K&K Sound PURE CLASSIC User manual

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PURE CLASSIC
Thank you for buying the
Pure Classic
Transducer
System for your guitar! The Pure Classic is a four-head
piezo-ceramic transducer with endpin jack.
Please read through the complete instructions before
beginning installation.
This manual is written in great
detail to help you install the Pure Classic for best
possible performance. Please also familiarize yourself
with the handling instructions of the double-sided tape
and with the disclaimer at the end of this manual.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Tools Needed
2. Package Contents
3. Removable vs. Permanent Installation
4. Installation Preparation
5. Installation for Guitars without Bridge
Reinforcement Strip
6. Installation for Guitars with Bridge
Reinforcement Strip
7. Drilling the Endpin Jack Hole
8. Installing the Endpin Jack
9. Removing the Pickups
1. TOOLS & SUPPLIES NEEDED
• Superglue gel
• Electric drill (for drilling endpin jack hole and
pickup reference hole)
• Proper drill bits for endpin jack mount and a
very small bit for the reference holes
• Pliers or wrench for endpin jack installation
• 4 latex gloves (if superglue is used,
alternatively use the supplied finger cots)
• Razorblade

2. PACKAGE CONTENTS
• Pure Classic 4-head transducer with cable harness and endpin jack
• Double-sided tape for removable installation
3. REMOVABLE VS. PERMANENT INSTALLATION
The pickups can be installed either with a permanent installation (super-gluing them directly to the
wood inside your guitar) or with a removable installation (using the supplied double-sided adhesive
tape).
But there is a difference in tone quality.
Our recommendation is to install Pure pickups with super glue. It will put out about 30% more volume,
more bass and more punch. It is a big part of the sound that made these pickups so successful! The
overall tone quality using the superglue installation is probably best described as providing
“authoritative tone” with very fundamental bass response. Even a single tone will sound warm, full and
woody.
On the other hand, an installation using the double-sided adhesive tape provides a somewhat finer
tone, which may be desirable for some players. Plus it makes the system removable. It sounds slightly
brighter with less authority and less bass response. The output will still be sufficient and higher than
most competitors’ passive pickups. Volume and bass can easily be boosted with one of our preamps, if
desired. The pickups are virtually noiseless; pre-amplification usually does not introduce noticeable
noise.
If you opt for the removable installation, please follow the handling instructions that are supplied with
the double-sided adhesive tape.
If you are new to the Pure pickups, we recommend using the removable installation at first. You may
like it just fine this way. If you would like to get a more authoritative, fundamental and louder tone later
on, you can carefully remove, clean and re-install the pickups with superglue.
4. INSTALLATION PREPARATION
You are going to install the pickups according to the pictures in this manual.
• Place the guitar on a table. Use a blanket to prevent damage to the instrument body.
• Remove the strings.
• Place the guitar so you can comfortably put your hand into the sound hole and feel the inside
structures underneath the bridge with your fingers.
• Locate the bracing and check if your guitar has a bridge reinforcement strip. Some do, some
don’t. It is a thin wood plate usually about 3/4" or less (about 15-20mm) wide and about as long as the
bridge. It is located underneath the bridge. You can feel it with your fingers.
• Please follow the appropriate paragraph below for the installation (with- or without bridge
reinforcement strip)

If using super glue
: Find out which hand you are
going to use for the installation and put on a latex
glove or one of the included finger cots.
Use some of the supplied double-sided adhesive tape
and stick a small piece to the tip of your index or
middle finger (whichever you use, see photo) and
stick the pickup to it. The golden side of the pickup is
facing up. This makes holding onto the pickup and
aiming a lot easier as you do not have to deal with
holding the cable.
IMPORTANT! The entire golden surface of the pickups should be covered with glue!
Spread a THIN
layer all over the golden side. Do not use just a drop in the center, as this will not distribute evenly.
Please do not worry or hurry; the glue will not dry immediately after it is applied to the pickup. You will
have sufficient time without rushing things. The superglue gel even allows for a very short
repositioning time after the pickup is in contact with the wood. Excess glue will ooze out at the edges
and eventually dry - that’s fine. Hold and press the pickup firmly in place for about 30 seconds at its
final location.
The four pickup heads are identical, they are all full range transducers. It does not matter in which
position you install any of the pickups.
5. INSTALLATION ON A GUITAR WITHOUT A BRIDGE REINFORCEMENT STRIP
• Please inspect the bridge area inside the guitar with a mirror and a flashlight to make sure that
there is enough room for all 4 pickups. Usually there will be 5 fan braces with more than enough room
in between.
• Drill two very small reference holes in each end of the saddle-slot, outside the e strings (see
pictures above). Use the smallest drill bit you can find I.E. 1/32” or 1mm.
• Stick the drill bit (or pieces of an old low e-string or a small nail) through the reference holes so
that they extend at least ½” inside the guitar.
• Please practice the installation of each individual pickup before you use glue or tape!
bracing
REFRERENCE
HOLES

