1 – Read and keep these instructions.
2 – Heed all warnings and follow all instructions.
3 – moisture. Do not use this apparatus near water.
4 – Clean only with a dry cloth.
5– Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other.
6 – Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding plug has two blades and a grounding prong. The wide blade or third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided
rician for the replacement of the obsolete outlet.
7– Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
8 – Unplug the apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
9 – The appliance coupler (or attachment plug) is the mains disconnect device and should
10 – Refer apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
11 – This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
12 – Changes or modifications made by the user that are not expressly approved by the manufacturer may void your authority to operate the amplifier.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous” voltage within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to humans.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in this manual.
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
WARNING: To prevent fire or electric shock, do not expose this equipment to rain or moisture.
The overall purpose of primary and intermediate amplifier flight training as outlined in this handbook is the acquisition and development of basic tonesmanship skills. Tonesmanship can be defined as:
Learning to fly an Aviator has often been likened to driving a modeling amplifier. the analogy is misleading. since an Aviator operates in a three dimensional space, it requires a high standard of tone skill development that is more sensitive to this environment, such as,
The Quilter Aviation Administration (QAA) is self-empowered to provide Aviator safety by prescribing safety standards for civil amplificatation. This is formerly referred to as the “Tone Standards”.
Aviation safety. The QAA has adopted an operational training concept that ensures complete responsibility for training the Aviator student in all necessary areas of knowledge and skill required to operate safely and get outstanding tone. This training will include tonemanship skills, pilot judgment, decision making, and accepted good operating practices.
Our QAA certificated flight instructors have broad tone experience, are required to pass rigid knowledge and practical tests, and demonstrate the ability to apply recommended techniques before being certificated. Furthermore, their certification must be renewed every 24 months by showing continued success in tonemanship skills.
In the interest of safety and good tonemanship skills, there are certain basic flight safety practices and procedures that must be emphasized by your flight instructor and adhered to both by inbstructor and student.
Visually inspect your cockpit.
Front Panel
Ensure that all of your instruments are in good working order.
Priot to your first taxi, be sure to review your takeoff checklist.
Set up the front panel controls as shown in the illustration below:
Initial Settings:
Plug your guitar into the GUITAR CH1/2 input jack and prepare for takeoff. The person standing in front should should "CONTACT!" and then engage the POWER toggle switch.
As you achieve takeoff speed, asjust the GAIN and MASTER to obtain the desired overdrive distortion and overall loudness of the amplifier.
The trim controls (BASS, MID and TREBLE) are neutral in the middle position. Increase or decrease them to achieve level and stable tone.
You are now airborne! Experiment with the HI-CUT control by rolling it to the right. Notice how the overall tone changes from crisp to mellow.
ADVANCED FLIGHT CONTROLS
To add reverb, turn up the REVERB control, The DWELL control sets the decay time of the reverb tail. A 50% setting matches typical spring systems.
after reaching full altitude, cruise speed may be selected using the SELECT CH1/2 pushbutton to engage Channel 1. The left-hand Channel 1 beacon indicator lights up. Adjust loudness with the VOLUME control. TONE is neutral in the middle, cleaner to the left and more aggressive to the right.
The AUX input is a mono or stereo-summing input which can amplify your cockpit radio, portable music players, dynamic microphones, keyboards, or any other line-level signal.
A second guitar can be used with the AUX input. Keep in mind th The Aux input has lower impedance than the guitar input which can decrease upper frequency “sparkle”.
The AUX input is a good choice if you use a preamp or modeling processor before the ampli as an ideal
Channel 1 has no intentional overdrive augmentation; audible breakup indicates that the maximum 100 watt airspeed rating has been reached.
If the GUITAR input is switched to Channel 1, the Guitar and Aux inputs will be mixed together.
CH 1 VOLUME controls the loudness of Channel 1. The maximum position delivers the highest available clean output level from this channel.
CH 1 TONE: The mid position (50%) produces neutral response Left-of-center scoops out the midrange frequencies for a cleaner rhythm tone. Right-of-center boosts mids and highs for more penetration.
The GUITAR input is tailored for electric guitars and features a 2 meg input impedance that preserves the delicate overtones of standard magnetic pickups.
The guitar input can be routed to either Channel 1 or 2 by pressing the SELECT button on the front panel or the CH 1/2 footswitch.
A pair of lighted indicators show which channel is receiving the guitar signal.
Press the SELECT button to change the channel assignment. (NOTE: when the footswitch is plugged in, it overrides the CH 1/2 SELECT button).
The channel 2 GAIN control sets the indicated airspeed for Ch 2, ranging from clean cruising to mild overdrive to full emergency dive.
At low settings, the tone will remain clean. Mid settings will allow louder notes to start breaking up. High settings will produce full overdrive on
all notes.
