Fishman POWERBRIDGE User manual

®
FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS
340-D Fordham Road Wilmington MA 01887 USA
Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]
www.fishman.com
Printed in USA © 1999 Fishman Transducers Inc.
FENDER, STRAT, AMERICAN STANDARD STRAT, AMERICAN STANDARD TELE, TELE are registered trade-
marks of Fender Musical Instruments Corp. with which Fishman Transducers Inc. is not affiliated.
009-075-009
®
User’s Guide
User’s Guide
POWERBRIDGE
™
SYSTEM

On its own, the Powerbridge™Pickup provides a subtle and
intimate "acoustic" sound. But the real fun begins when you
blend Piezo and magnetic signals together.With the complete
Fishman Powerbridge™System you can blend the
Powerbridge™Pickup with clean magnetic sounds for bright,
percussive tones - or with your favorite distortion settings for
a range of hybrid clean and dirty tones.
The Powerbridge™System
also affords you a wide range
of signal routing options.
Send the Powerbridge™
signal with your magnetic
signal to a single guitar amp
or feed it to a PA and the
magnetic signal to your
onstage amp for lush, room-
filling “electro-acoustic”
effects.
®
...For Your Electric!
The World’s Finest Acoustic Pickup...
This book will introduce you to the Fishman Powerbridge™ System
and help you get the most out of it. It is a basic overview of the
Powerbridge™ System, allowing you to get started quickly and
easily. It is also a useful reference for more sophisticated future
applications.
...For Your Electric!
The electric guitar contains a wealth of different sounds. But the rich
organic quality of an acoustic has never been one of them - until
now. The Fishman Powerbridge™ System - including the
Powerbridge™ Pickup and the complete line of Powertronics™
dedicated preamps (Powerchip™, Powermix™and Powerblend™) can
reveal new colors and textures hidden inside your electric guitar.
The Fishman Powerbridge™
Pickup is built into a high
quality,made-in-the-USA
replacement bridge for Strat®and
Tele®style guitars. Piezo elements
integrated into each bridge
saddle respond directly to the
acoustic energy of your electric
guitar - providing an "acoustic"
sound quality.
POWERBRIDGE
™
SYSTEM

Selector Switch
For even more onboard control, you
can add a three-position selector
switch (not included) to toggle
between Piezo alone, Piezo and
Magnetic, or Magnetic pickups
alone.
Your Guitar's Output Jack
If you do, you’ll experience a very bizarre and unpleasant interaction
between the Powerbridge™ and your magnetic pickups. This is
because Piezo and magnetic signals mix like oil and water - they
operate on different electrical platforms. Piezo pickups (like the
Powerbridge™) are capacitive devices and magnetic pickups are
inductors. This is why we've provided you with a …..
Fishman Power Law
Never connect your Powerbridge ™ and magnetic
pickups to your guitar's existing Mono Output Jack !
Seven
Tip Ring
Sleeve
Things to Know ...
...about the Powerbridge™Pickup
Powerful but Passive
You can plug the Powerbridge™ directly into many amplifiers with
excellent results. This is called a "passive" system, because there is no
"active" preamp (no battery) between the Powerbridge™ and the amp's
input. When you go passive, remember that the Powerbridge™ will
sound best plugged into an amp with a minimum 1 MΩinput
impedance. Less than 1 MΩwill rob the Powerbridge™ pickup of low
end.
Volume Control
If you want to control the volume of the Powerbridge™ Pickup, we've
included a special 5 MΩvolume pot. You can replace that little-used
middle pickup tone control on your Stratocaster®style guitar with this
pot. And there's plenty of room for it on a Telecaster®style control plate.
Passive
Volume Control
Passive
Volume Control
Six

Stereo Output Jack
(Tip/Ring/Sleeve)
Acoustic Guitar
Amp Electric Guitar Amp
Pure Magnetic Signal
(Tip)
Powerbridge™ Signal
(Ring)
While playing the
Powerbridge™ through a
standard electric amp
gives you a pretty cool
alternative to your
magnetic pickups, an
acoustic guitar amplifier
does a great job of
reproducing the more
acoustic qualities of the
Powerbridge™.
Nine
Stereo Output Jack
(Tip/Ring/Sleeve)
Electric Guitar
Amp #1 Electric Guitar Amp #2
Stereo "Y" Cable
Pure Magnetic Signal
(Tip)
Powerbridge™Signal
(Ring)
Passive Powerbridge™ Setups
With the Powerbridge’s™
Stereo Output Jack, you
can use a Stereo“Y” Cable
(available at your Fishman
dealer) to send Piezo and
magnetic pickup signals to
separate amplifiers.
Stereo Output Jack
Every Powerbridge™ Pickup includes a TRS (Tip/Ring/Sleeve) Stereo Output
Jack specifically intended for use with the Fishman Powerbridge™
System.
Instrument Cables
Depending on how you set up your Powerbridge™ system, you will use
one of these three cables (available from your Fishman dealer):
Stereo "Y" Cable - Used to split your Piezo and magnetic pickup
signals and send them to two separate amplifiers.
Stereo Instrument Cable - Lets you plug into one of our
Powertronics™ preamps for either mono or stereo Piezo / magnetic
output.
Standard Mono Instrument Cable - Plugs into a Powerchip™
equipped guitar for combined Piezo / magnetic output. A mono cable
will short out the Piezo signal if the Powerbridge™ Pickup is not wired
with a Powerchip™.
The following pages illustrate some
typical Passive Setups for the Powerbridge
and your magnetic pickups
Eight

