Shadow SH 4020 A Owner's Manual

Owner's manual for

SH 4020 A for acoustic guitars

SH 4020 C for classic guitars

Introduction

Thank you and congratulations for choosing a Shadow pickup system. Shadow preamps are known for the most reliable, user-friendly and best
sounding products on the market. As a result of an enormous research and development effort over three years, Shadow releases a revolutionary
pickup system. The hexaphonic pickup Nanoflex-6 unites six Nanoflex pickups in one – one for each string.
Pickup Variants
We offer flexible pickups with different features. Pay attention to choose the correct one to be mounted in the guitar. We have the monophonic
(standard) pickup in two different widths: 2.3mm and 2.8mm depends on how is the bridge slot.
Note: Almost all new guitars are using 2.3mm. NanoFlex 6 and PanaFlex pickups are available in 2.3mm width only.
If you are using a NanoFlex 6 or a PanaFlex: Before you install the pickup: Check the correct string spacing!
 11.8mm for classical guitars with nylon strings. (Needed for some baritone-guitars too!)
 11.0mm for acoustical guitars with steel strings.

If you are not sure if you can install it by yourself, we suggest contacting a luthier in your area!

Damaged pickups or other parts which were damaged by mishandling are out of the warranty.
Endpin Installation
Take off the strings and remove original strap nut and increase hole up to 12.5mm diameter.
Remove endpin strap nut, hexagon nut and washer from the endpin.
(Fig.1): Mount the endpin as shown. Pay attention on the washer! Adjust the inside nut so that the larger threads end just below the surface of the
instrument (Fig.2, arrow). Put a small screwdriver or similar in the two side holes of the endpin socket to lock it during screwing the hexagon nut.
Put the washer from the outside on the endpin jack and tighten the hexagon nut with 12mm wrench and screw endpin strap nut on.
Laying the cable in that way that it may not produce noise during vibration!
Endpin-Socket
Fig.1

Pickup Installation

Remove the original saddle and drill a 3.1mm diameter hole in the corner of the saddle slot at the bass string side
The hole has to be drilled in an angle of 30°-45°. Check your bracing before drilling the hole to avoid damage.
Clean up the saddle slot and eliminate the wood dust and chips. Lead the NFX pickup through the hole in the bridge and place it into the bridge slot
showing "NFX top" up towards the saddle.
Fig.3: To accommodate the height of the original bridge reduce the height of the saddle. The thickness of the Nanoflex is around 0.8mm. Important:
The bottom side has to be absolutely flat! Insert the saddle and secure it temporarily with a piece of tape.
Fig.4: Use the single wire clip (if supplied) to secure the wire from the pickup to the underside of the top and secure the cable into it. Failing to secure
the wire may produce feedback and other bizarre audio consequences.
Also fix this area to avoid noise or feedback. You may use adhesive material to fix it. Connect the 3-pin cable of the pickup and the 4-pin cable from
the endpin to the bottom of the preamp.
Fig.3
Fig.5: During reassembling the strings, pay attention to the saddle! If needed press it back to the correct upright position. See Fig.6. Otherwise it is
easy to cause feedback!
Fig.7: Perfect bridges are using an inclination of around 13° to 15°. This is best for the sound quality, because the string vibrations are transferred
perfect to the pickup.
Wrong!
strings
saddle
pickup
bridge
Fig.5
Inside Washer Hexagon Nut
Strap Nut
Holes
Inside Nut Outside Washer
strings
saddle
pickup
Fig.6
Update information may be found on our website: http://shadow-electronics.com
Instruments's bottom
Fig.2
Fig.4
OK
bridge
Fig.7
Top of Instrument
Block
(Fig.3 D).
bridge saddle
0.8 mm
Correct inclinated guitar bridge
strings
saddle
pickup
bridge