EMG EMG-ACB BARREL Service manual

0230-XXXX
PO BOX 4394
SANTA ROSA, CA
95402 USA
P [phone]
F [phone]
EMGPICKUPS.COM
Warranty
All EMG Pickups and accessories are warranted for a period of two years. This warranty does not cover failure due to improper installation, abuse or damage. If
upon examination the pickup is determined to be defective, a replacement will be made. Warranty replacement products are covered by this same warranty. This
warranty covers only those pickups and accessories sold by authorized EMG Dealers. This warranty is not transferable.
INSTALLATION INFORMATION
EMG MODEL: EMG-ACB BARREL
W B R
ALSO INCLUDED :
(2 ea.) CR2032 LITHIUM BATTERIES
1/16 ALLEN HEX WRENCH
9/64 ALLEN HEX WRENCH
General Operation
The EMG-ACB Barrel Banjo Pickup is an alternative to our more sophisticated banjo pickup the ACB. This pickup is the more traditional banjo
pickup players have been used to for some time. By placing a small shim of steel (.004 thick) under the center bridge post the pickup senses
the movement of the steel and produces a signal. Alternately, the steel can be placed pretty much anywhere inside the banjo as long the pickup
can be placed over the steel shim. The pickup is dual-coil and uses a battery operated pre-amp to help shape the response of the signal as well
as reduce noise.
No Soldering required: The installation is completely solderless so anyone can do it.
EMG
BANJO
BARREL
SPECIFICATIONS: MODEL:
EMG-ACB BARREL
Logo Color Silver
Magnet Type Ndym/Steel
Resonant Frequency (KHz) 6.00
Output Voltage *P.D.
Output Noise (60 Hz) -120
Output Impedance (Kohm) 2.00
Current @6V (Microamps) 650
Battery Life (Hours) 500
Maximum Supply (Volts DC) 18
*P.D. (Placement Dependent)
.820 (20.8)
.650 (16.5)
INCLUDED:
PICKUP
STEEL SHIMS PICKUP MOUNTING
PICKUP ADJUSTMENT
SPACERS
PREAMP/BATTERY
BOARD
VOLUME / OUTPUT JACK
CABLES

BANJO PICKUP ROUND Page 2
1) Install the rectangular steel shim between the head and
the center bridge post or place it in the same spot inside the banjo.
Installation Instructions:
EMG Model: ACB BANJO BARREL
1) Install the steel shim under the bridge post
Rectangular Shim:
Loosen the strings and install the .005 shim under the center
bridge post as shown in the diagram. This may not be your ideal
spot for the sound you want, but it’s a good place to start.
The shim can also be installed in the same spot inside the banjo.
Round Shim:
The round shim is designed to be installed inside the banjo in the
same position (under the center bridge post.
The round shim provides a little more output and a little more
low-frequency response from the banjo
If you want to try other locations for either shim put some scotch tape
on the shim, move it around, try it out, when you decide on a location
you can place it permanently. See Page 4
There is adhesive with backing paper on one side of the shim, when
you’re sure you’ve chosen the right position, remove the backing
paper before you install it.
2) Or, install the round steel shim inside the
banjo directly under the center post.
*****AFTER INSTALLING EITHER SHIM AND BEFORE YOU INSTALL THE PICKUP,
BE SURE TO TUNE THE BANJO UP TO PITCH.*****
3) Adjust and Tighten the pickup
Once you have targeted the pickup cutout hole over the steel,
place a business card or similar spacer, about .015” (0.38mm)
thick between the pickup and the head of the banjo.
Or use a Credit Card (.030”-.76mm
Press slightly on the pickup body and tighten
the two screws on the Pickup Strap using the 9/64 hex wrench.
Be sure the pickup mounting is solid.
4) Then tighten the screws on the pickup strap using the 9/64
hex wrench.
The business card should slide between the pickup and the head
with only a slight friction... If not, readjust the pickup.
Remove the card.
The pickup should NOT be touching the head.
2) Assemble the Mounting Bracket and Pickup
Assemble the pickup and mounting bracket as shown in the diagram
to the right, with the pickup aligned as shown. Loosely tighten both the
strap screws and the pickup screws, they will be tightened in the next steps.
The pickup should line up directly over the steel shim placed
under the center bridge post and under the coordinator rods.
If you choose a different placement of the pickup additional
spacers ae included to allow alignment.
Adjustment spacers, 2 ea. .250” (6), .375” (9)
are provided so you can place the pickup directly over
whever you place the steel shim.
To use a different location for the pickup, you can reverse the
mounting of the strap, add spacers, or do whatever you need to
do in order to place the pickup.
3) Tighten the 9/64 hex screws with the
business card in place pushing lightly
down on the pickup body.
Press firmly here while tightening
the thumb screws
2) Install the bracket and the pickup on the coordinator rods
Press firmly on the Rod Strap while tightening the
two thumb screws so the strap is sitting flat on the top rod.
The strap screws and the pickup screws should still be loose
for now. Be sure the pickup is targeted over the shim steel.
Loosely tighten the strap screws
to start
Loosely tighten the pickup screws
Business Card
or Credit Card
(.015-.030”) .38-.76mm thick
4) Tighten these 2 screws after the
pickup is tightened in

BANJO PICKUP ROUND Page 3
Installation Instructions:
TO VOLUME/
OUTPUT JACK
FROM PICKUP
5) Output Jack/ Volume Installation
Install the Output Jack assembly as shown below. Slide the threaded
strip behind the lugs and tighten using the four screws provided.
Positive of both batteries facing out
6) Output Cable
Plug in the output cable as shown below. Be sure the wire colors
match the legend on the box. R(Red), B(Braid), W(White).
4) Preamp/Battery Holder and Battery Installation
Install the Preamp/Battery Holder as shown on the rods and
install two CR2032 batteries. Be sure the positive side of
both batteries are facing the Battery Holder spring terminal.
7) Wire it up
Route the cables as shown by paying attention to the wire
colors marked on the pickup, preamp/battery holder
PC Board, and volume/output jack.
R=RED WIRE
B=BRAID
W=WHITE

BANJO PICKUP ROUND Page 4
9) Alternate Installations;
If you like the more acoustic tone from the banjo use either steel shim and mount it under the outer
bridge foot as shown below.
Another popular way to mount the pickup is by placing the steel a little behind the bridge but
still close to it. Experiment. Just be sure that the pickup is directly centered over the steel shim
and that is spaced away by a business card thickness .015” (.38mm).
The output can be adjusted by moving the pickup closer or further away from the steel shim.
Adjusting to a credit card thickness (.030) will cut the output by about 30%.
Bridge Posts
Round Shim under the outer
bridge post inside the banjo
(alternate placement)
Bridge Post
1/4” Spacers
provided
Placement of the steel shim depends entirely on the tone you want from the instrument.
If you mount it where the head is looser (away from the bridge) the tone will be much rounder
and hollow sounding, with more of an acoustic sound.