User Manual - Spontaneous Audio Devices
Contents
1. SON or KONG Our deepest gratitude to you for purchasing the Son of Kong an EQ Gain pedal and DI of massive aural proportions elegantly designed to provide a multitude of features functions and tones This pedal is the brainchild of audio architect Arthur Midget Sloatman The EQ is the same circuit that Arthur installed in all of Frank Zappa s stage guitars which he used exclusively from 1979 on The gain circuit provides up to 35 dB of clean quiet gain plus an additional 20 dB of frequency dependent EQ gain for an amp crushing 55 decibels of potential gain In addition the SoK provides a simultaneous DI output and an unaffected throughput as well as a few other tricks Please read through the Applications section to discover how to unlock some of the hidden mysteries of the Son of Kong DISCLAIMER The Son of Kong is capable of providing extreme volume levels when used with an amplifier In order to prevent hearing damage turn down the amplifier volume before plugging in or engaging the SoK and ESPECIALLY WHEN SWITCHING THE DI 20 SWITCH TO THE 20 SIDE QUICK START DI Low Gain Mode DI mode allows for low gain through the EQ circuit resulting in increased headroom perfect for using the DI and for feeding additional pedals in your signal chain Begin with Bypass engaged the DI 20 switch in the left position the Q F and G controls at 12 o clock and V1 set to about2. WALLS FURNITURE WIVES AND CHILDREN 7 Jimi Fuzz 8 Amp Decimator 9 Sub Octave Fuzz 6 EQ to V2 DI 6 EQ to V2 DI 6 EQ to V2 DI Suggested Amp audition volume lt 2 Suggested Amp audition volume lt 2 Suggested Amp audition volume lt 2 www spontaneousaudio com 2013 Modern Vintage Audio LLC Spontaneous Audio Devices MEET SON OF KONG BASS TONE GUIDE 1 Rich Scooped Bass 2 Big Bottom 3 Slap Tone c Gt o 6 EQ to V2 DI Adjusted for Unity Gain For DI Adjusted for Unity Gain For DI Adjusted for Unity Gain For DI users Switch to DI Mode users Switch to DI Mode users Switch to DI Mode 4 Motown Bass 5 Bright Attack 6 Vintage Bass Drive V2 DI 20 O O 6 6 EQ to V2 DI 6 EQ to V2 DI 6 EQ to V2 DI Adjusted for Unity Gain For DI Adjusted for Unity Gain For DI Caution Turn your amp down This users Switch to DI Mode users Switch to DI Mode sound not recommended for DI DESIGN YOUR OWN Ww gt CD 6 6 EQ to V2 DI to V2 DI COD CC o 6 EQ to V2 DI COD Cc o 6 EQ to V2 DI COD Cc 6 EQ to V2 DI www spontaneousaudio com 2013 Modern Vintage Audio LLC Spontaneous Audio Devices
3. Mode Towards 20 sets the SoK in High Gain Mode and enables the 20 dB boost at V2 while disabling the DI output Range Switch Switches the usable range of the frequency control as indicated below 6 Treble range from 180 Hz to 5 kHz Bass range from 35 Hz to 1 kHz EQ to V2 DI Switch to the right to insert the EQ circuit into the Channel 2 V2 and DI signal paths The EQ is always in the Channel 1 signal path regardless of the switch position e In DI Mode this switch presents unity gain to the DI and V2 signal paths when inserted e In 20 Mode this switch adds 9dB additional gain into the DI and V2 signal paths when inserted Bypass Switch Bypasses all gain and EQ Active when LED is lit V1 V2 Switch Switches between Channel 1 signal path and Channel 2 signal path as indicated by the corresponding LEDs Internal Jumpers TRUE B P The SoK ships with True Bypass jumper set to the YES position This completely removes all electronics from the circuit path and deactivates signal to the DI output when Bypass is engaged Switch the internal jumper to NO to allow the DI to remain active when Bypass is enabled This leaves active electronics in the Bypass signal chain For those using the DI output changing the TRUE B P jumper to NO is recommended For those not using the DI output leaving the TRUE B P jumper to YES is recommended THRU MUTE The SoK ships with the Thru Mute jumpe
4. 1 o clock Refer to the picture at right Disengage Bypass into channel V1 and set V1 volume knob up or down slightly until the volume is equal to the Bypass volume This is unity gain Notice when switching between Bypass and V1 that there is a detail that is revealed when V1 is engaged even without adding any Gain or EQ to the signal The V1 gain control knob provides a modest 6 dB gain boost in DI Low Gain Mode when turned all the way to the right Approximate Unity Gain in DI Mode The EQ circuit is always active in channel V1 Turn the EQ gain control G to the right or left to add or subtract gain at the frequency selected At 12 o clock there is no gain change Turn the 180 Hz 1 kHz frequency control F to the right or left to select higher or lower frequencies sets the frequency l l selection to bass frequencies 35 Hz to 1kHz sets the frequency selection to treble frequencies 180 Hz to 5kHz See graphic at right Turn the bandwidth control Q right to narrow the frequency selection or left to widen it Hard leftis 35 H 1 kHz 180H s kHz 2 octaves wide 12 o clock is 1 octave wide hard right is 1 10 of an octave Switch to channel V2 In DI Low Gain Mode the V2 gain control provides the same 6 dB boost 6 6 6 6 as V1 The EQ can be engaged into the channel path by switching the EQ to V2 DI to the right Bas