• Use the protruding drill bit (string piece or
nail) as a side-stop for your outer pickups (see
photo). In other words, glue the pickup with its outer
edge close to touching the nail that extends inside
the guitar through the according reference hole.
• Once the 2 outer pickups are in place, remove
the drill bit (string piece or nail).
• Install the 2 inner pickups evenly between the
outer pickup and the center brace. These ones are
not as critical in regards to exact positioning; please
do not worry if these end up a little bit out of line.
6. INSTALLATION ON A GUITAR WITH A BRIDGE REINFORCEMENT STRIP
• Please inspect the bridge area inside the
guitar with a mirror and a flashlight to make sure that
there is enough room for all 4 pickups. Usually there
will be 5 fan braces with more than enough room in
between.
• First, make sure that the front edge of the
bridge reinforcement strip is clear off glue that may
have oozed out during the guitar manufacturing
process! Clean this edge with a razor blade if
necessary.
• Install the pickups in front of the bridge
reinforcement strip (towards soundhole) as shown in
the photo. This provides the best tone. The reason is
that the bridge reinforcement strip is in most cases
not directly under the saddle but slightly offset to the rear, to support the area where the strings are
knotted on the bridge. Sometimes they are radiused as well, which would get you in even more trouble
if you would glue a pickup on it. When you install the pickups in front of it, their tips (the most sensitive
part of the pickup) will be right under the saddle - where they are supposed to be.
• Please practice the installation of each individual pickup before you use glue or tape!
• Start with the 2 inner pickups right beside the middle brace. Position them as shown in the
photo above.
• The inside edge of the 2 pickups should be very close to the center brace and the tips can touch
the bridge reinforcement strip.
• Install the 2 outer pickups also using the bridge reinforcement strip as a backstop. They should
end up like shown on the photo. Try to especially make sure that the high e string pickup ends up pretty
much exactly under the high e string!
7. DRILLING THE HOLE FOR THE ENDPIN JACK
• Remove existing endpin if any (classical guitars usually do not have endpins).
• Use protective tape to cover the drill hole area. This helps protecting the guitar’s finish.

• Mark an according point on your guitar.
• To get the cleanest possible result, start with a small (1/8”) drill bit and work your way up to a
½” hole in 5 or 6 individual drill steps using a little bit bigger drill every time. Alternatively a step drill
works fine. Best results are achieved with a ½” Forstner bit, but this one only works if there is no
existing hole.
• Drill or widen the endpin hole to 12mm-1/2".
8. INSTALLATING THE ENDPIN JACK
• Unscrew the endpin jack's strap button.
• Take off the outer nut and washer (with smaller inner diameter), do not lose the inner washer
and lock washer (with larger inner diameter).
• Try to roughly find out the thickness of your end-block and set the inner nut on the jack
accordingly (see picture below).
• Note that the screw cap may be screwed against
the inner nut. But if the end block is thin, like on most
classical guitars, screw the screw cap in as far as it
goes, and set the inner nut as needed. Setting the inner
nut precisely is necessary to properly mount the jack.
• This usually requires some trial and error.
• TIP: a chopstick or something similar helps to
grab the jack from the outside to pull it through the
hole.
• Once you got this done, add the outer washer
and nut and tighten it. There are 2 small holes on the tip
of the jack to allow holding onto it with a small drill bit
or Allen wrench.
• Slide the rubber sliding piece up the 4 cables to tie them
together about 2” from the pickups.
• Then give the endpin jack’s outer nut a few twists to curl the
pickup wires inside until they are free in the air (see photo).
• Attach the strap nut. Make sure that it screws in ALL THE WAY
over the threaded part of the jack, so that a tiny portion of the thread
is exposed when the strap-knob is tightened.
Endbl ock t hi cknes s
adjustment nut

9. REMOVING THE PICKUPS
(Please read and understand the disclaimer at the end of this manual)
Removable/double-sided tape installation:
• Very gently wiggle and pull on the pickup wire as close to the pickup as you can to loosen it.
• Be very careful not to bend the pickups.
• This removal procedure requires skill! If you do not feel up to this task please contact a luthier or
your music stores guitar-tech.
• There will be some glue residue on the golden plates of the pickups.
• You can clean it by rubbing it off with your thumb. If you like to use a solvent, “Naphta” or
“Acetone” applied with a q-tip works best. Please check at your hardware store.
• After the pickups are cleaned, inspect them for bends or damage.
• Plug them into your amp and hold each of the 4 pickups about ½” from the pickup-head on the
wire. Tap on the golden surface of each pickup with a finger. That tapping sound should be clearly
amplified without any missing taps.
• All pickups should perform with the same sensitivity and loudness level.
• Now the pickups are ready for re-installation.
Superglue installation:
This work has to be done by a professional. Experienced luthiers should be able to remove the pickups
by using a razor blade. Be aware that this will very likely damage the piezo transducers. If done
properly it should not damage your guitar.
###
DISCLAIMER
Please make sure you read, understand and agree to the disclaimer below before you proceed with the
installation. Please call us if you have any questions. If you have doubts please do not install this
product.
Regarding the installation or removal of the Pure Classic and any product which contains any of these
transducers:
Installation or removal of the above listed products is at your own risk. In no event will K&K Sound
Systems Inc. be liable to you for any damages arising from your use of, or, the inability to use these
products. This includes any possible health hazards, accidents, injuries, any lost profits, or other
incidental or consequential damages, even if K&K Sound Systems Inc. has been advised of the
possibility of such damages, or for any claim by another party. Exact following of mounting instructions
and handling instructions for supplied superglue is mandatory.