Fishman ARCHTOP GUITAR PICKUP User manual

Archtop Guitar Pickup
Thank you for your purchase of a FISHMAN product. Please read these instructions
carefully. If you have any questions or problems, contact our PRODUCT INFORMATION
LINE at 978-988-9665.
The FISHMAN ARCHTOP GUITAR PICKUP is a string-sensitive piezoelectric transducer.
It comes implanted in the top of a complete replacement bridge. It senses string vibra-
tions via two ceramic elements, located in the top of the bridge, directly above the height
adjustment wheels.
The ARCHTOP GUITAR PICKUP is a "passive" style ceramic pickup that can be used
without an onboard preamp. It can be plugged directly into an instrument level (minimum
1 Meg Ohm) audio input with adequate results (see Plugging In). The high quality ebony
bridge can be mounted without any physical alterations to the instrument and may be
intonated as needed.
PARTS LIST
• Archtop guitar bridge assembly with pickup implant
• 1/4" jack and attached ground wire
• Mounting clamp
• 1/8" washer
• 1/2" screw
LIMITS AND DIMENSIONS
Maximum E to E string spacing = 2-1/2"
Up to 1/8" of wood may be removed from the top of the bridge without sacrificing the
pickup's performance.
Distance between adjustable bridge posts = 2.914" inches, center to center.
Bridge radius: 12".
The FISHMAN ARCHTOP GUITAR PICKUP 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 consequential 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
®
340-D Fordham Road Wilmington MA 01887 USA
Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]
www.fishman.com
009-020-002 • 9-00
Limited
Limited W Warranty arranty
®
Installation Guide
Installation Guide
®
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WARNING
INSTALLATION BY A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL REPAIRMAN IS
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS WILL NOT BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO YOUR INSTRUMENT.
.125"
2.914"

INSTALLATION
For optimum pickup performance:
1. Fit the base of the bridge precisely to the top of the instrument.
2. Note that the tops of the height adjustment wheels are specially beveled
(See Fig.1). Make sure that the beveled sides face up toward the top of
the bridge.
3. The adjustment wheels must be at least one turn (thread) up from the
top of the base.
4. DO NOT attempt to combine the Fishman Archtop Pickup and your gui-
tar's magnetic pickups passively with a single mono jack. Doing so will
kill the performance of the piezo pickup. Instead, see “WIRING
OPTIONS” #3.
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WIRING OPTIONS
We suggest routing the pickup wire in one of the following ways:
1. SUPPLIED EXTERNAL JACK
a. Remove the shielding cap from the jack and thread the pickup wire through it.
b. Solder the signal wire from the pickup to the tip connection on the
jack.
c. Solder the shield from the pickup to the ground tab on the jack.
Replace and tighten shielding cap.
d. Install the jack as shown in figure 2. If the instrument has a metal tail-
piece, attach the supplied ground wire to it. If the instrument has a
wooden tailpiece, attach the ground wire to the ball ends of the strings.
2. ENDPIN JACK
An E-Z mount endpin jack manufactured exclusively for Fishman by
Switchcraft is available. A 15/32" hole must be drilled through the end-
block and butt plate. If the instrument has a wooden tailpiece, attach the
ground wire to the ball ends of the strings.
3. STEREO WIRING IN CONJUNCTION WITH MAGNETIC PICKUPS.
The Fishman Archtop pickup and magnetic pickup(s) can be routed
through a stereo jack, fed through a stereo cable and mixed together via
the Fishman Blender system.
PLUGGING IN
Due to the nature of passive pickups, the type of cable you use and the input you plug
into will affect the quality of your sound.
INSTRUMENT CABLE
Cable lengths over 10 feet (before preamp) will cause audible high frequency loss. Use
a high quality, low capacitance shielded cable. This will insure minimal tone coloration
and hum. Using fully shielded metal plugs will also help eliminate hum.
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KINDS OF AUDIO INPUTS
Because of the lack of standardization for high impedance audio inputs, special atten-
tion should be paid to what you are plugging into:
The ARCHTOP PICKUP will sound best when plugged directly into an input with a 10
M
Ω impedance. At 10 M Ω , the full frequency response of the instrument is reproduced.
The ARCHTOP PICKUP can also be plugged into inputs as low as 1 M
Ω with adequate
results. At 1 M
Ω , the bass frequencies will be slightly rolled off.
PREAMPS
We strongly recommend using a 10 M Ω , impedance matching, buffered preamp in con-
junction with the pickup. A matching preamp will:
1. Realize the full frequency response potential of the pickup.
2. Permit long cable runs (after the preamp) without signal deterioration.
3. Allow precise volume and tone shaping with dedicated EQ.
4. Insure compatibility with virtually any instrument level audio input available.
Fishman Transducers manufactures a complete line of compatible preamps, all with 10
M
Ω inputs:
POWERJACK - Miniature Endpin Preamp
GII & BII - Outboard Acoustic Instrument Preamp
AGP-2 - Onboard Instrument Preamp
PRO-EQ II - 4 Band Acoustic Instrument Preamp
PRO-EQ PLATINUM - Outboard Acoustic Instrument Preamp / EQ / D.I.
DUAL PARAMETRIC D.I. - Fully Parametric Two Band Preamp / D.I.
ACOUSTIC / BASS BLENDER - 2 Channel Pickup / Mic Preamp
POCKET BLENDER - 2 Channel Pickup/Mic Preamp
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AMPLIFIERS
Most musical instrument amplifiers (at least 1 M Ω input impedance) will yield useable
results. Acoustic instrument amplifiers (such as the Fishman Acoustic Performer Pro) have a 10
M
Ω Piezo input; ideally matching the pickup.
DIRECT BOXES
You can plug the ARCHTOP PICKUP into an "active" direct box ( 1 - 10 M Ω input ) with
very good results. Using a passive direct box will sound weak and thin.
P A / RECORDING CONSOLES
Professional PA and recording consoles have a much lower input impedance than what
is acceptable for the ARCHTOP PICKUP; you will need an impedance matching preamp.
Plugging a passive piezo pickup into a mixer without an impedance matching preamp will
sound harsh and thin.
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TOP
FIG.1: ADJUSTER WHEEL
BEVEL
FIG. 1
FIG. 2