Fishman POWERJACK User Manual
F ISHMAN P OWERJACK™ MINIATURE E NDPIN P REAMP
G
G
ININ
R
IN
G
RING
FIS
H
M
A
N
P
O
W
E
R
JA
C
K
FIS
HMAN
POWER
JACK
9 Volt
Battery
Pickup
Powerjack
™
NO MORE THAN 50%
RAMP
.234"
(5.9 mm)
.234"
(5.9 mm)
F ISHMAN P OWERJACK™ MINIATURE E NDPIN P REAMP
Important!
Installation of the Powerjack™ requires fine
woodworking & soldering skills and should be
performed only by a qualified repairman.
Fishman Transducers will not be responsible
for any damages that may result from
improper installation.
Please read these instructions carefully.
For technical assistance, contact Fishman
Pickup Dimensions
NOTE:
of at least 2.875" (73mm).
AG-125
E to E string spacing = 2.125" (53.97 mm)
Wire hole location = .234" (5.94 mm) from
closest outside string
The AG-125 is suitable for most instruments
with string spacings from 2.075" (52.7 mm)
to 2.175" (55.24 mm)
Customer Support at 978-988-9665 or
tech@fishman.com
Thank you for choosing this Fishman product. The Powerjack®is designed
so that you can enjoy the benefits of "active" pickup performance from
your passive piezo or magnetic pickup. The Powerjack®is an active
preamp, built into a 1/4" endpin jack. At its heart is a unique miniaturized
circuit, housed in its elongated shielding cap.
•
A battery life of 12,000 hours eliminates
frequent battery changes. Under normal
use, the system will run for years on the
same battery!
•
Sophisticated discrete electronics
improve and enhance the
performance of both passive piezo
and magnetic pickups.
•
An integral Fishman Switchjack™
endpin jack offers new stereo wiring
options.
L IMITED W ARRANTY
INSTALLATION BY A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL REPAIRMAN IS STRONGLY
RECOMMENDED. FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ANY DAMAGES THAT MAY RESULT FROM IMPROPER INSTALLATION.
The FISHMAN POWERJACK™ is warranted to function for a per iod 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.
340-D Fordham Road Wilmington MA 01887 USA
FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS, INC.
Phone 978-988-9199 • Fax 978-988-0770
www.fishman.com
009-063-001 • Rev 2 • 2-10-04
AGX-125
E to E string spacing = 2.3125" (58.73 mm).
Wire hole location is .234" (5.94 mm) from
closest outside string
The AGX-125 is suitable for most 6 and 12string instruments with E to E string spacings from 2.262" (57.45 mm) to 2.362"
(59.99 mm)
NOTE: Custom string spacings are available
upon request.
WIDTH: .125" (3.17 mm)
HEIGHT: .048" (1.22 mm)
LENGTH: AG-125: 2.625" (66.67 mm)
For the pickup to fit lengthwise, we recommend a saddle slot length
AG-094
E to E string spacing = 2.125" (53.99 mm)
Wire hole location = .234" (5.94 mm) from
closest outside string
The AG-094 is suitable for most instruments
with string spacings from 2.075" (52.7 mm)
to 2.175" (55.24 mm)
AGX-094
E to E string spacing = 2.3125" (58.73 mm).
Wire hole location is .234" (5.94 mm) from
closest outside string
The AGX-094 is suitable for most 6 and 12string instruments with E to E string spacings from 2.262" (57.45 mm) to 2.362"
(59.99 mm)
NOTE: Custom string spacings are available
upon request.