Stereo Output Jack
(Tip/Ring/Sleeve)
2-Channel Electric Guitar Amplifier
Stereo "Y" Cable
Pure Magnetic Signal
(Tip)
Powerbridge™ Signal
(Ring)
Passive Volume
Control (Optional)
Another easy way to combine the Powerbridge™ with your magnetics
is through a 2-channel guitar amplifier.
Eleven
Passive Powerbridge™ Setups
Stereo Output Jack
(Tip/Ring/Sleeve)
Electric Guitar Amp
Active
D.I.
PA / Recording Console
Pure Magnetic Signal
(Tip)
Powerbridge™Signal
(Ring)
Sending the Powerbridge™ to the PA lets you carry only one amp
to the gig for the magnetics - and the Powerbridge™ benefits from a
full-range system.
NOTE: Always be sure to use an ACTIVE Direct Box. A passive direct box
will degrade the performance of the Powerbridge™.
Ten
Passive Powerbridge™ Setups

Powerchip ™
Piezo / Magnetic Onboard Mixing Preamp
A streamlined and cost effective way to
combine the Powerbridge™ Pickup with
your magnetics - in a simple and compact
package. The Powerchip™ is a volume
control for the Powerbridge™ integrated
with the active electronics necessary to
blend Piezo and magnetic pickup signals.
Like the passive volume pot that comes with the Powerbridge™ Pickup,
the Powerchip™ can replace the middle pickup tone control on your
Strat®or fit easily on a Tele®control plate.
The Powerchip™ allows you to combine the Powerbridge™ signal with
your magnetic pickups through a standard mono instrument cable
OR ...
split the two signals and send them to separate destinations with a
Stereo "Y" Cable.
• Fishman's own “Smart Switching" technology automatically
"senses" if your instrument cable is mono or stereo
• Built in "set it and forget it" phase switch piezo trim
control assures that the Powerbridge™ and your magnetic
pickups sound great together.
• Some modification to your instrument may be
required (professional installation is recommended)
Thirteen
TM
Passive ”Blending”
VS
Active
Blending
Blending
Using a Stereo "Y" Cable generally means having to carry two separate
amplifiers or at the very least, a two-channel (non-switching) amp. You
will also need an active DI to send the Powerbridge™ to the PA.
To eliminate these issues and simplify your stage setup, we have
developed the Powertronics™ line of preamps designed specifically for
the Powerbridge™ Pickup.
With a Powertronics™ preamp you can blend your magnetic and Piezo
pickups together through a single channel amp! You can get a great
Piezo sound from the PA without an active DI. And you can split your
magnetic and Piezo signals as you would with a Stereo "Y" Cable - but
with the added benefit of active electronics designed for the
Powerbridge™.
The following pages will take you on a tour of
the Fishman Powertronics™line and some of their
many useful applications ...
Twelve

With the Powerchip™ you can send the Powerbridge™ signal to a PA
with a standard PASSIVE Direct Box.
Fifteen
Electric Guitar Amp
Stereo "Y" Cable
D.I.
PA / Recording Console
Magnetic
Signal
Powerbridge™
Signal
Powerchip™
Powerchip™ Applications
Acoustic Amp Electric Amp
Stereo "Y" Cable
Magnetic
Signal
Powerbridge™
Signal
Powerchip™
Fourteen
Electric Guitar Amp
Mono Instrument Cable
With both Piezo
and magnetic pickup signals
Powerchip™
Powerchip™ Applications
With Fishman’s special
“smart-switching”
technology, the
Powerchip™ “senses” if
your instrument cable is
mono or stereo.

