Lightwave Atlantis User manual
LIGHTWAVE ATLANTIS
ELECTROACOUSTIC GUITAR
Featuring the Optical Pickup System
USER MANUAL
LIGHTWAVE ATLANTIS
ELECTROACOUSTIC GUITAR
FOREWORD
Thank you and congratulations for your purchase of a
LightWave Atlantis. We would also like to welcome you as
a member of the growing number of LightWave enthusiasts.
Your Atlantis couples decades of master luthiery and in-
strument design with the cutting-edge of modern pickup
technology—the LightWave Optical Pickup System—
LightWave’s exclusive, patented infrared pickup technolo-
gy. Featuring extraordinary playability and exquisite tone,
your Atlantis is a ne musical instrument that will provide
many years of enjoyment and musical performance. En-
gineered for the rigors of the road, the demands of the
modern recording studio, and long, comfortable hours of
playing, your Atlantis is designed to become a direct ex-
tension of your creativity.
Please follow these simple guidelines for usage and care,
and you will enjoy your Atlantis for years to come.
We are always interested in your thoughts about your
LightWave guitar and about your music. We encourage
you to contact us with your comments and suggestions on
how we can continue to serve you in the future.
Please visit our website at www.lightwave-systems.com
for product update information and other news about
LightWave Systems and our growing line of products.
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
1. D E S I G N C O N C E P T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
LightWave Optical Pickup System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Voice of the String. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Natural Acoustic Guitar Sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Q U I C K S T A R T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
3. S E T U P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.1 Truss Rod Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.2 Saddle Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.3 Optics Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4. P O W E R A N D C O N T R O L S . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4.1 Controls and Jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
4.2 Power and Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.3 Battery Pack Advisory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4.4 Instrument Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
5. H e x F X E D I T I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
6. A P P E N D I X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
7. T I P S A N D T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G . . 18
8. W A R R A N T Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2
1. DESIGN CONCEPTS
LightWave Optical Pickup System
Atlantis is the rst guitar ever offered with LightWave’s
exclusive pickup technology, the LightWave Optical Pick-
up System, that uses infrared light technology to sense
string vibration for a rich, natural, amplied acoustic guitar
sound without the feedback of mics or the harshness of
piezos.
Unlike piezo pickups that sense the vibration of the bridge
rather than the strings, which produces that strident,
quacky sound, the Atlantis LightWave Optical Pickup liter-
ally ‘sees’ the string, delivering a smooth, natural acoustic
sound, rich in harmonic content. Piezos also have very
poor attack characteristics, while the LightWave Optical
Pickup has extreme sensitivity and wide dynamic range,
capable of detecting all of the subtle nuance and articula-
tion of the player’s style.
The Voice of the StringTM
What you will hear is extraordinary: the sound of the
strings, the sound of the instrument, and most impor-
tantly, the sound of your playing. You will notice a whole
new sensitivity in the interaction between your ngers, the
strings and the instrument, that will create a new palette
of subtle nuances and unique tonalities. Playing big, open
chords, close intervals, complex voicings, and harmonics
on your Atlantis will be a revelation. You will hear an open-
ness, transparency and dimensionality unlike anything
you have previously experienced.
3
Natural Acoustic Guitar Sounds
Since the output of the LightWave Optical Pickup is pure
and transparent, you will be hearing the natural sound of
the guitar, as opposed to the inherent sonic anomalies of
conventional pickups.
Atlantis’ controls are simple. One volume knob with a pull-
up tone switch is all that is needed. The LightWave Opti-
cal Pickup does the rest, delivering true acoustic sound
at any volume level. At last, acoustic guitar players can
effortlessly compete with drums, bass and electric guitars
and t comfortably into any live mix.
For demos and studio recording, there is no better pickup
technology than the LightWave Optical Pickup. Noise-
free and natural sounding, simply plug in for the ultimate
acoustic guitar tracks with no need for noise reduction or
excessive equalization.
Constructed of premium tonewoods with a chambered
body and soundhole, the excellent natural acoustic res-
onance of Atlantis makes it ideal for unamplied casual
playing or serious practicing and composition.
Simple, elegant, groundbreaking. Designed for all guitar
players, regardless of musical style, Atlantis is the next
generation ‘go-to’ guitar and the guitar industry’s most
signicant breakthrough in many years.
4
2 . Q U I C K S T A R T
Plug In and Play
• The red Status LED on the bridge acts as a power-on
indicator, and as a fuel gauge for the battery charge.
Plug in a standard 1/4” guitar cable to the 1/4” Output
Jack of Atlantis. This will turn on the circuit and activate
the Status LED. When the LED is brightly lit it indicates
that there is a sufcient charge to play the instrument.
• In the event that the battery pack has not been charged
sufciently prior to playing, the instrument can be played
while plugged into the charger unit, without sonic pen-
alty. The battery pack will continue to charge while you
are playing.
• If you are plugging into an amplier, use the Active input
if there is a choice between Passive and Active. When
plugging into a recording or mixing console, use the
console’s 1/4” Line Input jack, or split off the instrument
output from your monitor amp rig with a D.I. box.
• The Atlantis has natural, acoustic sound characteristics,
so it is suggested that you begin with all of your exter-
nal EQ controls in a neutral, at position. This will allow
you to hear the actual sound of the instrument prior to
making any tonal adjustments. The Atlantis is compat-
ible with all typical guitar preamp, amplier, and signal
processing gear.
• The Atlantis electronics are powered by a recharge-
able12-volt NiMH Battery Pack. (Please read section
5
4.3, the Battery Pack Advisory). The battery pack must
have at least a partial charge to begin playing. This bat-
tery pack is specically designed for the Atlantis, and
cannot be substituted. Spare or replacement battery
packs may be obtained from your Authorized LightWave
Dealer, or directly from LightWave Systems.
6
3. SETUP
3.1 Neck Adjustment
Atlantis is equipped with a truss rod for neck relief adjust-
ments. Always perform this adjustment before proceeding
to set up the playing action and the LightWave Pickup
System. It is not recommended that you adjust the truss
rod if you do not have prior experience adjusting truss rods
on other instruments. Improper adjustment of the truss
rod can make the instrument difcult to play or cause the
strings to buzz. Improper adjustment, or overtightening,
can even break the truss rod. If you are unfamiliar with
truss rods and instrument setup, please consult a repu-
table guitar tech. Tightening the truss rod adjuster (clock-
wise) will atten the ngerboard, and loosening the truss
rod (counterclockwise) adds relief to the ngerboard.
Truss rod for
neck adjustment
4mm Hex
(with cover in place)
Headstock
7
3.2 Action Adjustment
Atlantis comes from the factory with the action set at an
average height that is typical and comfortable for most
players. Lowering, or raising the action height requires
careful shaping of the saddle. It is not recommended that
you perform this work unless you are completely familiar
with this kind of procedure. Please consult a reputable
guitar tech.
Re-adjusting the saddle height, or changing string gaug-
es, will require realigning the optics (see section 3.3, Op-
tics Alignment). Merely exchanging a fresh set of identi-
cal strings (the same gauge and brand) usually will not
require realigning the optics.
3.3 Optics Alignment
The following setup procedure is performed in order to
align the centerline of the optics with the center of the
Electronics in Rear Cavity (cover removed)
Power
Management
Board
Battery
Charge
Indicator
L.E.D.
(Red: Charging;
Green: Charged)
Motherboard
Rechargeable
Battery Pak
8
strings. This will provide maximum output, as well as
accommodate string bending and related playing tech-
niques. This operation can be done by ear, or electroni-
cally. In either case, remove the bridge cover, turn on the
guitar, and adjust the position of the optics by turning the
9/64” hex adjustment screw on the two ends of the pickup
baseplate. It is a three-step process:
First, adjust the highest string; then the lowest; and then
go back and re-trim the highest string. This can be done
by ear, or using the visual indication of the centering LED
on the Motherboard in the electronics cavity.