5. d amp or additional unbalanced inputs Throughput Thru Unaffected signal split from the Instrument input can feed separate amp amp channel or additional pedals An internal jumper allows the throughput to mute when V2 is engaged see Amp and Channel Switching in the Applications section DI Out Exceptionally musical Lundahl transformer balanced output can go directly to microphone preamp or other balanced input with or without EQ By default the DI is deactivated when Bypass is engaged to allow for true hardwire bypassing An internal jumper allows the DI to always be active regardless of the bypass state by placing electronics inline For those using the DI output changing the TRUE B P jumper to NO is recommended For those not using the DI output leaving the TRUE B P jumper set to YES is recommended Functions Q Variable super wide to super narrow bandwidth allows for everything from smooth and subtle tone control to funky and gnarly frequency mangling F Frequency is fully sweepable from 35 Hz to 5 kHz according to the range switch G 20 dB boost or cut No cut or boost at the 12 o clock position V1 Channel 1 volume control is Post EQ with 6 dB gain in DI Low Gain Mode or 15 dB gain in 20 Hi Gain Mode V2 Channel 2 volume control is Post EQ with 6 dB gain in DI Low Gain Mode or 26 dB gain in 20 Hi Gain Mode DI to 20 Switch Towards DI enables the DI output and sets the SoK in Low Gain
6. h other In this case you will not hear this effect as the two channels will be flipped back into polarity TREM CHORUS Frequency Tuning Frank Zappa often tuned his guitar to the room s natural resonance to invoke room shaking sustain Do this by presetting a narrow Q high boost at the room s resonant frequency sweep the bass Frequencies till you find it Likewise you can tune the EQ to any single note that will have huge sustain when you hit it Insert Send Q F G The SoK can be used as an insert effect on a channel strip of a mixing console Use an unbalanced Insert Send into the Instrument input of the SoK Use the EQ to mold sweeten FREQUENCY TUNING and distort vocals guitars or other signals Use the V1 or V2 volume controls to increase or decrease the output level to match the input level Return the signal back to the Insert point from the Main output of the SoK Changing the Battery and Jumpers Be careful not to break any cable connections when opening the SoK Remove the four screws that hold the SoK enclosure together Lift the top straight up and over the back laying it on its face directly behind the base Replace the battery and move the jumpers as labeled on the circuit board WARRANTY This product is warranted against defect in parts and labor for one year after the date of purchase To register your product and receive service please contact us at contact spontaneousaudio com with Register as the subjec
7. r set to OFF allowing signal to always be present at the throughput when either V1 or V2 is selected Set the Thru Mute jumper to ON to enable the throughput to mute when V2 is selected Enabling the throughput to mute on V2 selection allows you to use the SoK as a channel or amp switcher see Amp Switching in the Applications section www spontaneousaudio com 2013 Modern Vintage Audio LLC Spontaneous Audio Devices APPLICATIONS EQ and Gain Switching The SoK can be used simply to switch between your direct guitar amp sound in Bypass to an EQ d boost in V1 to a super boosted signal with or without EQ in V2 The channels can also be configured to have matched gains by turning down the channel volumes Switch between bypass and V1 without adding EQ or Gain and notice how the SoK brings out more depth and detail just by passing through it EQ Distortion The EQ circuit can be clipped to create a pleasing distortion Turn the EQ gain fully clockwise then tune your distortion by sweeping the frequency and widening or narrowing F EC the Q to achieve a variety of distortion sounds from big thick and heavy to sharp and nasal Use the Channel gain to set your post distortion level Back off the EQ gain to reduce the EQ DISTORTION amount of saturation Amp Switching The SoK can be used to switch between amps by utilizing the Throughput By default the Throughput is always active Set the internal THRU MUTE j
8. s Selection Treble Selection 20 Hi Gain Mode 20 Mode allows for increased gain through the EQ circuit perfect for overdriving the signal and as the last pedal in your chain feeding a hot signal to an amplifier All functions work the same as in DI mode only with higher gain stages V1 now provides 15 dB of gain V2 provides 26 dB of Gain with an additional 9 dB when the EQ is switched in Turn the gain control G to the right until the signal distorts Now tune the distortion by sweeping the frequency control F and bandwidth control Q V1 and V2 provide post EQ volume control Reducing Distortion In order to reduce distortion in the EQ circuit do one or more of the following e Reduce the volume of your instrument into the SoK e Use a higher voltage power supply up to 40 V DC e Use the gain control G to cut frequencies making up the gain with V1 and V2 e g cut high frequencies rather than boosting bass www spontaneousaudio com 2013 Modern Vintage Audio LLC Spontaneous Audio Devices cera a ee CONTROLS Inputs Instrument High impedance input 9 36V DC 9 Volt external power supply 2 1mm center pin negative or internal battery recommended however the SoK will accept up to 40 Volts which will completely unleash the power of the SoK s devastating gain potential with exceptional headroom for pristine transient reproduction Outputs Out Main unbalanced output to fee
9. t Please include your name contact number a copy of the purchase receipt with purchase date location of purchase and the product serial number can be found inside by the battery All external fixtures finishes and knobs are not warranted Damage or failure of product due to misuse voids the warranty All repairs must be made by Spontaneous Audio Devices or an SAD authorized technician Unauthorized repair or modification voids the warranty www spontaneousaudio com 2013 Modern Vintage Audio LLC Spontaneous Audio Devices j MEET SON OF KONG GUITAR TONE GUIDE Here are some tones to use as a Starting point G knob Gain settings to the right of 12 o clock are EQ boosts Settings to the left are EQ cuts The farther away the knob moves from center the more drastic the tone shaping Use the blue knobs V1 and V2 like a master volume Tweak the F Frequency and Q Bandwidth knobs to fine tune the tone 1 Clean Strat from Humbucker 2 Bright Country Clean 3 Classic Rock Suggested Amp audition volume 3 5 Suggested Amp audition volume 3 5 Suggested Amp audition volume 3 4 Mid Scoop 5 Woman Tone 6 Boston Money For Nothing 6 EQ to V2 DI 6 EQ to V2 DI 6 EQ to V2 DI Suggested Amp audition volume 3 Suggested Amp audition volume 3 Suggested Amp audition volume 3 CAUTION THE FOLLOWING TONES ARE LOUD TURN DOWN YOUR AMP AND TURN IT UP SLOWLY TO AVOID DAMAGE TO YOUR EARS
10. umper to ON Now In V1 both the Throughput and the Main Output are active while in V2 the throughput mutes when leaving only the Main Output active By turning V1 fully counter clockwise when V1 is selected only the throughput will send signal and when V2 is selected only the Main Out will a ae send signal This gives you the following oO Son OF Kon V1 Amp 1 with unaffected Throughput signal Main Output turned down V2 Amp 2 with Main Output signal Throughput muted Channel Switching Same as Amp switching but using 2 channels on the same amp Switch between clean and distortion rhythm and lead dry and tremolo etc V1 can be turned up to allow both channels to receive signal simultaneously See Trem Chorus below Trem Chorus Using a 2 channel Amp with tremolo send the Main Output of the SoK to the Dry channel and the Throughput to the Tremolo channel Set the tremolo to mid speed mid depth Set the EQ to a low mid boost I F amp Eaw DI With Channel 1 engaged turn V1 gain all the way down You should hear only the tremolo N AN channel Throughput when you play Start bringing up the V1 gain until you hear the two 9 ON OF KON channels phasing with each other It is possible to achieve Leslie rotor type sounds this way This happens because the EQ d circuit is naturally out of polarity with the throughput which causes comb filtering Note that some amps have 2 channels that are already out of polarity with eac
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