Fishman ACOUSTIC MATRIX PROFESSIONAL Installation Manual

F ® A
ISHMAN COUSTIC
S P
YSTEM REAMP
P L
ARTS IST
• Slider Bezel
• Acoustic Matrix Pickup
• 4-40 Screws (4), 3/16" length, with Star Washers
• 1/4" Aluminum Hex Standoffs (4), 9/16" length
• (3) Adhesive-backed Plastic Wire Guides
• (5) Slider Knobs
T
OOLS
• Caliper
• Router with 1/8" (3 mm) (or .9375" Plunging Cutter for Narrow Format)
• 400 Grit Sandpaper or Scraper
• Flex Shaft Tool with 1" (25.4 mm) Diameter Saw Blade or Router with 1/4" (6.30 mm) cutter.
• Soldering Iron (30 watt max)
• Wire Strippers
• Variable Speed Drill
• 1/8" Twist Drill
• 1/2" Open End Wrench
P D
ICKUP IMENSIONS
WIDE Format
Width: .125" (3.2 mm)
Height: .053" (1.35 mm)
Length: 2.650" (67.3 mm)
Sensing Area: 2.670" (67.8 mm)
Max. recommended string spacing: 2.500" (63.5 mm)
Narrow Format
Width: .09375" (2.4 mm)
Height: .043" (1.1 mm)
Length: 2.650" (67.3 mm)
Sensing Area: 2.670" (67.8 mm)
Max. recommended string spacing: 2.500" (63.5 mm)
NOTE: The overall length of the Matrix pickup is 2.700" (68.58mm). We recommend a saddle slot length
of at least 2.875" (73mm).
The actual sensing area of the pickup is 2.670" long and can accommodate string spacings of up to 2.500"
(63.5 mm). Poor string balance may result with string spacings greater than this.
DO NOT trim the end of the pickups length as ground hum will occur. Custom pickup lengths are available
from Fishman.
M F A P
ECHANICAL ACTORS FFECTING ICKUP
BREAK ANGLE
There must be an adequate amount of downbearing pres-
sure on the pickup in order for it to perform optimally. The
pickup will "see" an acceptable amount of downbearing
pressure when there is a 20° (minimum) break angle
across the saddle.
A pickup in a Guitar with less than a 20° break angle will often have string balance problems as well as
poor tone. For such instruments, an adequate break angle can be realized by "ramping" the string slots or
(in extreme cases) raising the saddle height and resetting the neck angle.
THE 50/50 RULE
For adequate coupling between string, saddle and pickup, we recommend that the saddle slot depth (with
pickup installed) should equal no more than 50% of the total height of the saddle.
ADJUSTING FOR TOO DEEP A SADDLE SLOT
If the slot (with pickup installed) measures more than 50% of the total saddle height, the pickup perfor-
mance will often suffer. To correct for too deep a slot, place a wood shim under the pickup. Determine the
proper thickness of the shim by subtracting 1/2 of the total saddle height from the slot depth (with pickup
installed). Then, remove an amount of material equal to the thickness of the shim from the bottom of the
saddle.
EXCEPTION: Pickups in guitars with a very steep string break angle (25° or more), will generally perform
well, even if the saddle slot depth measures more than 50% of the total saddle height.
COMPENSATED SADDLES
We do not recommend compensating the saddle under the "B" string. Doing so may twist the saddle and
cause uneven pickup response.
P S S
REPARE THE ADDLE LOT
1. Rout a .125" (3.2 mm) wide saddle slot for the Acoustic Matrix Wide Format
pickup.
OR
Rout a .09375" (2.3 mm) wide slot for the Acoustic Matrix Narrow Format pickup.
2. Be certain that the bottom of the slot is flat.
Deepen an existing slot only enough to obtain a clean, flat surface.
M ™ P
ATRIX ROFESSIONAL
I
NSTALLATION
• Preamp
• 1/4" Stereo Jack, with hardware
• 4-40 Screws (4), 7/16" length
• 3/16" Brass Hex Jack Screws (4), 1/2" length
• Preamp Cutout Template
• Back Plate with Battery Clip
• Rosin Core Solder
• #1 Phillips Screwdriver
• Center Punch
• 15/32" Spade Bit Drill
• 3/32" Allen Wrench
P
ERFORMANCE
NO MORE THAN 50%
L W
OCATE THE IREHOLE
1. Locate the center of the wire hole no less than .100" (2.5 mm) from the closest string.
2. Mark the location where the wire will enter the saddle slot. Center the mark between the walls (width)
of the slot.
3. Drill a .09375" hole.
4. Clear wood chips and foreign materials from the saddle slot.
5. Carefully insert (do not bend) the pickup.
No less than .100" (2.54 mm)
P S
REPARE THE ADDLE
We recommend synthetic materials such as Micarta or Corian as excellent saddle materials for the
Acoustic Matrix. Organic materials such as bone or ivory are not as consistent and may result in poor string
balance.
1. Prepare a .125" wide saddle (.09375" for Narrow Format) The bottom of the saddle must be flat.
2. Remove only enough material from the width of the saddle to provide a sliding 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 .053" shorter in height (.043" for Narrow Format pickups) than
your current saddle.
P C
REAMP UTOUT
For guitars with non-laminated sides, we strongly recommend gluing a thin plywood patch inside the guitar
before cutting out the cavity. This will prevent cracking and splintering of the cut-out area during cutting,
and provide adequate structural support for the preamp.
1. Choose the preamp location on the side of the instrument. Note that the bezel has the ability to con-
form to most curved surfaces on standard size guitars.
2. Tape the enclosed Cutout Template to the desired location. Use the flex shaft tool (with 1/2" blade) or
the router (with 1/4" cutter) to make the cut-out.
3. Drill the screw mounting holes using the 1/8" drill.
P E B
REPARE THE NDPIN LOCK
TOOLS
• Masking Tape • X-Acto Fine-toothed Saw
• Variable Speed Drill • Center Punch
• 1/8" Twist Drill • 15/32" Spade Bit Drill
• 1/2" Open End Wrench • 3/32" Allen Wrench
The objective of this method is to drill a hole in the endblock, with the endpin in place. You may remove a
loose endpin and refasten it in the endblock with cyanoacrylate glue before starting this procedure.