Peavey Backstage Chorus 208 Guitar Amplifier

Introduction

The Peavey Backstage Chorus 208 is a single unit guitar amplifier designed for musicians. This manual provides operating instructions, specifications, and safety information.

Important Safety Instructions

⚠️ WARNING: When using electric products, basic cautions should always be followed, including the following:

1. Read all safety and operating instructions before using this product.
2. All safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
3. Obey all cautions in the operating instructions and on the back of the unit.
4. All operating instructions should be followed.
5. This product should not be used near water, i.e., a bathtub, sink, swimming pool, wet basement, etc.
6. This product should be located so that its position does not interfere with its proper ventilation. It should not be placed flat against a wall or placed in a built-in enclosure that will impede the flow of cooling air.
7. This product should not be placed near a source of heat such as a stove, radiator, or another heat producing amplifier.
8. Connect only to a power supply of the type marked on the unit adjacent to the power supply cord.
9. Never break off the ground pin on the power supply cord. For more information on grounding, write for our free booklet "Shock Hazard and Grounding."
10. Power supply cords should always be handled carefully. Never walk or place equipment on power supply cords. Periodically check cords for cuts or signs of stress, especially at the plug and the point where the cord exits the unit.
11. The power supply cord should be unplugged when the unit is to be unused for long periods of time.
12. If this product is to be mounted in an equipment rack, rear support should be provided.
13. Metal parts can be cleaned with a damp rag. The vinyl covering used on some units can be cleaned with a damp rag or an ammonia-based household cleaner if necessary. Disconnect unit from power supply before cleaning.
14. Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the unit through the ventilation holes or any other openings.
15. This unit should be checked by a qualified service technician if:
    • The power supply cord or plug has been damaged.
    • Anything has fallen or been spilled into the unit.
    • The unit does not operate correctly.
    • The unit has been dropped or the enclosure damaged.
16. The user should not attempt to service this equipment. All service work should be done by a qualified service technician.
17. This product should be used only with a cart or stand that is recommended by Peavey Electronics.

Exposure to extremely high noise levels may cause permanent hearing loss. Use hearing protection when operating this system at high volumes.

Noise Exposure Chart:

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!

Front Panel Controls

The front panel features various controls for shaping your tone and managing the amplifier's functions. The following describes each control, referencing the numbers on the panel diagram.

Specifications

Power Amp Section

Rated Power & Load (each channel):

• 30 W RMS into 8 ohms/driven separately
• 25 W RMS into 8 ohms/both channels driven (50 W RMS total)

Power @ Clipping (Typical each channel):

• (5% THD, 1 kHz, 120 V AC line)
• 25 W RMS into 8 ohms/both channels driven

Total Harmonic Distortion: Less than 0.2%, 100 mW to 20 W RMS, 40 Hz to 15 kHz, 8 ohms (Typically below 0.1%)

Power Consumption (Domestic): 150 W @ 120 V AC, 50/60 Hz

Preamp Section

Specs measured @ 1 kHz with controls preset as follows: Channel & Chorus select normal (out), Low & high EQ @ 10, Mid EQ @ 0, SuperSat @ 10, Pull Gain Off (In), Post Gain @ 10, Bottom, Body, & Edge Voicing @ 0, Reverb Level @ 0, Stereo Chorus Depth & Rate @ 10.

Preamp High Gain Input:

• Impedance: High Z, 200 K ohms
• Nominal Input Level: -20 dBV, 100 mV RMS
• Minimum Input Level: -36 dBV, 15 mV RMS
• Maximum Input Level: +16 dBV, 6 V RMS

Preamp Low Gain Input (10 dB pad):

• Impedance: High Z, 69 K ohms
• Nominal Input Level: -10 dBV, 300 mV RMS
• Minimum Input Level: -26 dBV, 45 mV RMS
• Maximum Input Level: +26 dBV, 18 V RMS

Preamp #1 Output (Dry signal, no chorus):

• Load Impedance: 10 K ohms or greater
• Nominal Output: 0 dBV, 1 V RMS
• Maximum Output: +18 dBV, 8 V RMS
• (Switching jack, removes dry signal feed to output #2 when used, allowing full stereo output patching)

Preamp #2 Output (Mix of dry and chorus signals):