WIDTH: .094" (2.3 mm)
HEIGHT: .048" (1.22 mm)
LENGTH: AG-094: 2.625" (66.67 mm)
AGX-125: 2.725" (69.21 mm)
Installation Guide
Installation Guide
AGX-094: 2.725" (69.21 mm)
Powerjack
Miniature Endpin Preamp
Includes Installation Instructions for Fishman 125 & 094 Series
Acoustic Guitar Pickups
AG-125: 2.125” String Spacing
AGX-125: 2.3125” String Spacing
AG-094: 2.125” String Spacing
AGX-094: 2.3125” String Spacing
.125” (3.2 mm) Width
.094" (2.3 mm) Width
Tools
•
Caliper
•
Soldering iron (30 watt max)• Rosin core solder
•
Wire strippers
•
3/32" (2mm) Allen wrench• Plunge router with 1/8" (3.2mm ) cutter for AG-125
•
15/32" (11.9mm) tapered reamer or ..... variable speed drill
•
400 grit sandpaper
•
1/2" open end wrench
OR
3/32" (2.3mm) cutter for AG-094
center punch
1/8" 3mm twist drill
15/32" spade bit drill
®
X-Acto
miniature saw
Mechanical Factors Affecting
Undersaddle Pickup Performance
Before you install the pickup, make sure the bridge and saddle are within our
recommended "safe zone" of usable parameters.
Break Angle
For the pickup to perform optimally, there should be a 20° (minimum) string
break angle across the back of the saddle. An adequate break angle can often
be realized by "ramping" the string slots. In extreme cases, where the break
angle is much less than 20° and the saddle is so low that it is nearly flush to the
top of the bridge, the instrument probably requires a neck re-set. In these cases,
resetting the neck to a higher angle will restore the saddle height and the string
break angle required for good pickup performance.
50/50 Rule
We have found that there
is a critical relationship
between the overall
saddle height and the
bridge slot depth. For
adequate mechanical
coupling and pickup balance, we recommend that the saddle slot depth (with
pickup installed) measures no more than 50% of the total height of the saddle. If
the slot measures more than 50% of the total height of the saddle, balance
and/or output level of the pickup may suffer. In these cases, add a hardwood
shim under the pickup. To determine the shim's thickness, subtract 1/2 of the
total saddle height from the slot depth. Then remove an equal amount of
material from the bottom of the saddle.
Exception to the 50/50 rule:
Pickups in bridges (especially Martin®style,
3/32" width) with exceptionally steep string break angle will generally perform
very well, even if the saddle slot depth measures more than 50% of the total saddle height.
Prepare the Sad
dle Slot
A large percentage of string balance
problems with undersaddle pickups can
be traced to an unevenly cut or warped
saddle slot. Irregularities on the bottom
or sides of the slot can often prevent the
saddle from uniformly pressurizing the pickup.
For this reason, we strongly recommend that before
you install any undersaddle pickup, re-mill an existing slot
with a plunge router, jigged up in an appropriate slot cutting fixture.
1. Rout a .125" (3.17 mm) wide saddle slot for the AG-125 pickup.
OR
Rout a .094" (2.38 mm) wide slot for the AG-094 pickup.
2. Be certain that the bottom of the slot is flat. Deepen an existing slot only
enough to obtain a clean, flat surface.
Locate the
Wire Hole
1. Confirm the E to E string spacing. The AG-125 and AG-094 pickups are suit-
able for instruments with outside string spacings (at the saddle) ranging from
2.075" (52.70mm) to 2.175" (55.24mm).
2. Locate the center of the wire hole .234" from the center of the closest string
or (for twelve string) the center of the closest pair of strings.
3. Mark the location where the wire will enter the saddle slot. Center the mark
between the walls (width) of the slot.
4. Drill a .094" hole.
5. Clear wood chips and foreign materials from the saddle slot.
6. Carefully insert (do not bend) the pickup. The fit must be loose in the slot,
without binding on the sides or the ends of the pickup. If the ends of the
pickup come in contact with the saddle slot, pickup failure could result.
Prepare the Saddle
We highly recommend the Fishman Cleartone™ saddle for enhancing the performance of an under-the saddle pickup. We also suggest synthetic materials
such as Micarta™ or Corian™ as adequate substitutes. Organic saddles such as
bone or ivory can not be recommended since these are not structurally as consistent as synthetic materials and can produce poor pickup balance.
