Fishman PREFIX PREMIUM BLEND User Manual

FISHMAN PREFIX™ PREMIUM BLEND

GUITAR BODY

PREFIX SERIES PREAMP

9V BATTERY

MONO CABLE

Microphone & Pickup

Signals

STEREO "Y" CABLE

Tip

Pickup

Ring

Microphone

MONO / STEREO

Mono / Stereo

Switch

Microphone
Trim Control

ABCDEFG #

Flashes when the note is below pitch

Lights up when note is in tune

Lights up when tuner is on

Lights up when the note is raised 1/2 step

Flashes when the note is above pitch

USER GUIDE

Thank you for choosing Fishman. Our goal is to provide you with the finest acoustic amplification products
available; products that will compliment your style and let you sound your very best onstage. You can feel
confident that your Fishman gear will provide great sound and trouble free performance for years to come.
Your satisfaction is very important to us.

If you have any questions, please contact us at [e-mail].

Microphone Position

The microphone can be positioned to find the "sweet spot" inside the instrument. Take the time to experiment with
microphone placement until you find the position that works best in your instrument.

Move the Blend slider to the left for mic only. Start with the mic capsule so that it faces the back of the guitar. Move
the mic closer to the sound hole for more bass Turn the capsule toward the sides of the instrument for less bass.

QUICK START

More Bass Less Bass

WARNING! Although the microphone in the Prefix Premium Blend has a high
feedback threshold, it can be made to feedback at high volume levels. Before you
go onstage with the Prefix Premium Blend, get familiar with the preamp's anti­feedback features.

We recommend that you preset the system EQ to locate and eliminate microphone feedback
before you mix in the under-saddle pickup.

1. Set all controls as follows:

•

Notch and Volume fully counter-clockwise

•

All EQ sliders at center position

•

Blend slider at full left position

•

Turn off the Tuner

2. Slowly increase the volume and play the notes from the open low E, up to the fourth fret G #
until the instrument starts to rumble or howl with feedback on one or more of these notes. Adjust
the Notch control until this feedback is eliminated (usually between one and two o'clock on the
dial).

3. Increase the volume some more and play (on the low E string) the fifth fret A and above. Flip
the phase switch to the position that eliminates feedback in this region.

4. Slowly increase the Volume again, until you start to hear a high squeal.

Microphone Trim Control

A small circular potentiometer is located on the underside of the
preamp just below the battery compartment. This is a "set it and forget
it" control. Use it to initially calibrate the microphone balance in relation
to the pickup. Set the Blend slider to the center position and with a
small slotted screwdriver, adjust the Trim Control until both the
microphone and pickup levels are balanced to your taste.

Mono/Stereo Switch

A small slide switch, located on the underside of the preamp (across from the Notch control pot), lets you choose
between mono and stereo operation. Leave the switch in the factory set Mono position when you use a standard
instrument cable.

If you wish to split the pickup and microphone signals for separate external processing (such as with a Fishman Pocket
Blender), move the switch to the Stereo position and use a stereo cable or a stereo "Y" cable to carry the two signals
to separate destinations. In the stereo mode, the pickup goes to the tip output and the microphone goes to the ring
output.

Note that the microphone signal at the ring output is affected only by the Volume, Blend and Phase controls.

Mono Stereo

5. Lower the Contour Slider (level) all the way down and adjust the Frequency slider until the

squealy feedback is eliminated. Raise the Contour slider (if possible) to just below the threshold of
feedback.

6. Move the Blend slider to the right to mix in the pickup signal.

7. Adjust the Bass and Treble controls as desired. Note that these controls do not affect the

microphone signal.

8. Play your guitar as loud as you like.

DESCRIPTION

For the Prefix Premium Blend we have updated our top-of-the-line Stereo Blender preamp with an onboard chromatic tuner, a gooseneck
style internal microphone and a streamlined new look. Standard on the Prefix Premium Blend is our acclaimed Acoustic Matrix™ under­saddle pickup. To compliment and contrast this pickup, our miniature gooseneck microphone captures the guitar’s elusive natural
ambience and sound chamber resonance. Blend the pickup and the microphone together for a powerful and cohesive acoustic guitar tone
that is deeper and more "filled out", than the sound of either the microphone or pickup alone.

The Premium Blend’s preamp module incorporates a unique flip-top battery compartment for easy access. Levels are set by the master
volume and blend controls. Traditional shelving-style bass & treble, plus a semi-parametric "Contour" EQ are included so you can shape
your guitar’s tone exactly to taste. With the flick of a switch, you can choose between stereo or mono signal paths for the system's pickup
and microphone. This feature expands your options for routing both signals.

