Brian May Manual

8/2/2019 Brian May Manual

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DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

Manufacture rs Name: DigiTechManufacturers Address: 8760 S. Sandy Parkway

Sandy, Utah 84070, U.S.A.

declares that the product:

Product name: Red Special PedalProduct option: all (requires Class II power adapter that conforms

to the requirements of EN60065, EN60742, orequivalent.)

conforms to the following Product Specications:

Safety IEC 60065 (1998)EMC EN 55013 (2001 + A1)

EN 55020 (1998)

Supplementary Information:

The product herewith complies with the requirements of the Low VoltageDirective 73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC as amended byDirective 93/68/EEC.

Vice-President of Engineering - MI8760 S. Sandy ParkwaySandy, Utah 84070, U.S.A.Date: May 12, 2006

European Contact: Your local DigiTech Sales and Service Ofce or

Harman Music Group8760 South Sandy ParkwaySandy, Utah, 84070 U.S.A.Ph: (801) 566-8800Fax: (801) 568-7583

WarningFor your protection, please read the ollowing:

Important Saety Instructions

1. Read these instructions.2. Keep these instructions.3. Heed all warnings.4. Do not use this apparatus near water.5. Clean only with dry cloth.6. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in ac-

cordance with the manufacturers instructions.7. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators,

heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (includingampliers) that produce heat.

8. Protect the power cord from being walked on orpinched particularly a t plugs, convenience receptacles,and the point where they exit from the apparatus.

9. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or whenunused for long periods of time.

10. No user serviceable parts inside. Refer all servicing toqualied service personnel. Servicing is required whenthe apparatus has been damaged in any way, such aspower-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has beenspilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, theapparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, doesnot operate normally, or has been dropped.

11. WARNING: To reduce the r isk of re or elec tric shock,do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.

12. Refer to labels on the unit, including bottom cover, orother markings and pertinent information.

Congratulations on choosing the DigiTechTM Red Special Pedal!

This piece o gear is, in my opinion, a work o genius! I claim no credit! Anamazing DigiTech team led by legend Eddie Kramer have created a device

capable o making anybody sound like me! (I you should want to, that is!)

Through an incredible new modeling technique, this pedal captures 14 o the mostmemorable tones Ive achieved or Queen over the years, and places them at yourngertips.

But it does not stop there. Our hope is that you, the guitarists o the uture,will use this machine as an aid to creating your own new tones, and inspire youto greater heights. To enable this to happen, each tone setting on this pedal can

be adjusted in gain, level, bass, treble, and many other parameters to meet thedemands o your wildest dreams!

From the searing harmonically rich solo sound o Bohemian Rhapsody, to thechurning saturated thickness o the climax o We Will Rock You, to the hithertoinimitable Deacy amp tone, which Ive used or years to create orchestras oguitars on record, this device will shock you! The Red Special Pedal puts a newspectrum o tones at your command, whether used as a preamp or a stage set-up,or directly into the board in your studio (the Pedal models the amp cabinets too).

Plug in and turn it up and ROCK!

Cheers!

May, 2006


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Included Items

The DigiTech Red Special Pedal includes the ollowing items:

DigiTech Red SpecialPedal

Red Special Artist Series Gig Bag

Sixpence Plectrum

PS0913B Power Supply

This Owners Manual

DigiTech Warranty Card

DigiTech Brochure

Please make sure that all o these items have been included beore youget started.

Setup Directions

Follow these setup directions beore use:

1. Turn the volume down on the amplier/mixer you are connecting to.

2. Connect the pedal output to the amplier/mixer input.

3. Connect the guitar to the pedal input.

4. Connect the power supply to the pedal.

5. Turn up your amplier/mixer level to your desired listening level.

6. Turn the selected Model on or o by pressing the TOE SWITCH or

the HEEL SWITCH.NOTE: To best utilize the built-in treble booster, plug your guitar directlyinto the Red Special Pedal (instead o placing the Red Special Pedal atthe end o your eects chain). The built-in treble booster boosts the highrequencies o the guitar signal and attenuates low requencies. However,it also has a relatively low input impedance which loads the guitar pickupsmore than plugging into a high impedance input (like a a guitar amp). Thishas the eect o rolling o a portion o the highs and smoothing out theoverall tone. Since this loading eect cannot be reproduced digitally, aninput loading circuitry is utilized along with digital modeling anytime thesignal path in the Red Special Pedal uses a treble booster eect.