1. Prepare a .125" or 3.17mm wide saddle (.094" or 2.38mm for Narrow
Format). For adequate pickup performance, the bottom and sides of the saddle must be absolutely FLAT.
2. Remove only enough material from the width of the saddle to provide a sliding fit in the slot. To test the fit, the saddle should slide easily in the slot, but
should not fall out when overturned. To maintain your current action, the new
saddle must be .048" (1.22 mm) shorter in height than your current saddle.
Prepare the Endpin Jack Hole
There are two ways to widen the endpin hole to accept the Powerjack™.
Slow and Safe
If you have the time, this is the preferred method. Remove the endpin and
widen the hole to size with a 15/32" (11.9 mm) reamer (available in the US
& Canada through Stewart MacDonald, 800-848-2273 part #4323).
Quick & Clean
The objective here is to quickly drill out the endpin jack hole, with the endpin
or other suitable plug in place. You may remove a loose endpin and refasten
it in the endblock with cyanoacrylate glue before starting the procedure.
1. Apply masking tape around the endblock area to protect the instrument.
2. Locate an X-Acto
the endpin.
3. Centerpunch a guide hole in the center of the trimmed endpin.
4. Drill a 1/8" (3.2mm) pilot hole through the endblock.
5. Line up a 15/32" (11.9mm) Spade bit in the pilot hole and begin drilling.
Maintain a perpendicular plunge in relation to the instrument. Use steady (but
not heavy) pressure, especially as the drill exits inside the guitar.
6. To avoid damage to the instrument, let the drill come to a complete stop
before removing it from the hole.
OR
Note:
We do not recommend this method for instruments with
brittle ornamental veneers (ex: abalone) around the endblock
®
saw blade 1/16" (1.6mm) away from the body and saw off
F ISHMAN P OWERJACK™ MINIATURE E NDPIN P REAMP
REV. 2.3
PJ FISHMAN
+
G
IN
R
-
Pickup Signal
Pickup Shield
to Ground ("G")
REV. 2.3
PJ FISHMAN
+
G
IN
R
-
Pickup Signal
to "IN"
2nd Pickup Signal
to Ring ("R")
Pickup Shield
to Ground ("G")
2nd Pickup Shield
to Ground ("G")
REV. 2.3
PJ FISHMAN
+
G
IN
R
-
Pickup Signal
to "IN"
Microphone Signal
to Ring ("R")
Pickup Shield
to Ground ("G")
Microphone Shield
to Ground ("G")
Zener
Diode
Solder the Wire Connections
1. Unscrew the shielding cap to access the preamp circuit board.
2. Strip 1/4" off the outside jacket of the pickup wire. Tin both the inner conduc-
tor and the ground wire.
3. Thread the pickup wire through the shielding cap.
4. Thread the pickup wire through the largest of the three strain relief holes,
then solder the signal wire from the pickup (hot wire) to the pad marked "IN"
on the preamp circuit board. Solder the ground wire from the pickup (shield)
to the adjacent pad marked "G" on the preamp circuit board. (See Fig 1) Do
not over heat the solder pads! Doing so may lift the pads from the circuit
board.
5. Fasten the shielding cap to the jack. Be careful not to allow the shielding cap
to come in contact with the end of the circuit board.
6. Lock the shielding cap to the first large hex nut.
Figure 1
Optional Stereo
The Fishman Switchjack™ switching endpin jack is integrated into the
Powerjack™. A variety of stereo wiring options are available for pickup+microphone or pickup+pickup:
Wiring
Two Pickups
Additional Volume & Tone Controls
The Fishman VTB
The Fishman VTB module offers simple and effective volume and tone
control especially for your Powerjack equipped pickup system. Smooth
taper volume plus dialed-in active bass and treble controls integrate
seamlessly on your instrument, for a clean look and an unobtrusive
profile. The VTB is available through your Fishman Dealer. For more
info, go to www.fishman.com
Fasten the Powerjack
™
in the Endpin
Jack Hole
Follow this sequence when installing the endpin jack:
1 - Preamp / Shielding Cap
2 - 1st Large Hex nut
3 - 2nd Large Hex Nut
4 - Large Dress Washer
5 - Star Washer
6 - Guitar End Block
7 - Small Dress Washer
8 - Small Dress Nut
9 - Strap Button
345 6 7 8 92
1
Attach the Battery Clip
We recommend that you attach the battery clip to a small piece of hardwood
approximately 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 1/2" (4cm x 4cm x 1.1cm) thick. Mark the screw
hole locations on the block using the battery holder as a template. Drill the screw
holes using the 5/64" (2mm) drill. Attach the battery holder using the two supplied
1/4" screws. Attach this assembly to the inside front block (neck block) using
either wood glue or a gap filling cyanoacrylate such as Loctite Black Max™.
