Bombshell Overdrive

OWNER’S MANUAL
 Congratulations on purchasing an amplifier from Amplified Nation. Whether you acquired the amp
new or used, we hope that you will enjoy your experience as an Amplified Nation customer. Our
products are designed to deliver great tone and be an inspiring extension of your instrument.

The Bombshell Overdrive is a remarkable amp, equipped with two channels and lots of character.
You will immediately feel how flexible the amp can be, and so many of the iconic tones are very
easy to dial in.

The Bombshell Overdrive comes in different power levels, from 22w to 100w and can be found in
head or combo form factor. The higher wattage amps have increased headroom as you go up in
power, with increased sonic presence. The head and combo amps are identical in function, so this
manual will serve them both equally. All power levels also function the same with the exception of
bias settings. See Page 8

Please read through the control layout functions and make note of the instructions on general
operation before attempting to operate your new amp. This instruction manual includes essential
safety information regarding the use and maintenance of the amplifier.

If you have any questions about the amp that are not answered in this guide, please reach out to us
at [email protected] and we will be glad to assist you.

Thank you,
Taylor Cox
CEO, Amplified Nation

About Amplified Nation

Located in Hudson, MA, Amplified Nation is a boutique brand of guitar amplifiers and
speaker cabinets.
We have built our business on four core values: Integrity, knowledge, attention to detail
and quality. We provide an excellent experience for our customers and are committed to
constant communication and adherence to time lines.
Our passion for the craft of hand-building amplifiers can be seen in every piece of gear
that leaves our shop.
Thank you for choosing to work with us.

Amplified Nation
120 Central Street, Suite 4
Hudson, MA 01749
781-499-2677
[email protected]
www.amplifiednation.com

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Important Safety Instructions

1. Follow all instructions

2. Do not use this amplifier near water
3. Clean only with dry cloth
4. Do not block any ventilation openings
5. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers or vents.
6. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs and the point where they exit from the
amplifier
7. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer
8. Unplug this amplifier during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time
9. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the amplifier has been
damaged in any way, such as blown tubes, blown fuse, 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
10. To disconnect the unit completely from the MAINS, unplug
11. DANGEROUS VOLTAGE WARNING:
A tube amplifier chassis contains lethal high voltage even when unplugged--sometimes over 700 volts AC and 500
volts DC. Do not attempt to service, repair or conduct tube biasing unless you are qualified to do so. Please contact
Amplified Nation beforehand with questions in this regard. Amplified Nation takes no responsibility or shall be held
liable for any personal harm caused or damage to this amplifier as a result of unauthorized service, repair or internal
adjustments made to this amplifier.

Please Read Before Powering Up Your Bombshell Overdrive

1. Inspect to make sure power and pre-amp tubes are intact and snuggly seated in their sockets
2. Make certain a speaker (load) is plugged into the correct speaker input jack on the back of the amplifier.
Failure to have a speaker connected to the amp will result in damage to the output tubes. Your amplifier is
supplied with multiple speaker inputs for various impedances; select the one closest to or transition your
speaker(s) impedance.
3. Install cable into footswitch and then connect into rear panel input marked FOOTSWITCH
4. Install instrument cable from guitar into front panel INPUT
5. Be sure both POWER and STANDBY switches are in DOWN position
6. Install power cord to amplifier (AC POWER IN) and to AC power source
7. POWER UP amplifier by:
1. Flip POWER switch UP. WAIT at least 1 minute for tubes to heat up
2. Flip STANDBY switch UP, amplifier will now operate
8. The amplifier is now fully on and ready to use. Feel free to adjust all controls as you see fit
TO PUT AMP IN STANDBY MODE - Simply flip the STANDBY switch DOWN
TO PUT AMP IN PLAY MODE - Simply flip the STANDBY switch UP
TO TURN AMP OFF - Flip the STANDBY switch DOWN. We then recommend (as a kindness to the output
tubes) waiting at least 1 minute before flipping POWER switch DOWN hence fully shutting the amp down.

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 Front Panel Functions

FET Jack: Slightly higher gain input to the amplifier, your signal runs through a FET transistor gain stage
before going to the first preamp tube.

NOR Jack: High impedance input to the amplifier. Plug in your instrument here.

Volume: Adjusts the gain of the amplifiers clean channel. Keep in mind that the amount of gain set
here determines the signal level feeding the lead channel. Low gain settings of this control will require
higher lead gain settings for the same amount of overdrive.

Bright Switch: Boosts the treble frequency response.

Mid Switch: Boosts the mid range frequency response.

Rock/Jazz Switch: Two unique EQ settings for the amp. Jazz is more soft and mellow, Rock is more
aggressive with extra bite and clarity.

Treble: Adjusts the high frequency response. In the full counter-clockwise position, high frequencies
are bypassed to ground. In the full clockwise position, high frequencies are increased.