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For more than 30 years, Brians signal path has begun with the Red Specialguitar and its multitude o pickup selections and phase options.

The guitar signal is run almost exclusively through a treble booster andthen directly into his customized VoxTM* AC30s. For many o the layeredharmony guitar parts heard on numerous Queen recordings, Brian alsoused the inamous Deacy, a hand-built battery operated amp designedby Queen Bassist John Deacon.

For eects, Brian has relied on a FoxxTM* phaser, digital harmony pitch

shiters, and more recently, chorusing eects using a single dry amp andtwo wet amps to create his huge live sound. Some post processingtechniques used in the studio included tape fanging, reverb, and an assort-ment o mics and amp micing techniques that capture Brians unique andinstantly recognizable sound.

Treble BoosterPhaser

Deacy Amp

Vox AC-30s

OR

Brian Mays Signal Path (Example)


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1. OUT 1 (AMP)*Connect this output jack to yourguitar amplier. Reer to the Flex-ible Output ModeTM Setup sec-tion or more inormation.

2. OUT 2 (MIXER)*This output has been specicallytailored or use with a ull rangeaudio system and is designed to be

plugged directly into a mixer orrecording device or optimal per-ormance. Reer to the FlexibleOutput Mode Setup section ormore inormation.

3. (Tip) - GAINIncreases or decreases gain.

(Ring) - LEVELIncreases or decreases level.

* Use only unbalanced TS instrument cables.

CONTROL DESCRIPTIONS 4. INDICATOR LEDThis LED indicates the presentmode o the model selected:OFF=bypass, GREEN=toe mode,RED=heel mode. (Please reer tothe Flexible Output ModeTM,and Calibrating the ExpressionPedal sections or more inorma-tion.)

5. (Tip) - TREBLEIncreases or decreases treble.

(Ring) - BASSIncreases or decreases bass.

6. POWER SUPPLY JACKConnect only the included PS0913B(9V AC) power supply to this jack.Note that the Red Special Pedal isnot equipped or battery power.

7. (Tip) - CONTROLModel dependent. Reer to theModel Control table or moreinormation.

(Ring) - GUITARTransorms your guitar tone tosound more like Brians, using guitarmodeling technology.

SC - Select this setting i youreusing a single coil pickup(s), typicalo a StratocasterTM* guitar

Red Special - Select this settingi youre playing a Red Specialreplica (or using BurnsTM* Tri-SonicTM* pickups).

HB - Select this setting i youreusing a humbucker pickup(s), typi-cal o a Les PaulTM* guitar.

8. MODELThis knob selects one o the sevendierent Models:

1. Keep Yoursel Alive2. Bohemian Rhapsody3. Tie Your Mother Down


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4. We Will Rock You/Champions5. Crazy Little Thing Called Love6. Brighton Rock Solo - Live7. Deacy / A Winters Tale

Reer to the Model Descriptionssection or more inormation.

9. INPUTConnect your guitar to this jack.

10. FOOTSWITCHPlug in the optional FS3Xootswitch here. Reer to theUsing the Optional FS3XFootswitch section to see whatthe FS3X can do with the RedSpecial Pedal.

11. EXPRESSION PEDALServes as a variable control orsome o the Models. Also usedor engaging the TOESWITCH

and the HEEL SWITCH (whichenable dierent modes within eachModel). Reer to the Model Con-trol table or more inormationabout the EXPRESSION PEDAL.

To engage the HEEL or TOESWITCHES, press rmly on theheel or toe o the EXPRESSIONPEDAL. The INDICATOR LEDwill light green when the TOE

SWITCH is engaged or red whenthe HEEL SWITCH is engaged.

I the EXPRESSION PEDALsrange becomes diminished overtime, it may be necessary to re-cali-brate the pedal. Reer to theCalibrating the Expression Ped-al section or more inormation.

