Fishman POWERJACK Installation Manual

F P
I S H M A N O W E R J A C K
Important!
Installation of the Powerjack™ requires fine
woodworking & soldering skills and should be
performed only by a qualified repairman.
Fishman Transducers will not be responsible
for any damages that may result from
improper installation.
Please read these instructions carefully.
For technical assistance, contact Fishman
Customer Support at 978-988-9665 or
tech@fishman.com
Thank you for choosing this Fishman product. The Powerjack ® is designed
so that you can enjoy the benefits of "active" pickup performance from
your passive piezo or magnetic pickup. The Powerjack is an active
®
preamp, built into a 1/4" endpin jack. At its heart is a unique miniaturized
circuit, housed in its elongated shielding cap.
• A battery life of 12,000 hours eliminates
9 Volt
Battery
frequent battery changes. Under normal
use, the system will run for years on the
same battery!
• Sophisticated discrete electronics
Pickup
improve and enhance the
performance of both passive piezo
and magnetic pickups.
• An integral Fishman Switchjack™
endpin jack offers new stereo wiring Powerjack
options.
L W
I M I T E D A R R A N T Y
INSTALLATION BY A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL REPAIRMAN IS STRONGLY
RECOMMENDED. FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ANY DAMAGES THAT MAY RESULT FROM IMPROPER INSTALLATION.
The FISHMAN POWERJACK™ is warranted to function for a period of One (1) Year from
the date of purchase. If the unit fails to function properly within the warranty period, free
repair and the option of replacement or refund in the event that FISHMAN is unable to
make repair are FISHMAN's only obligations. This warranty does not cover any conse-
quential damages or damage to the unit due to misuse, accident, or neglect. FISHMAN
retains the right to make such determination on the basis of factory inspection. Products
returned to FISHMAN for repair or replacement must be shipped in accordance with the
Return Policy, as follows. This warranty remains valid only if repairs are performed by
FISHMAN. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other
rights which may vary from state to state.
RETURN POLICY
To return products to FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS, you must follow these steps...
1. Call FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS at 978-988-9199 for a Return Authorization Number
("RAN").
2. Enclose a copy of the original Bill of Sale as evidence of the date of purchase, with
the product in its original packaging and a protective carton or mailer.
3. FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS' technicians will determine whether the item is covered
by warranty or if it instead has been damaged by improper customer installation or
other causes not related to defects in material or workmanship.
4. Warranty repairs or replacements will be sent automatically free of charge.
5. If FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS determines the item is not covered by warranty, we
will notify you of the repair or replacement cost and wait for your authorization to
proceed.
FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS, INC.
340-D Fordham Road Wilmington MA 01887 USA
Phone 978-988-9199 • Fax 978-988-0770
www.fishman.com
009-063-001 • Rev 2 • 2-10-04
™ M E P
I N I A T U R E N D P I N
Pickup Dimensions
NOTE: For the pickup to fit lengthwise, we recommend a saddle slot length
of at least 2.875" (73mm).
AG-125 AG-094
E to E string spacing = 2.125" (53.97 mm) E to E string spacing = 2.125" (53.99 mm)
Wire hole location = .234" (5.94 mm) from Wire hole location = .234" (5.94 mm) from
closest outside string closest outside string
The AG-125 is suitable for most instruments The AG-094 is suitable for most instruments
with string spacings from 2.075" (52.7 mm) with string spacings from 2.075" (52.7 mm)
to 2.175" (55.24 mm) to 2.175" (55.24 mm)
AGX-125 AGX-094
E to E string spacing = 2.3125" (58.73 mm). E to E string spacing = 2.3125" (58.73 mm).
Wire hole location is .234" (5.94 mm) from Wire hole location is .234" (5.94 mm) from
closest outside string closest outside string
The AGX-125 is suitable for most 6 and 12- The AGX-094 is suitable for most 6 and 12-
string instruments with E to E string spac- string instruments with E to E string spac-
ings from 2.262" (57.45 mm) to 2.362" ings from 2.262" (57.45 mm) to 2.362"
(59.99 mm) (59.99 mm)
NOTE: Custom string spacings are available NOTE: Custom string spacings are available
upon request. upon request.
WIDTH: .125" (3.17 mm) WIDTH: .094" (2.3 mm)
HEIGHT: .048" (1.22 mm) HEIGHT: .048" (1.22 mm)
LENGTH: AG-125: 2.625" (66.67 mm) LENGTH: AG-094: 2.625" (66.67 mm)
AGX-125: 2.725" (69.21 mm)
™
I n s t a l l a t i o n G u i d e I n s t a l l a t i o n G u i d e
Powerjack
Miniature Endpin Preamp
Includes Installation Instructions for Fishman 125 & 094 Series
Acoustic Guitar Pickups
AG-125: 2.125" String Spacing
AGX-125: 2.3125" String Spacing
.125" (3.2 mm) Width
AG-094: 2.125" String Spacing
AGX-094: 2.3125" String Spacing
.094" (2.3 mm) Width
R E A M P
F
I S H M A N
Tools
• Caliper
• Soldering iron (30 watt max)
• Wire strippers
• 3/32" (2mm) Allen wrench
• 15/32" (11.9mm) tapered reamer or .....
Mechanical Factors Affecting
Undersaddle Pickup Performance
Before you install the pickup, make sure the bridge and saddle are within our
recommended "safe zone" of usable parameters.