The threshold of overdrive depends on playing style, pickup type and the guitar’s volume control.
As the GAIN is increased, the “airspeed” the MASTER control to adjust the overall loudness or “altitude”.
The BASS, MID and TREBLE controls adjust frequency equalization or tone balance for Channel 2. The controls are active boost/cut controls with a neutral response at 50% (straight up).
The tone trim controls will help you achieve level and neutral flight regardless of your operating environment, while compensating for outside conditions such as the guitar’s tonal balance, and the conditions in the airspace.
Unlike traditional attitude-adjustment controls, the Aviator tone controls are totally neutral in their center position. This allows the pilot to observe the guitar’s natural tone prior to making adjustments. Many are surprised to discover the pleasures of ight in the neutral position, and may only need to make adjustments depending on the room characteristics.
MASTER regulates the overall loudness of Channel 2 without s tone or overdrive. The lower settings are suitable for simulations while gaining mastery of the controls. High Master settings unleash the Aviator’s full power for operating in controlled airspaces.
The Aviator uses a premium digital reverb chip with a smoother decay spring tank. The reverb is voiced to “soar” nicely above the mix.
The REVERB control allows you to increase the richness (Level) of the reverb in your mixture.
The DWELL control adjusts the decay time from a short “klonk” to a lush “heavenly choir.” Reverb affects both channels equally.
Footswitch control: The footswitch LED illuminates when the reverb is active. Check the foot-switch setting if the Reverb control doesn’t seem to work. The footswitch controls the signal entering remaining reverb tail decays naturally. This means you can “deposit” a
POWER activates AC power when in the up position. The “jewel” light indicates that running.
The Aviator can be used on all world-wide AC voltages from 100 to 250V, which allows you to navigate just about anywhere on the planet without an Auxiliary Power Unit. No adjustments are required to operate in other countries.
Simply obtain the correct AC cord for the local AC service, plug in and engage POWER.
Locking IEC Power Cordlocks into the AC inlet to reduce the chance it will come unplugged during use. Press the yellow button on the cord to release it. Any normal 3-prong IEC cord may also be used if required. Always ensure that the ground contact is intact on both the cord and receptacle.
The Aviator combo amplifiers come with the internal speaker plugged into the INT SPEAKER output. An external 8 ohm speaker may be used in place of the internal speaker by unplugging this cable and connecting the external speaker. An external 4 ohm speaker cabinet should be connected to the EXT SPEAKER output.
To use two speaker cabinets simultaneously, connect an 8 ohm cabinet (or the internal speaker) to the INT SPEAKER output, and connect a 4-8 ohm extension speaker with a minimum of 200 watts continuous power handling to the EXT SPEAKER output. Internal circuitry adjusts the output impedance to split the power between the two outputs.
CAUTION: 300 watts peak, well beyond the capacity of many single speakers. We recommend Quilter extension cabinets with “full-altitude-tested” speakers. Quilter Labs will
The SEND jack combines the output of both channels at -10dB which matches most consumer
The RETURN jack interrupts the internal signal, and directly to the power
Signal impedance is low to preserve tone, and the send jack remains active even in bypass are therefore applied to the overall sound of both channels with outstanding headroom and clarity.
The isolated direct output allows you to route the output sound of the amp to a mixing board or external powered loudspeakers without using a microphone. The signal level is compatible with mic inputs, and is padded down from the actual signal across the speaker, to preserve as much of the tone quality as possible.
A high frequency roll is included to prevent high frequency system instability, and produces the same tone quality through full-range speakers as the internal single-cone driver.
The foot controller connects using the supplied cable. A standard network cable (CAT 5,6,7, etc…) with RJ-45 connectors may be used as an emergency replacement or if you need a longer cable.
The optional foot controller allows you to route the GUITAR input to Channel 1 or 2, and to bypass the reverb, without having to access the amplifier's front panel.
Plug one end of the supplied cable into the jack on the foot controller. Plug the other end of the cable into the footswitch jack on the rear of the Aviator Amplifier. to remove the cable, press the plastic tab on the plug to unlock it.
Channel Switching
When the footswitch LED is on, the GUITAR input is routed to the high gain Channel 2, as also shown on the front panel indicator. When the footswitch LED GUITAR input is routed to Channel 1, and the CH 1 front panel indicator will be lit. NOTE: While the footswitch is connected, the front panel SELECT button is non-operational.
Reverb Bypass
When the footswitch LED is on, the Reverb is activated. The amount of Reverb is set by the REVERB knob. If the REVERB knob is at its minimum position (fully counter-clockwise), Reverb will not be heard.