The Guitar KnobThe Red Special Pedal was designed to workin conjunction with Brians Red Special guitar,but it can also be used with single-coil orhumbucker-equipped guitars.

The pedals proprietary Guitar Knob (outerring, second knob rom the right) uses GuitarModeling technology to transorm yourguitars tone to sound more like Brians.

I your guitar has single coil pickups (like aStratocasterTM), turn the Guitar Knob to SC.I your guitar has humbucking pickups (likea Les PaulTM), turn the Guitar Knob to HB. Iyoure playing a Red Special replica, turn theGuitar Knob to Red Special.

Note that you can ne tune the GuitarKnobs position between the HB and the RedSpecial settings, and between the SC and theRed Special settings (they are ranges). But theRed Special setting itsel is a single point (nota range).

Guitar Knob(outer ring)


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ModelTone -

Toe Mode (Green LED)

1

Tie Your Mother Down Intro

2

Crazy Little ThingCalled Love

3

We Will Rock You /We Are the Champions

We Will Rock You solo4

Bohemian Rhapsody First solo

5

Brighton Rock Solo - LiveDelay (three amps),

tight chorus6

Deacy / A Winters Tale Deacy unprocessed7

Acoustic intro

Keep Yourself Alive Intro with tape flanger

Tone-Heel Mode (Red LED)

Solo

We Are The Champions solo

Rhythm and finaleorchestral fanfare

Orchestral harmonizer withthree-part harmony

A Winters Tale solo

TelecasterTM solo

Solo with tape flanger

ModelExpression

Pedal -Toe Mode

1

Tie Your Mother Down No function

2

Crazy Little ThingCalled Love

3

We Will Rock You /We Are the Champions

Phaseramount

4

Bohemian Rhapsody No funct ion

5

Brighton Rock Solo - Live Delay amount6

Deacy / A Winters Tale No function7

No function

ControlKnob -

Toe Mode

Midrange

Reverblevel

Phaserspeed

Midrange

Delay time

Midrange

Keep Yourself AliveTape flanger

amountMidrange

Pedal -Heel Mode

No function

Phaseramount

Cross fadeto Deacy

Minor tomajor 3rd

No function

No function

Tape flangeramount

Expression ControlKnob -

Heel Mode

Midrange

Reverblevel

Phaserspeed

Midrange

Pitch blend

Effect level -reverb & delay

Midrange

Model Control Table

The GAIN, LEVEL, TREBLE, BASS, and GUITAR knobs are the same or allModels. (Reer to the Control Descriptions section or more inormation.)

Model Tone Table


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MODEL DESCRIPTIONS

MODEL 1. Keep Yoursel Alive, Queen, 1973

Written by Brian, Keep Yoursel Alive was the rst track on Queensrst album. Brian meant or the lyrics to be ironic, but when FreddieMercury sang them, they took on a whole new meaning.

Toe (Green) Mode This is based on the intro tone rom the song,which consists o the Red Special run through a treble booster and into

a VoxTM AC30 amp. A tape fanging eect was added to the song duringproduction.

Heel (Red) Mode This is based on the solo tone rom the song, alsowith a tape fanger eect.

Control Knob Increases or decreases the midrange.

Expression Pedal Controls the amount o tape fanger eect.

Selecting and Enabling an Eect Model

1. Use the MODEL KNOB to select a Model. (Reer to the ModelControl table or a list o Models.)

2. Rock the pedal orward (or back) and press rmly on the TOE (orHEEL) SWITCH. The INDICATOR LED lights green (or red) toshow that the Model is enabled.

3. To bypass the Model, rock the pedal orward (or back) and press rmlyon the TOE (or HEEL) SWITCH again. The INDICATOR LED

turns o to show that the Model is bypassed.

For a list o Models, reer to the Model Control Table and the Modeldescriptions on the pages that ollow.


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MODEL 2. Bohemian Rhapsody,A Night at the Opera,1975

The multi-part harmonies alone on this landmark recording took over 80hours to complete. The entire song was recorded in about three weeks.The songs promotional video is widely considered to be the headwateror the entire music video industry, and the song itsel requently appearsnear or at the top o best rock song lists.