Break Angle
For the pickup to perform optimally, there should be a 20° (minimum) string
break angle across the back of the saddle. An adequate break angle can often
be realized by "ramping" the string slots. In extreme cases, where the break
angle is much less than 20° and the saddle is so low that it is nearly flush to the
top of the bridge, the instrument probably requires a neck re-set. In these cases,
resetting the neck to a higher angle will restore the saddle height and the string
break angle required for good pickup performance.
AGX-094: 2.725" (69.21 mm)
coupling and pickup balance, we recommend that the saddle slot depth (with
pickup installed) measures no more than 50% of the total height of the saddle. If
the slot measures more than 50% of the total height of the saddle, balance
and/or output level of the pickup may suffer. In these cases, add a hardwood
shim under the pickup. To determine the shim's thickness, subtract 1/2 of the
total saddle height from the slot depth. Then remove an equal amount of
material from the bottom of the saddle.
Exception to the 50/50 rule: Pickups in bridges (especially Martin
3/32" width) with exceptionally steep string break angle will generally perform
very well, even if the saddle slot depth measures more than 50% of the total sad-
dle height.
Prepare the Saddle Slot
A large percentage of string balance
problems with undersaddle pickups can
be traced to an unevenly cut or warped
saddle slot. Irregularities on the bottom
or sides of the slot can often prevent the
saddle from uniformly pressurizing the pickup.
For this reason, we strongly recommend that before
you install any undersaddle pickup, re-mill an existing slot
with a plunge router, jigged up in an appropriate slot cutting fixture.
1. Rout a .125" (3.17 mm) wide saddle slot for the AG-125 pickup.
OR
Rout a .094" (2.38 mm) wide slot for the AG-094 pickup.
2. Be certain that the bottom of the slot is flat. Deepen an existing slot only
enough to obtain a clean, flat surface.
Locate the Wire Hole
1. Confirm the E to E string spacing. The AG-125 and AG-094 pickups are suit-
able for instruments with outside string spacings (at the saddle) ranging from
2.075" (52.70mm) to 2.175" (55.24mm).
2. Locate the center of the wire hole .234" from the center of the closest string
or (for twelve string) the center of the closest pair of strings.
P ™ M
O W E R J A C K I N I A T U R E
.234"
• 400 grit sandpaper
(5.9 mm)
• Rosin core solder
• 1/2" open end wrench
• Plunge router with 1/8" (3.2mm ) cutter for AG-125
OR 3/32" (2.3mm) cutter for AG-094
variable speed drill
center punch
1/8" 3mm twist drill
15/32" spade bit drill
X-Acto ® miniature saw
.234"
(5.9 mm)
3. Mark the location where the wire will enter the saddle slot. Center the mark
between the walls (width) of the slot.
4. Drill a .094" hole.
5. Clear wood chips and foreign materials from the saddle slot.
6. Carefully insert (do not bend) the pickup. The fit must be loose in the slot,
without binding on the sides or the ends of the pickup. If the ends of the
pickup come in contact with the saddle slot, pickup failure could result.
50/50 Rule
We have found that there
is a critical relationship
NO MORE THAN 50%
Prepare the Saddle
between the overall
saddle height and the
We highly recommend the Fishman Cleartone™ saddle for enhancing the per-
bridge slot depth. For
formance of an under-the saddle pickup. We also suggest synthetic materials
adequate mechanical
such as Micarta™ or Corian™ as adequate substitutes. Organic saddles such as
bone or ivory can not be recommended since these are not structurally as con-
sistent as synthetic materials and can produce poor pickup balance.
1. Prepare a .125" or 3.17mm wide saddle (.094" or 2.38mm for Narrow
Format). For adequate pickup performance, the bottom and sides of the sad-
dle must be absolutely FLAT.
2. Remove only enough material from the width of the saddle to provide a slid-
® style,
ing fit in the slot. To test the fit, the saddle should slide easily in the slot, but
should not fall out when overturned. To maintain your current action, the new
saddle must be .048" (1.22 mm) shorter in height than your current saddle.
Prepare the Endpin Jack Hole
There are two ways to widen the endpin hole to accept the Powerjack™.
Slow and Safe
If you have the time, this is the preferred method. Remove the endpin and
widen the hole to size with a 15/32" (11.9 mm) reamer (available in the US
& Canada through Stewart MacDonald, 800-848-2273 part #4323).
OR
Quick & Clean
The objective here is to quickly drill out the endpin jack hole, with the endpin
or other suitable plug in place. You may remove a loose endpin and refasten
it in the endblock with cyanoacrylate glue before starting the procedure.
Note: We do not recommend this method for instruments with
brittle ornamental veneers (ex: abalone) around the endblock
1. Apply masking tape around the endblock area to protect the instrument.
2. Locate an X-Acto
the endpin.
3. Centerpunch a guide hole in the center of the trimmed endpin.
4. Drill a 1/8" (3.2mm) pilot hole through the endblock.
5. Line up a 15/32" (11.9mm) Spade bit in the pilot hole and begin drilling.
Maintain a perpendicular plunge in relation to the instrument. Use steady (but
not heavy) pressure, especially as the drill exits inside the guitar.
6. To avoid damage to the instrument, let the drill come to a complete stop
before removing it from the hole.
E P
N D P I N R E A M P
® saw blade 1/16" (1.6mm) away from the body and saw off