Adjusting by ear: with the instrument plugged into an
amplier, raise and lower the pickup baseplate, listening
for the “sweet spot”, where the sound output is loudest.
Do this three times, alternating between the high-string
and low-string ends of the baseplate, in the order above
(string 1; then string 6; then string 1 again).
Adjusting electronically: select the string to be cali-
brated, by turning the miniature rotary selector switch on
the Motherboard (use a ~2mm at screwdriver). If your
guitar has the HexFX option, the rotary switch will be hid-
den under the HexFX daughterboard. Lift straight up on
the daughterboard to temporarily move it out of the way.
The switch positions are numbered to correspond with the
strings, with position 1 being the highest string. When the
correct string is selected, the red/green LED on the Moth-
erboard indicates the position of the optics. LED ‘green’
indicates that the optics are below the string, and must be
raised (counterclockwise turn of the adjustment screw).
LED ‘red’ indicates that the optics are above the string,
and must be lowered (clockwise turn of the adjustment
9
screw). At the optimum adjustment point, the LED will go
out, indicating that the optics are centered. Adjust slowly,
so as not to turn the adjustment screw too far in either
direction, which will result in moving out of the adjust-
ment range. Do this three times, in the order mentioned
above (string 1; then string 6; then string 1 again). After
the strings have been set up, turn the rotary switch back
to its zero position, so the alignment LED will not light dur-
ing normal play.
String Setup
Selector
(Rotary Switch
0 and 1-6)
String Level
Trimpots (SL1
through SL6)
Optics Setup
L.E.D. (Red/
Out/Green)
Closeup of Motherboard Showing Optics Alignment
Transducer
Assembly
Low String
Adjustment
Screw
Volume/Tone
Control Knob
High String
Adjustment
Screw
Bridge with Transducer Cover Removed
10
3.4 Individual String Volume Adjustment
After proper optics setup, the output of each string can
be adjusted for overall string-to-string balance using the
corresponding trimpots on the Motherboard. These are
the six miniature trimpots in a row, across the center of
the Motherboard, labeled ‘SL1’ through ‘SL6’. ‘SL1’ des-
ignates the highest-pitch string. Full output is at the end
of clockwise rotation of the trimpot, and is recommended
for optimum performance.
To adjust: Plug the guitar into an amplier, to be able to
listen while playing. Start with all six string trimpots at the
full up position, and balance the string levels by turning
down the louder strings until the string outputs sound
equally loud. The trimpot adjustment range is 10 dB.
4. CONTROLS AND POWER
Volume/Tone
Control Knob
Bridge with
Transducer
Cover
2.5mm
Charger
Jack
1/4”
Output
Jack
11
4.1 Controls and Jacks
• Volume Control: Makes the overall signal louder or
softer. Full rotation clockwise results in an output level
comparable to most existing active-pickup guitars. Turn-
ing down the control does not alter the sound quality;
just the level. The taper of the volume control is custom
designed to accommodate making small adjustments
near full volume easier.
• Pull-up Tone Switch: Pulling up on the Volume Control
knob affects the overall bass / treble balance, to provide
a choice of richer tone with more bass, or a leaner tone.
This switched tone choice is independent of the position
of the Volume Control.
• Output Jack: Plugging in a standard 1/4” cable pow-
ers the LightWave Optical Pickup System. This turns
the pickup system on: for normal playing, for optical
setup, or for use of the 13-pin HexFX output. The cable
should be unplugged when the instrument is not in use,
to avoid unnecessary battery drain.
• Charger Jack: Insert the LightWave wall charger into
this 2.5mm jack to recharge the internal battery pack,
or to play using AC power. The rapid-charge system will
fully recharge a drained battery pack in about 1.5 hours,
even while playing. Playing time on a fully charged bat-
tery is about 16 hours. (Also see Battery Pack Advisory
4.3, below).