The FC- only. There are no user-serviceable parts inside the foot controller. If the device is exposed to a liquid spill or excessive moisture, unplug it immediately and allow to dry thoroughly before using.
| Amplifier Specifications | |
| Power Output (Channel 1): | 100 W RMS |
| Power Output (Channel 2): | 100 W RMS |
| Power Output (Total): | 200 W RMS |
| AC Power Req.: | 100–240Vac, 50–60 Hz, 250 W maximum |
| Input Connections: | ¼" mono jacks (Aux and Guitar). |
| Effects Send: | ¼” mono, -10dB, 1K ohms |
| Effects Return: | ¼” mono, -10dB, 50K ohms |
| Speaker 1 Output: | 8 ohms, 200 W recommended rating |
| Speaker 2 Output: | 4-8 ohms, 200 W recommended rating |
| Weight (Ultralight- 8 Inch): | 22.6 lbs (10.3 kg) |
| Weight (Open Cockpit- 12" Inch, Open Back): | 33.8 lbs (15.4 kg) |
| Weight (The Twin- 2X10, Open Back): | 33.8 lbs (15.4 kg) |
Note: Power ratings are provided by the loudspeaker manufacturer and are only a guideline when selecting a suitable speaker. Quilter Labs qualifies our speaker selections using a lengthy full power test that ensures that the speaker can stand up to the power output of our amplifiers.
Circuitry used in Quilter amplifiers is stable and there are no internal connections that might go bad. Generally, the amp works normally, or it doesn’t pass a signal at all, or in rare cases noises or dropouts occur due to cracked parts. Movable parts such as controls and inputs can be damaged or corroded, but these faults are usually apparent when cycling controls or re-inserting inputs. Most faults are traced to external causes such as cables, speakers, or instruments. The following troubleshooting chart should help narrow down the cause.
| Symptom | Action |
| No power, no lights | • Ensure that the AC cord is fully seated and connected to a live source. • Check the AC source by trying another device. |
| Amp shuts off then after a short time, turns back on | • If amp feels very hot, thermal protection is activating. Reduce Master at least 30% and keep the amplifier out of direct sunlight or enclosed spaces. Amp normally runs only slightly warm. • Continued intermittent behavior indicates need for servicing. |
| Pilot light is on, but no sound (using a guitar) | • Confirm that the MASTER control and the GAIN controls are both turned up. • Ensure the guitar plug is fully seated at each end. • Try using a different guitar cable. • Check that the pickup selector switch and volume on the guitar are set correctly. • Try a different instrument or audio device. • Ensure that the rear panel speaker plug is fully inserted into the SPEAKER jack. • Try headphones, to see if the speaker is bad. |
| Weak or fluctuating audio | • Plug guitar directly into amp and unplug the FX Loop to isolate bad pedals. Check connections and power supply or batteries in pedal board. • The amplifier almost never “loses power” without completely stopping. Look for external causes. |
| Background hum | • Ensure the guitar plug is fully inserted. • Try using a different guitar cable. Make sure it is properly shielded. • Any AC powered sources or effects should be plugged into the same receptacle or AC strip as the amplifier to help avoid ground loops. If the hum goes away when you turn down the guitar: • Single coil pickups can pick up hum, especially from light dimmers or neon lights. Some guitars have “phase switching” pickup selectors that can sometimes help. • Check that the guitar’s cavities are well shielded. • A thin “buzz” especially at partial guitar volume may indicate that the AC cord’s ground pin has been defeated. This is dangerous and leads to noise. |
| Excessive noise | • At high gain settings, some audible hiss or whoosh is normal. • Check your cables, guitar and other effects in the signal chain, especially for hum or buzz. • “Chattering” and other recurring noises are usually caused by cellphones close to the guitar or amp. |
| Amp sounds garbled at all volumes | • Try a different speaker, especially if headphones sound clear. Caution: reduce MASTER volume until sound level has been confirmed. • Try plugging instrument directly into the amp, and unplugging Effects Loop. If sound is then clean, check outboard processing for problems. |
| Weak or fluctuating audio | • Plug guitar directly into amp and unplug the FX Loop to isolate bad pedals. Check connections and power supply or batteries in pedal board. • The amplifier almost never “loses power” without completely stopping. Look for external causes. |
| Desire clean tone, getting too much overdrive distortion | • Turn down the GAIN control and turn up MASTER. • Confirm that speakers are in good condition. |
| Desire overdrive tone, not getting enough overdrive | • Turn down MASTER and increase GAIN until the desired overdrive is obtained, then reset MASTER to desired loudness. • Turn up guitar volume. • Try higher output pickups. • More MID will promote overdrive. |
| Amplifier Requires Service If any of the events below occur, immediately unplug the amplifier and refer to a service technician. • Amplifier or AC cord emits smoke • Amplifier is dropped or chassis is dented or bent • Liquid has been spilled into the amplifier • Loose parts inside the amplifier are heard • AC breaker trips |
For warranty and service information, visit our support website at support.quilterlabs.com
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: