James May Engineering Ultra Tonic Pickup Installation Instructions

Ultra Tonic Pickup Installation Instructions
James May Engineering
12/23/17
Version 0.6

1. Install the pickup elements

Note that there are 5 discs provided with the unit – four small ones and one large one. The four small
discs, pre-soldered to edge connector pins 1-4, are interchangeable. Together they function as the main
pickup. The larger fifth disc, pre-soldered to connector pin 5, is special. It has opposite polarity from the
four small discs, and functions as a feedback suppression pickup.
For steel string guitars, refer to Fig. 1 below. For nylon string guitars, see the text at the end of this
section. Three small discs (shown in solid black) are to be attached to the bridge plate in the exact same
location as you would install the K&K pure mini pickup. They are the same size as the K&K discs, and
should be glued as shown right under the saddle location above.
The fourth small disc (shown in gray) goes on the high E side and is intended to strengthen the high E
string which is often weak with an installation of only three discs. Position it as shown, right next to the
disc that straddles the E and B strings. Use a jig and procedure like what K&K recommends, or any other
that you are comfortable with. Getting the locations right is important.
The large disc should be located at the far end of the bass side of the bridge plate, as far back as the
plate will allow. With a little practice, you can do this by feel. A jig probably won't be necessary. It could
overhang the end of the plate by as much as 1/8" and not be problematic.
E B G D A E
Figure 1
Location of pickups
1