Toe (Green) Mode Based on the vocal-like and sustaining guitar tonerom the rst solo. The Red Special (with neck and middle pickups turned

on and out o phase) is plugged into a treble booster and a VoxTM AC30.Heel (Red) Mode Based on the hard rock rhythm and nale tones a-ter the a cappella section. The Red Special (with neck and middle pickupsturned on and in phase) is plugged into a treble booster and a Vox AC30.


Expression Pedal No unction in Toe Mode, but in Heel Mode itgradually morphs into the Deacy tone as you rock it orward.

MODEL 3. Tie Your Mother Down,A Day at the Races,1976

Brian wrote this songs opening ri one morning while working towarda Ph.D. in astronomy in the Canary Islands. He jokingly associated thewords tie your mother down with the ri because those words had asimilar rhythm. But Freddie Mercury loved the line, and the rest o thelyrics grew rom it.

Toe (Green) Mode - This is the songs intro tone, with the Red Specials

volume backed o to , and the bridge and middle pickups turned on.The Red Special is plugged into a treble booster and a VoxTM AC30.

Heel (Red) Mode - This is the solo tone, with the Red Specials volumeall the way up and the bridge and middle pickups turned on. The RedSpecial is plugged into a treble booster and a Vox AC30.


Expression Pedal No unction or this model.


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MODEL 4. We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions,News of the World, 1977

Brian May wrote We Will Rock You specically so audiences couldparticipate in the song, and they still do today, both at Queen concertsand at sporting events around the world. We Are the Champions wasalso designed to involve the audience, and it also works well: people loveto sing along with it. Brian May has said the song makes a concert like aootball match, but with everyone on the same side.

Toe (Green) Mode - This model captures the ery solo tone at the

end o We Will Rock You. The Red Special guitar (with neck and middlepickups turned on and out o phase) is plugged into a treble booster, aFoxxTM oot phaser, and a VoxTM AC30.

Heel (Red) Mode - This model is based on the solo tone at the end oWe Are the Champions. Its the Red Special with the neck and middlepickups turned on and in phase, plugged into a treble booster, a FoxxTMoot phaser, and a Vox AC30.

Control Knob Increases or decreases the phaser speed.

Expression Pedal Controls the phaser amount.

MODEL 5. Crazy Little Thing Called Love, The Game,1980

Written by Freddie Mercury, Crazy Little Thing was recorded so quicklythat Brian May almost missed it. He showed up at the studio in Munich

just in time to record a solo.

Toe (Green) Mode - This model is based on the acoustic guitar introportion, which was played by Freddie Mercury.

Heel (Red) Mode - This is a rare instance when Brian did not use theRed Special and a VoxTM AC30. Instead, he used a FenderTM TelecasterTM(owned by Queen drummer Roger Taylor) and a 60s combo amp or amore rockabilly sound.

Control Knob Increases or decreases the reverb level.



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MODEL 6. Brighton Rock Solo - Live, Live at Wembley86, 1992

This songs amous solo originally appeared in a tune perormed by a bandnamed Smile, o which Brian May and Roger Taylor were members. WhenQueen perormed Brighton Rock live, the number was oten over nineminutes long. During the solo, Brian would send his guitar signal to threebanks o amps: one or the main tone, and two or the ping pong (back-and-orth) delay eect.

Toe (Green) Mode This is Brians main live tone. Its the Red Spe-

cial (with the neck and middle pickups turned on) plugged into a treblebooster and amplied with three VoxTM AC30s, with a tight chorus and aping pong delay.

Heel (Red) Mode This is Brians main live tone (as described above)with an orchestral harmonizer that produces a three-part harmony.

Control Knob Increases or decreases the delay time in Toe Mode, andthe pitch blend in Heel Mode.

Expression Pedal Controls the delay amount in Toe Mode, and inHeel Mode shits rom the orchestral harmonizer rom a Minor to aMajor 3rd.

MODEL 7. Deacy Tone / A Winters Tale,Made inHeaven, 1995

The lyrics to A Winters Tale the last Freddie Mercury would everwrite beore his untimely death are about Montreux, Switzerland. Thesongs video also eatures images o Montreux. The band has a special con-nection to the Swiss town, having bought a local recording studio therein 1978. Ater his death, a statue o Freddie was erected in Montreux andstill stands there today.

