
8: LEVEL: Sets the output volume level from the
Overdrive Channel: in the far-left position there is
no output; turning the control to the right increases
the output. Use this control along with the Gain and
Shape controls (#2, 3 & 4) to create a wide variety
of sounds.
9: CHANNEL SELECT: When this switch is
pressed in the Overdrive Channel is engaged. The
Clean Channel is selected when this switch is out.
A footswitch (#22) overrides this switch. The adja-
cent LEDs indicate which channel is selected.
CLEAN CHANNEL:
A normal
gain
channel
designed to give you crystal clear sounds.
10: LEVEL: Sets the output volume level from the
Clean Channel: in the far-left position there is no
output; turning the control to the right increases the
output level.
11: LOW: Adjusts the low frequency output level:
to the left reduces the low frequency output; to the
right increases it. This control allows a range of
22dB at 80Hz.
12: MID: Adjusts the mid frequency output level: to
the left reduces the midrange output; turning it to
the right increases it. This control allows a range of
14dB at 600Hz.
13: HIGH: Adjusts the high frequency output level:
to the left reduces the high frequency output; to the
right increases it. This control allows a range of
28dB at 10kHz.
14: DSP LEVEL: Adjust the amount of digital sig-
nal processing with this control: in the full-left posi-
tion the output signal is "dry" (no effect); rotating
the control to the right increases the amount of
effect. The DSP can be turned on and off with a
footswitch (#23).
15: DSP MODE: Select the type of digital effect(s)
desired with this control. Each category and its
central location is called out (delay, flange, etc.) by
the markings around the control; there are two vari-
ations per effect, as follows:
GFX-120/212 Amplifier
GFX-120/212 Amplifier
· Slapback delay
· Long delay w/regeneration
· Light Flange
· Heavy Flange
· Slow Chorus
· Fast Chorus
· Chorus w/small room reverb
· Chorus w/large room reverb
· Small room reverb
· Large room reverb
16: INSERT: Connect an external effects device
via this jack. Use a stereo 1/4" male Y-cord: ring =
send, tip = return, sleeve = ground. See the illus-
tration on the panel to the right for more informa-
tion.
17: EXT. SPEAKER: Connect to an extension
speaker cabinet with this jack. The jack is wired in
series with the internal speaker(s).
18: POWER ON LED: Lights when the amplifier is
turned on.
19: POWER SWITCH: Turns the amplifier ON in
the up position, off in the down position.
20. POWER CORD (rear panel, not shown): Your
GFX-120/212 is equipped with a heavy-duty
grounded three-wire power cord. Be sure this cord
is properly plugged into a safely wired grounded
120 volt, 60Hz AC power outlet before use. (If your
GFX-120/212 was purchased outside the United
States, refer to the rear panel for power ratings.)
For your safety, never attempt to defeat the ground
connection on this cord.
21: FUSE (rear panel, not shown): Protects the
amplifier against damages caused from a faulty AC
power source or other problems. If the fuse blows,
replace it ONLY with the same size and type fuse.
If the fuse blows repeatedly check the AC source;
if it's okay, contact your Crate dealer for service
information.
22: CHANNEL SELECT / GAIN FOOTSWITCH
JACK (rear panel, not shown): Connect the
stereo 1/4" plug of the supplied three-button
footswitch here for remote control of the Channel
Select and Gain Select settings.
23: DSP FOOTSWITCH JACK (rear panel, not
shown): Connect the mono 1/4" plug of the sup-
plied three-button footswitch here for remote con-
trol of the DSP on and off.
Connecting to the Insert jack:
The Insert jack (#16) 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 connect 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
1
2
3
4
6
7
8
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
19
18
5
9