• Load Impedance: 10 K ohms or greater
• Nominal Output: 0 dBV, 1 V RMS
• Maximum Output: +18 dBV, 8 V RMS
• (This output is converted to chorus signal only if output #1 above is used for output patching)

Headphone Output (Stereo jack, stereo signal):

• Load Impedance: 4 ohms or greater/channel
• Nominal power output: 100 mW into 4 ohms/channel
• (Switching jack, disconnects internal speakers when a stereo phone plug is fully inserted)

System Hum & Noise (@ Nominal Input Levels): (20 Hz to 20 kHz unweighted) 74 dB below rated power

Normal Channel Equalization: Low, mid, & high passive type EQ

Lead Channel Voicing: Special Bottom, Body, & Edge EQ

Pull Gain: Increases SuperSat® gain

External Footswitch Function:

• Reverb defeat (when reverb control raised)
• Lead channel defeat (when selected with button)
• Chorus defeat (when selected with button)

Tone Settings Examples

Tone settings are general and will vary according to guitar type, strings, pickup type, and pick. Personal taste, playing style, and music type greatly contribute to desired tonality.

• CLEAN: (Refer to front panel diagram for specific knob positions)
• METAL: (Refer to front panel diagram for specific knob positions)
• JAZZ: (Refer to front panel diagram for specific knob positions)
• MEDIUM DISTORTION: (Refer to front panel diagram for specific knob positions)
• COUNTRY-CLEAN: (Refer to front panel diagram for specific knob positions)
• COUNTRY LEAD: (Refer to front panel diagram for specific knob positions)

Signal Path Block Diagram Description

This block diagram illustrates the signal flow within the amplifier. It shows the path from input through preamp stages (Normal and Lead channels, EQ, effects like Chorus and Reverb, SuperSat), and then to the power amp and outputs (speakers, headphones, preamp outs).

Key components shown include:

• Inputs (High Gain, Low Gain)
• Channel Select Switch (Normal/Lead)
• Preamp section with Gain, EQ, SuperSat, Post Gain, Bottom, Body, Edge controls
• Effects: Chorus (Rate, Depth), Reverb
• Switch Logic for effects and channel selection
• Footswitch connection
• Power Amp 1 & 2
• Outputs: 8 Ohm Speaker (x2), Preamp Out 1 (Dry), Preamp Out 2 (Mixed), Stereo Headphone

Limited Warranty

This limited warranty is valid only when purchased and registered in the United States or Canada. Exported products are subject to warranty and services specified by the authorized distributor for each country.

One-Year Limited Warranty/Remedy (Excluding covers, footswitches, patchcords, tubes, and meters):

Peavey warrants this product to be free from defects in material and workmanship for one (1) year from the date of purchase, provided it was purchased from an Authorized Peavey Dealer.

90-Day Limited Warranty on Tubes and Meters:

Tubes and meters are warranted for ninety (90) days from the date of purchase.

Conditions, Exclusions, and Limitations:

• Warranty is void if the product is for resale, not purchased from an Authorized Peavey Dealer, damaged by accident/unreasonable use/neglect, or if the serial number is altered.
• Peavey will repair or replace defective components (tubes/meters replaced free; other defects repaired/replaced at Peavey's option). Shipping costs are paid by the purchaser.
• Warranty Registration Card must be completed and mailed within 14 days of purchase.
• To obtain service, bring the defective item to an Authorized Peavey Dealer or Service Center with original proof of purchase. Alternatively, ship prepaid with a detailed description of the problem and proof of purchase to the International Service Center.

Peavey's liability is limited to actual damages up to the greater of $500.00 or the purchase price of the product. This does not apply to claims for personal injury or damage to property caused by Peavey's negligence. Peavey is not liable for damage caused by non-Peavey alterations or attachments, or damage to interconnected non-Peavey equipment.

Peavey is not liable for lost profits, lost savings, incidental, or consequential damages. These limited warranties are in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied.

Some states may not allow limitations on implied warranties or incidental/consequential damages. These warranties give you specific legal rights.

Warranty Registration: Mail completed card to Peavey Electronics Corporation, P.O. Box 2898, Meridian, MS 39302-2898. Keep proof of purchase. Notify Peavey of address changes.