Toe (Green) Mode - This is a model o the one and only Deacy, a bat-

tery operated amp designed and built by Queen bassist John Deacon. TheDeacy is responsible or the orchestrated guitar overdubs heard on manyQueen songs.

Heel (Red) Mode - This model is based on the solo rom A WintersTale.

Control Knob Increases or decreases the midrange in Toe Mode, andthe eect level (reverb and delay) in Heel Mode.



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Flexible Output ModeTMThe Red Special Pedal has three Flexible Output ModesTM: Mono, StereoMixer and Stereo Amp. These modes let you send a mono signal to anamp or mixer, or a stereo signal to two amps or two channels o a mixer.

Mode 1 (MONO) is the deault output mode when one cord is pluggedinto either the OUT 1 (AMP) or OUT 2 (MIXER) output.

Mode 2 (STEREO MIXER) and Mode 3 (STEREO AMP) are enabled when

two cords are plugged into both the OUT 1 (AMP) and OUT 2 (MIXER)outputs. Mode 2 (STEREO MIXER) is the deault stereo output modeselected rom the actory. Mode 3 (STEREO AMP) is enabled by selectingSTEREO AMP mode via the Flexible Output Mode Setup. Once Mode 3 isselected, you can return to Mode 2 (STEREO MIXER) using the FlexibleOutput Mode Setup.

Please reer to the Flexible Output Mode Setup section or moreinormation.

Flexible Output ModeTM Setup

1. Power up the Red Special Pedal.2. Select Model 7 using the MODEL knob.3. Press and hold the HEEL SWITCH or three seconds. The

INDICATOR LED begins to fash yellow.4. Release the HEEL SWITCH.5. Turn the MODEL knob to Model 6 to select STEREO AMP mode,

or leave the MODEL knob at Model 7 to select STEREO MIXERmode.

6. Press the TOE SWITCH to exit Flexible Ouput Mode Setup; theINDICATOR LED turns o.

NOTE: Keeping the MODEL knob set to Model 7 will leave the pedal inSTEREO MIXER mode (Flexible Output Mode 2). Selecting any otherModels besides 6 or 7 will prevent you rom exiting Flexible OutputMode Setup.


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PS0913B

OR

AMPLIFIER

MIXER

FS3X FOOTSWITCH

(OPTIONAL)

Connections Diagram - Flexible Output ModeTM 1 (Mono)

PS0913B

MIXER

FS3X FOOTSWITCH

(OPTIONAL)

Connections Diagram -Flexible Output ModeTM 2 (Stereo Mixer)

C lib ti th E i P d l


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PS0913B

AMPLIFIER

FS3X FOOTSWITCH

(OPTIONAL)AMPLIFIER

Connections Diagram -Flexible Output ModeTM 3 (Stereo Amp)

Calibrating the Expression PedalI the Expression Pedals range becomes diminished over time, it may benecessary to re-calibrate the pedal. Here is the procedure or calibration:

1. Begin with the power disconnected rom the Red Special Pedal.2. Select Model 1 using the MODEL knob.3. Insert a standard mono (TS) guitar cable into the FOOTSWITCH

jack.4. Connect the power supply to the Red Special Pedal. The INDICA-

TOR LED begins fashing yellow.5. Rock the EXPRESSION PEDAL orward (toe down).6. Select Model 2 using the MODEL knob. Wait or the INDICATOR

LED to begin fashing green.7. Rock the EXPRESSION PEDAL back (toe up).8. Select Model 3 using the MODEL knob. The INDICATOR LED

should fash green three times i calibration was successul.

I the calibration procedure ails, the INDICATOR LED will fash redinstead o green during step 8 and the unit will not return to normaloperation until the Expression Pedal has been properly calibrated. SelectModel 1 using the MODEL knob at this time and repeat steps 5-8 untilExpression Pedal calibration is successul.


