GFX-15
GUITAR AMPLIFIER WITH
DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING
OWNER’S MANUAL
Congratulations!
You are now the proud owner of the Crate GFX-15 guitar amplifier. This small but
versatile amplifier features two separate channels – one crystal clear and the other
with our patented “Flex-Wave” distortion – combined with a three-band EQ and an
easy to operate DSP section which lets you dial in a variety of digital effects such as
delay, flange, chorus and reverb. A special damping circuit simulates the “current
source” type output of a tube amp, giving you solid state reliability combined with clas-
sic tube sounds.
Like all Crate products, your GFX-15 is designed by musicians and built using
only the best components. Extensive testing at the hands (and ears) of skilled tech-
nicians 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
GFX-15 Amplifier
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1: INPUT: Connect your guitar here by means of a
shielded instrument cable.
8: HIGH: Use this control to adjust the high frequency
output level. Rotating this control counter clockwise
reduces the high frequency output, rotating it clockwise
increases the high frequency output. The High control
allows a total range of 23dB of boost or cut at 5kHz.
OVERDRIVE CHANNEL: A high gain channel giving
you sounds from a slight edge to serious overdrive.
2: GAIN: Use this control to adjust the amount of com-
pression and distortion from the amplifier. With the con-
trol fully counter clockwise, the sound will have a thick
compressed quality. As you rotate the control clockwise
the amount of distortion increases. Crate’s exclusive
“Flex-Wave” circuitry uses sequential cascading gains
to deliver distortion which is rich in harmonics and
“touch sensitive.” Use this control along with the Level
(#3) to create a wide variety of sounds.
9: DSP MODE: Use this control to select the digital
effect. Each category and its central location is called
out (delay, flange, etc.) by the markings around the
control, with variations, as follows:
• Bypass (DSP off)
• Slapback delay
• Long delay w/regeneration
• Flange
• Slow Chorus
• Fast Chorus
• Chorus w/small room reverb
• Small room reverb
• Large room reverb
3: LEVEL: Use this control to adjust the output volume
level from the Overdrive channel: With the control fully
counter clockwise there will be no output. As you rotate
the control clockwise the output increases. Use this
control along with the Gain control (#2) to create a wide
variety of sounds.
10: HEADPHONES: For private practice sessions, plug
a pair of stereo headphones into this jack. The internal
speaker is disconnected whenever headphones are
being used.
4: OVERDRIVE SELECT:
This
switch,
when
depressed, activates the Overdrive channel. With this
switch in the out position the Clean channel is activated.
CLEAN CHANNEL: A normal gain channel designed
to give you crystal clear sounds to medium distortion.
11: EXTERNAL SPEAKER: Use this jack to connect
the GFX-15 to an external speaker with a rated imped-
ance of at least 4 ohms. The internal speaker is discon-
nected whenever an external speaker is used.
5: LEVEL: Use this control to asjust the output volume
level from the Clean channel: with this control fully
counter clockwise there will be no output. As you rotate
this control clockwise the output level increases. For the
best results, reduce the Low control (#6) when this con-
trol is near the fully clockwise position.
WARNING: Do not use headphones in the Speaker
jack. Serious hearing damage could occur!
EQUALIZATION
12: ON LED: The on LED illuminates when the amplifi-
er is on.
6: LOW: Use this control to adjust the low frequency
output level. Rotating this control counter clockwise
reduces the low frequency output, rotating it clockwise
increases the low frequency output. The Low control
allows a total range of 25dB of boost or cut at 80Hz.
Due to the massive amount of low end available, this
control should be reduced when playing at high volume
levels.
13: POWER: Use this switch to turn the amplifier on
(top of the switch depressed) and off (bottom of the
switch depressed).
14: POWER CORD (rear panel, not shown): This
grounded power cord is to be plugged into a ground-
ed power outlet, wired to current electric codes and
compatible with voltage, power, and frequency
requirements stated on the rear panel. Do not
attempt to defeat the safety ground connection.
7: MID: Use this control to adjust the mid frequency out-
put level. Rotating this control counter clockwise
reduces the mid frequency output, rotating it clockwise
increases the mid frequency output. The Mid control
allows for 19dB of boost or cut at 900Hz.
GFX-15 Amplifier
GFX-15 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Output Power Rating
12 watts RMS @ 5% THD 4 ohms, 120VAC
Gain, Overdrive Channel
Gain, Clean Channel
86dB +/-6dB @ 1kHz
46dB +/-6dB @ 1kHz
Tone Control Range, Low
Tone Control Range, Mid
Tone Control Range, High
25dB @ 80Hz
19dB @ 900Hz
23dB @ 5kHz
Signal To Noise, Overdrive Channel
Signal To Noise, Clean Channel
>50dB
>65dB
Maximum Signal Accepted
Internal Speaker
2.2 volts RMS min. @ 400Hz
8” Crate Custom Design 4 ohm
Input Power Requirements
120 VAC, 60Hz, 30VA
100/115VAC, 50/60Hz, 30VA
230VAC, 50/60Hz, 30VA
Size and Weight:
13” H x 13.63” W x 8.25” D, 15 lbs.
The GFX-15 is covered with a durable black 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.
Declaration Of Conformity
#33, Effective 01-01-2001
Manufacturer’s Name:
SLM Electronics
Production Facility:
Production Facility:
Shipping Facility:
Office Facility:
11880 Borman Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146, USA
700 Hwy 202 W, Yellville, AR 72687, USA
1400 Ferguson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63133, USA
1400 Ferguson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63133, USA
Product Type:
Audio Amplifier
Complies with Standards:
LVD:
Safety:
EMC:
92/31/EEC, 93/68/EEC, & 73/23/EWG
EN60065
EN55013, EN55020, EN55022, EN61000-3-2,
& EN61000-3-3
Supplementary information provided by your local Sales & Services Office or:
SLM Electronics - R & D Engineering
1901 Congressional Drive, St Louis, MO 63146, USA
Tel.: 314-569-0141, Fax: 314-569-0175
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.
©2001 SLM ELECTRONICS, A DIVISION OF ST. LOUIS MUSIC, 1400 FERGUSON, ST. LOUIS, MO. 63133
P/N 47-453-01 • 07/01
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