Stereo
Instrument
Cable
You can use a Stereo Instrument Cable to plug both Piezo and magnetic pickups
into the Powermix™ and send the combined signal to a single amplifier
- without any modification to your instrument.
Powermix™ Applications
Seventeen
Powermix ™
Piezo / Magnetic Outboard Mixing Preamp
This simple and compact
stompbox-style preamp is
dedicated to combining Piezo
and magnetic signals.
With the Powermix™ you can
blend the Powerbridge™ with
your magnetic pickups while
keeping modifications to your
guitar at a minimum. There is a
TRS (Tip/Ring/Sleeve) input jack
for use with Stereo Instrument
Cables, as well as a direct Piezo
input.
Other Features Include ...
• 3-band EQ and Phase switch
for the Powerbridge™ Pickup signal
• TRS and split stereo inputs
• Battery or AC power
NOTE: For even more flexibility
with the Powermix™, install the
5 MΩpassive volume pot included
with your Powerbridge™.
TM
Sixteen

Powerblend ™
Stereo Blending Pedal
Hands-free control of the
Powerbridge™ Pickup’s volume -
loaded with pro-level features.
We created the Powerblend™ for
the dedicated Powerbridge™
user who requires precise and
thorough control of every aspect
of the Powerbridge™ system. It
provides the perfect link
between the Powerbridge™, the
guitar's magnetic pickups and
single or multiple audio
destinations.
Quick changes between magnetic and piezo pickups (as well as precise
blending) are made easy with the Powerblend™ Pedal. Dedicated input
filters, 3-band EQ and four essential outputs provide added versatility to
your Powerbridge™ Pickup
POWERBLEND™
Nineteen
Electric Guitar Amp
Stereo "Y" Cable
D.I.
PA / Recording Console
The Powermix™ also allows you to send the Powerbridge™ to a PA with a
standard PASSIVE Direct Box - while playing your magnetic pickups through an
electric guitar amp.
Eighteen
Powermix™ Applications

XLR Cable
from
XLR Piezo Out
Stereo
Instrument Cable
to Stereo Input
Mono Instrument
Cable from
Mag Thru
(Pure Magnetic
Signal)
PA/Recording Console
Electric Guitar Amp
The Powerbridge™ can be sent to the PA and the magnetic
pickups to a guitar amp. Note that the Powerblend™ has its own
DI for the Piezo signal - so no Direct Box is needed.
Twenty One
Powerblend™ Applications
1 9V AC Adapter Input
2 Stereo Input Jack
• TRS; Magnetic to Tip / Piezo to Ring
3 Lo Cut Filter
• Eliminates handling noise and attenuates
low frequencies that can damage speakers
EQ Section
Affects the Powerbridge™ Pickup signal
only
4 Treble Control
5 Midrange control
6 Bass Control
7 Clip / Battery low LED
8 Piezo Blend Pedal
• Hands free control of
Powerbridge™ volume
9 Piezo Trim
• Adjusts the Powerbridge™ input
level to set the balance between Piezo
and magnetic signals
10 Magnetic Thru Jack
• Output for pure unprocessed magnetic
pickup to retain your guitar’s original tone
11 Mix Output Jack
• Combined Piezo and magnetic tones
12 XLR Piezo Output Jack
• Sends balanced Piezo signal to PA
13 Ground Lift
14 Piezo Phase Switch
15 1/4" Piezo Output Jack
Powerblend™ Applications
Twenty
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
10
11
8
12 13 14 15

Stereo
Instrument Cable
to Stereo Input
Mono Instrument
Cable from
Mix Out
(Piezo / Magnetic
Signal)
Electric Guitar Amp
Combined Powerbridge™ and magnetic signals can be sent through a
mono cable to a single electric (or acoustic) guitar amp.
Use the 1/4” Mix Out to combine Piezo and mag signals - the foot pedal
controls the Powerbridge™ Pickup volume.
Twenty Three
Powerblend™ Applications
Mono Instrument
Cable from
Mag Thru
(Pure Magnetic
Signal)
Mono Instrument
Cable from
1/4" Piezo Out
Stereo
Instrument Cable
to Stereo Input
Electric Guitar Amp
Acoustic Guitar Amp
The mags can be sent to an electric guitar amp, with the Powerbridge™
sent to an acoustic (or electric) guitar amp. The Powerblend’s™
1/4”Piezo Output matches the Powerblend™with any stage amp.
Twenty Two
Powerblend™ Applications

Powerbridge ™ / Powertronics ™
System Features
Powerbridge™
w/ Powermix™w/ Powerblend™
••
••
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•
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®
Powerbridge ™ / Powertronics ™
System Features
Powerbridge™
Feature Alone w/ Powerchip™
Split Stereo Out ••
Mixed Mono Out •
Piezo Volume Control ••
Piezo Phase Switch •
Piezo Trim Control •
Piezo EQ •
Piezo Input Jack •
Low Battery LED •
Optional AC Power •
Low Cut Filter •
XLR Piezo Output •
Ground Lift •
Buffered 1/4" ••
Piezo Output Jack
••
TRS Stereo Input •