Important!
Although the supplied battery holder should provide adequate
capacity to grip the battery at all times, we strongly recommend that you
remove the battery when shipping your instrument. FAILURE TO REMOVE
BATTERY COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO YOUR INSTRUMENT. Fishman
will not be held responsible for any damage incurred to instruments from a
loose battery.
A set of adhesive backed clips has been provided to secure the pickup cable
and battery leads inside the guitar once the endpin jack has been installed.
Remove the plastic film from the back of each clip to expose the adhesive.
Secure the cable/clips to the kerfed lining of the guitar.
AG-125 / AG-094 Troubleshooting
Symptom Cause Solution
Saddle is not completely seated. Push the saddle down over the weak strings.
Bottom of saddle is uneven or out of square with its sides. Check bottom of saddle for flatness and squareness.
Debris in the saddle slot.
Improper saddle fit (too tight or loose).
Weak string
or strings
Not enough downbearing pressure on saddle.
Saddle material.
Uneven or belly up saddle slot.
Wire hole too tight.
Pickup binding in saddle slot.
Specifications
Power Supply: 9 Volt Alkaline battery
Battery Life: 12,000 hours
Maximum Output Voltage: 4V peak to peak
Input Overload -.7dBV
Input Impedance 10 Mega Ohms
Output Impedance: Less than 5kOhm
System Gain 3dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 94 dB
Discrete Component Design: FET low noise class A
input stage, bipolar class
AB output stage
Remove debris from the saddle slot.
Make sure that the saddle has a sliding fit in the slot.
Do not use bone, ivory or other organic materials
Sculpt the bottom of the saddle to compensate for depth
differences in the saddle slot or re-rout the saddle slot.
The saddle slot must be .125" wide for the AG-125 and .094”
for the AG-094. Rout the slot to the correct width.
for the saddle material.
Follow the 50/50 rule.
The wire hole must be .094" diameter.
Pickup & Microphone (use with Fishman Blender System)
The jack should protrude at least 5/16" (7.9 mm) and no more than 11/32"
(8.7mm) outside the guitar's body for proper fit.
Fit the small dress washer and nut over the end of the jack, then insert a
3/32" Allen wrench through the small hole on the end of the jack. Tighten
the nut with a 1/2" open-end wrench while holding the jack in place with a
3/32” (2 mm) Allen wrench. Thread and hand tighten the strap button.
Note:
With the strap button in place, the end of
the jack should protrude slightly, so that when a
plug is inserted, it will snap securely in place.
Hum
Thin or weak signal
Pickup
intermittent
or dead
Improper saddle fit (too tight, resulting in poor s/n ratio). Check saddle for sliding fit in the slot.
Torn pickup shield. Examine the pickup. Replace pickup if the material is torn.
Unshielded jack. Fasten the Shielding Cap to the jack.
Weak downbearing pressure due to low string break angle. Observe the 50/50 rule. Ramp the string slots if necessary.
Pickup binding in wire hole
(wire hole too small or misaligned.)
Pickup binding in saddle slot.
340-D Fordham Road Wilmington MA 01887 USA
FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS
Phone 978-988-9199 • Fax 978-988-0770
www.fishman.com
®
Align or widen pickup wire hole.
Widen or lengthen pickup saddle slot
to accommodate the pickup.
Loading...