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Using the Optional FS3X FootswitchThe optional FS3X ootswitch gives you hands-ree access to each o theRed Special Pedals dierent models quickly and seamlessly, and lets youswitch between heel and toe modes in each. The FS3X comes completewith a 1/4 stereo TRS cable that connects it to the FOOTSWITCH

jack on the right side o the Red Special Pedal.

Once connected, operation is easy. Press the UP switch to change to thenext model up. Press and hold the UP switch or three seconds to selectModel 7. Press the DOWN switch to change to the next model down.Press and hold the DOWN switch or three seconds to select Model 1.Press the MODE switch to cycle through the Toe (Green) mode and theHeel (Red) mode. (The model must be engaged or disengaged using theTOE or HEEL switch on the pedal.)

FS3X Footswitch (Optional)

MODE

Toggles between Toe Mode

(green LED) and Heel Mode

(red LED) when a Model

is active.

UP

Selects the next higher Model.

Hold for three seconds to select

MODEL 7.

DOWN

Selects the next lower Model.

Hold for three seconds to select

MODEL 1.


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WARRANTY: We at DigiTech are proud o our products and back up each one with the ollowing war-ranty:

1. The warranty registration card must be mailed within ten days ater purchase date to validate this warranty.

2. DigiTech warrants this product, when used solely within the U.S., to be ree rom deects in materials andworkmanship under normal use and service.

3. DigiTech liability under this warranty is limited to repairing or replacing deective materials that showevidence o deect, provided the product is returned to DigiTech WITH RETURN AUTHORIZATION,where all parts and labor will be covered up to a period oone year (this warranty is extended to a periodosix years when the product has been properly registered by mail or through our website). A ReturnAuthorization number may be obtained rom DigiTech by telephone. The company shall not be liable or anyconsequential damage as a result o the products use in any circuit or assembly.

4. Proo-o-purchase is considered to be the burden o the consumer.

5. DigiTech reserves the right to make changes in design, or make additions to, or improvements upon thisproduct without incurring any obligation to install the same on products previously manuactured.

6. The consumer oreits the benets o this warranty i the products main assembly is opened and tamperedwith by anyone other than a certied DigiTech technician or, i the product is used with AC voltages outsideo the range suggested by the manuacturer.

7. The oregoing is in lieu o all other warranties, expressed or implied, and DigiTech neither assumes norauthorizes any person to assume any obligation or liability in connection with the sale o this product. Inno event shall DigiTech or its dealers be liable or special or consequential damages or rom any delay in theperormance o this warranty due to causes beyond their control.

NOTE: The inormation contained in this manual is subject to change at any time without notication. Someinormation contained in this manual may also be inaccurate due to undocumented changes in the product oroperating system since this version o the manual was completed. The inormation contained in this version othe owners manual supersedes all previous versions.

Specifcations:

Controls GAIN/LEVEL, TREBLE/BASS, CONTROL/GUITAR Jacks INPUT, FOOTSWITCH, OUT 1 (AMP), OUT 2 (MIXER) Input Impedance 1M Ohms* Output Impedance 200 Ohms Power Consumption 4.5 Watts Dimensions 10.14"(L) x 3.84"(W) x 2.47"(H) Weight 3.38 lbs. Included Power Supply (one o the ollowing):

PS0913B 100 (100V ~ 50/60Hz)PS0913B 120 (120V ~ 60Hz)PS0913B 230 (230V ~ 50Hz)PS0913B 240 (240V ~ 60Hz)

* Input impedance is normally 1M Ohms except or models that use theTreble Booster eect, in which case it refects the desired impedance oBrian Mays Treble Booster.


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DigiTech8760 South Sandy Parkway

Sandy, Utah 84070PH (801) 566-8800FAX (801) 566-7005www.digitech.com

Manuactured in the U.S.A.

Printed 5/2006Red Special Pedal Owners Manual 18-0438-A

2006 Harman International Industries, Incorporated, all rights reserved.

*DigiTech, Production Modeling, CIT, and Flexible Output Mode are trademarks o Harman InternationalIndustries, Inc. Other product names modeled in this product are trademarks o their respective companiesthat do not endorse and are not associated or aliated with DigiTech. They are trademarks o other manu-

acturers and were used merely to identiy products whose sounds were reviewed in thecreation o this product.

Brian May Manual

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