Middle: Adjusts the mid-range response. In the full counter-clockwise position, the tone will be
somewhat “scooped” of mid-range response, emphasizing the highs and lows. In the full clockwise
position, mid-range frequencies are increased.

Bass: Adjusts the bass response. In the full counter-clockwise position, low frequencies are cut. In
addition, the response of the treble and mid-range controls is reduced. In the full clockwise
position, low frequencies are increased.

Drive: Adjusts the amount of gain of the overdrive channel.

Volume: Adjusts the overall volume level of the overdrive channel.

Master: Adjusts the overall output level of the amplifier.

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 Front Panel Functions (CONTINUED)

Presence: Higher settings of the presence control will add extra brilliance to the amplifier, and can be
useful when changing guitars.

Power Indicator Lamp: The replacement light bulb is a 6.3v A/C.

NOTE: All switches are ON in the “up” position.

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 Rear Panel Functions

Mains: Connects the amplifier to A/C power with included IEC power cord.

Fuse: See Fuse Chart page 7

Mains On/OFF Switch: Turns on the power to the amplifier.

Standby Switch: The standby switch can be used when powering up the amplifier and allows the tubes
to warm before hitting them with DC voltage. When ready to play, switch to Operate.

Bias Test Points: See bias adjustment section

Speaker Output Jacks: There are 4 speaker output jacks, two 4ohm, one 8ohm and one 16ohm. You
should only use one speaker impedance at a time, or use two 4ohm outputs are to be used to power
two 8ohm cabinets.
**Never operate your amplifier without a connected speaker load, and be sure to match the impedance
of your cabinet with the corresponding value on the amp.

Signal Access: The effects loop of the Bombshell Overdrive is a passive signal access point. Any effects
plugged into the loop will be run in series with the preamp and power amp. Preamp output goes to
effects, Power amp input comes back from effects.

Footswitch Jack: The footswitch connects with the included 7 pin locking cable. The functions of the
Bombshell Overdrive include channel switching and preamp boost.

Overdrive Switch: This switch changes the channel of the amp, To enable foot switch control of this
function, switch must be in pedal mode.

PAB Switch: This switch bypasses the tone controls, increasing both the amp level and mids. To enable
foot switch control of this function, switch must be in pedal mode.

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 Fuse Chart
All Fuses are 3AG Type 250 Volt, SLO-BLO

Domestic 120v Fuses: Export 230v, 240v Fuses:

2A – 22 Watt 1A - 22 Watt
3A - 50 Watt 1.5A - 50 Watt
3A - 100 Watt 1.5A - 100 Watt

Tube Complement

POWER TUBES

V7 V6 V5 V4 V3 V2 V1
BIAS

V1- 12AX7, Clean Channel

V2- 12AX7, Overdrive Channel
V3- 12AX7, Phase Inverter

Power Tubes:
22 Watt- V4 & V5 6V6GT
50 Watt- V4 & V5, 6L6GC
100 Watt- V4, V5, V6, V7, 6l6GC

Each fine production tube is tested and matched to our exacting specifications. External bias
test points are located on the chassis near the output tube sockets. A digital multi-meter and
insulated screwdriver are required for the bias adjustment pot in between the power tubes.

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 Bias Adjustment Procedure

All of our amps are equipped with external bias test points and an external bias adjustment pot.
The adjustment pot is located in between the power tube sockets and should be adjusted using an
insulated flat tip screwdriver.

• Power up unit connected to proper speaker load

• Do not have an instrument connected to the amp
• Take the amp off of standby and let it stabilize
• Set your multi meter to mV
• Connect the meter to corresponding black and red test points, black is ground
• Using an insulated screwdriver adjust the bias pot to get the proper mV reading

Tube types and bias level:

• 22w 6VGGT – 19-21mV per tube

• 50w 6L6GC – 33-35mmV per tube
• 100w 6L6GC – 66-70mV per pair

DO NOT set bias higher than recommended levels as it can lead to tube failure or damage to the
amplifier.

WARNING: No user serviceable parts inside. If the amplifier is blowing fuses or not operating
properly, please take it to a qualified technician for repair.

Use grounded A/C receptacle only

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 Servicing Warranty

Amplified Nation offers a 2-year non-transferrable warranty on

amplifiers excluding: tubes, speakers, damage from tube failure, and
abuse/modification.

It is the customer’s responsibility to pay to ship the product to us, and if

it is determined the warranty doesn’t apply, the customer is responsible for
the return shipping.

If the product is a warranty repair, Amplified Nation will cover the

return shipping.

CONTACT US
This manual is a resource for some of your questions. Please contact us with any other questions or
comments that you may have. We look forward to hearing from you!

Phone: 781-499-2677

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.amplifiednation.com

Address: 120 Central Street, Suite 4, Hudson, Massachusetts 01749