• Status LED: The red LED, located on the bridge, should
illuminate when a 1/4” plug is inserted into the output
jack. The LED brightness dims as the battery pack
12
charge is used, acting as a fuel gauge. When this LED
goes out, you are playing on ‘reserve’, and should plug
in the charger as soon as possible. With the charger
plugged in, the guitar may continue to be played nor-
mally, and will achieve a full charge even while playing.
4.2 Power and Charging
The Atlantis electronics are powered by an internal re-
chargeable12-volt NiMH Battery Pack. (Please read this
entire Battery Pack Advisory, below.) This battery pack is
specically designed for the Atlantis, with internal pro-
tection , and cannot be substituted. Spare or replacement
battery packs may be obtained directly from LightWave
Systems. (Contact information below.)
Volume/Tone
Control Knob
Power ‘On’
Battery
Status L.E.D.
Bridge with Transducer Cover
Transducer
Cover Screws
Transducer
Cover
13
The Atlantis will play for approximately 16 hours on a full
charge. As the battery pack reaches the lower end of its
charge capacity, the Status LED will dim, and when it
goes out completely, you have reached the ‘reserve’, and
should plug in the charger as soon as possible.
Recharging a fully drained battery pack takes about 1.5
hours.
After plugging in the charger, the charge LED on the back
of the guitar should light red; and when the battery pack
is fully charged, that same LED should turn green. (If the
charge LED does not come on, then the battery pack
is not being charged.) After the charge LED has turned
green, the battery pack is fully charged, and will stay in
trickle charge mode until you unplug the charger.
It is normal for the battery pack itself and other areas in-
side the electronics cavity to get warm during the charging
cycle. Overheating (‘hot’ to the touch) should not occur;
but, the LightWave battery system is protected against
this, and would safely shut down the battery supply if
some fault occurs.
4.3 Battery Pack Advisory
The Atlantis is delivered with the NiMH battery pack al-
ready installed, and will likely have only a partial charge
when you receive it. The guitar may be immediately
played, if the Status LED lights when the output cable is
plugged in, but the full battery pack capacity will likely not
be realized.
14
All NiMH batteries require several cycles of complete
charge / discharge to restore full capacity after a lengthy
storage. To be assured of a full-capacity pack and optimal
playing time, follow these steps:
1. Plug in the Battery Charger, to charge the battery com-
pletely. This will take 1.5 hours or less.
2. Unplug the Charger.
3. Plug a guitar cable into the 1/4” Output Jack, and leave
the instrument turned on for at least 16 hours, to dis-
charge the battery pack completely.
• Repeat the above steps (1 through 3) several times.
This will re-condition the battery pack, to be able to
deliver its full capacity.
• This conditioning should be done a couple of times a
year, or when the instrument playing time seems to be
diminishing, or if the instrument has been unused for
a long duration.
The playing time on a fully charged battery is about 16
hours. The instrument can be played while it is charging.
Even a brief charge will extend the playing time noticeably.
The battery pack should last for hundreds of charge
cycles, but then may need to be replaced. This is a
custom pack, designed specically for the LightWave
Optical Pickup System, and includes internal protection
to prevent thermal or electrical overload. Use only
authorized LightWave battery packs when a replacement is
15
necessary. Attempting to use a different battery pack may
compromise safety, and will void the warranty coverage.
4.4 Instrument Maintenance
After you have nished playing, thoroughly wipe the entire
instrument, including the strings, with a clean, soft cloth.
Avoid exposing the instrument to any chemical or sub-
stance that might mar the nish. Avoid prolonged expo-
sure to direct sunlight, or sources of excessive tempera-
ture or humidity. Large changes in average temperature
and humidity may call for an adjustment to the neck’s
truss rod to compensate.
5. HexFX EDITION
LightWave guitars equipped with the HexFX option have
a 13-pin DIN output jack and the deck controls to enable
playing through and controlling MIDI converters, hex DSP
processing devices, and string fanout boxes. The Light-
Wave output signals and deck controls on these instru-
ments are fully compatible with the ‘GK’ standards for ex-
isting MIDI-ready guitars.
• 13-Pin Output Jack: This is the standard connection
for plugging in a 13-pin cable (not supplied) made by
other manufacturers. The LightWave’s individual string
signals, and the single output present at the 1/4” output
jack, are routed through the connector pins, in standard
pinout conguration.
16
• HexFX Volume: This control knob function may differ,
depending on the device connected at the far end of
the cable; typically it affects the loudness of the MIDI-
converted or hex-DSP signals only.
• Master Volume: The loudness of the instrument’s sin-
gle output (present at the 1/4” output jack) which is also
routed through the 13-pin cable, is still controlled by
the Master Volume knob. The signal at the 1/4” jack is
present simultaneously with the one routed through the
13-pin cable, and can be used at the same time, or not.
If it is not used, a 1/4” cable or dummy plug must still
be inserted, to power up the LightWave Optical Pickup
System.
• Blend Switch: This three-position toggle switch deter-
mines the sound that is output by the device connected
at the far end of the 13-pin cable. In the center position,
both the instrument output and the output of that device
will be heard. In the ‘up’ position, only the instrument
output will be heard. In the ‘down’ position, only the out-
put of the connected device will be heard.
• S1 / S2 Switch: This three-position switch (with spring
return-to-center action) functions as the Up / Down
pushbuttons seen on ‘GK’-style devices, and its func-
tions may differ depending on the device connected at
the far end.
LightWave guitars omit the ‘hex power on’ LED seen on
some other ‘GK’-style hex pickups, since the LightWave
13-pin output does not rely on getting power from the de-
vice connected at the far end. Rather, the LightWave
17
13-pin output is powered by the same internal battery
pack that runs the rest of the pickup system. This Light-
Wave design enables, for example, simple individual
string fanout without needing to connect to an active 13-
pin device at the far end.
6. APPENDIX
6.1 HexFX Daughterboard DIP Switch Settings
On the underside of the HexFX Daughterboard, there is a
six-position DIP switch. The six slide switches on the unit
are labeled ‘1’ through ‘6’; their ‘ON’ position is toward the
center of the HexFX Daughterboard. This switch comes
set correctly from the factory for MIDI converters and hex
DSP devices, and normally does not require any chang-
es. However, if the settings are accidentally changed, or
if the 13-pin output is to be used without a MIDI or DSP
device, the functions are as follows:
Slide switches 1 thru 6 = individual string outputs condi-
tioned for MIDI converter or hex DSP (OFF), or uncondi-
tioned for simple fanout (ON). If the instrument is played
through a MIDI converter or hex DSP device, these
switches must be in the ‘OFF’ positions, or else the con-
nected device will not operate correctly. No damage will
result in the wrong position, but the connected device will
not perform properly.
18
If the individual string outputs are ‘fanned’ (e.g. to distrib-
ute them to different destinations), these switches must
be in the ‘ON’ position to hear the normal LightWave pick-
up sound. No damage will result in the wrong position,
but the string outputs through the 13-pin connector will be
severely attenuated and lack bass response.
Note that the bridge control for Volume will have no effect
on the individual string outputs through the 13-pin con-
nector. The bridge volume control only affects the single
combined signal at the 1/4” output jack, and on its as-
signed pin in the 13-pin connector.
7. TIPS AND TROUBLESHOOTING
7.1 Tips
Atlantis is a guitar with an active pickup system, so the
output can be plugged into a wide range of device loads
without affecting tonal response. The minimum recom-
mended load is 10K Ohm, typical of a mixing board Line
input. The Atlantis is not designed to be directly connected
into a low-impedance microphone input; a D.I. box should
be used for that purpose. Connection to a passive D.I.
box will neither dull the treble, as happens with passive
magnetic pickup guitars, nor thin the bass response, as
with passive piezo pickup guitars. The Atlantis’ output will
not properly drive headphones directly.
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