To complete the package, we include a phase switch and an adjustable notch filter, both essential for fighting feedback.

Endpin Jack

When you plug into the endpin jack, the Prefix Premium Blend™ switches on. To conserve the battery, remove the
instrument cable from the endpin jack when the system is not being used. It is a good idea to turn down your amp or
mixer input before you plug into the endpin jack. Doing so will protect your speakers (and your ears) from loud pops.

Battery Low LED

Plug into the endpin jack and the Low Battery light will flash momentarily, indicating that the power is on. When the
Low Battery light stays on, it is time to change the battery.

THE PICKUP

The system’s under-saddle pickup is the industry standard Fishman Acoustic Matrix™. It is made with our proprietary co-polymer sensing
material which reproduces your acoustic guitar sound with a sensitivity and dynamic range that surpasses all other pickups.

At the heart of the pickup is a multi-layer stack of co-polymer strips that sense motion across the entire length of the saddle for unparalleled
performance. The Acoustic Matrix’s "unitary" co-polymer design provides a natural and balanced response, with sensitivity to both the
strings and the soundboard. The transducer is fully enclosed in a shielded foil wrap for quiet performance and total EMI noise rejection.

THE MICROPHONE

This quality electret-condenser microphone will provide very high level sound reproduction before feedback when used in conjunction with
the unit's Phase, Notch and Contour EQ (see pages 7-8). Conveniently mounted in the soundhole, the microphone's strategic position also
isolates it from bleed-through with other instruments as well as the freedom to move around onstage.

S

ETUP

Battery Compartment

Pull the small tab at the top of the Prefix Premium Blend toward
you. The body of the preamp will swing out, revealing the battery
compartment. Observe the polarity marks on the battery clip and
install a fresh 9V alkaline battery accordingly.

CONTROLS

Tuner

Depress the tuner button to turn the circuit on and off. This digital chromatic tuner accommodates all standard and
alternate tunings. For your convenience, the tuner button also acts as a mute switch for the guitar when you are
plugged in. The tuner circuit devours battery power, so turn it off when you finish tuning.

You can also turn on the tuner if the guitar is un-plugged. It will automatically shut down after about 30 seconds at idle
to conserve battery power. The "in tune" indicator will flash several times before tuner shuts down. Note that the tuner
is calibrated to A = 440.

FISHMAN PREFIX™ PREMIUM BLEND

Lower

Feedback

Range

(E to G#)

Upper

Feedback

Range

(A and above)

USER GUIDE - CONTINUED

Controls, Continued

Volume Control

Set this as high as possible (without causing your amp or mixer to distort) for the cleanest signal.

Notch and Phase

These controls work hand in hand to suppress two
adjacent ranges of acoustic feedback. When you set
them properly, you can play your instrument as loud as
you like, feedback free.

Suggested EQ Settings, Continued

Brilliance

If you are playing through a limited range amplifier (like an
electric guitar amp) or have dead strings on the instrument, you
can brighten up your sound by setting the Frequency slider to
10 kHz and raising the Contour level to taste. If you plan to play
at high stage volume levels, dial in more pickup than
microphone to avoid feedback.

Notch

Tune the Notch filter to scoop out the lowest range of
feedback when you play bass notes between the open
low E string and (up to and including) the fourth fret G
sharp on the same string. Low frequency "cavity
resonance" feedback can usually be squelched by
setting the Notch control between one o'clock and two
o'clock on the dial. Note that the notch can be
defeated by moving the dial to the Off (seven o'clock)
position.

NOTE: The Notch control only affects microphone
and pickup signals at the tip output.

Phase Switch

Push the Phase switch in and out until you find the position that sounds best and subdues mid-bass feedback. Mid­bass feedback generally occurs when you play bass notes above the fourth fret G# on the low E string.

Bass

A Boost here will add depth and weight to the sound the instrument. This control does not affect the microphone!

Contour EQ

Two sliders (Contour and Frequency) make up this EQ. The Frequency slider lets you tune in on the specific range of
sounds that you can boost/cut with the Contour (level) slider. The Contour control affects only the pickup and
microphone signals at the tip output.

With the Contour EQ you can boost or cut a wide range of frequencies, from gutsy low midrange (250 Hz) to brilliant
high treble (10 kHz). Often your instrument will benefit from a slight midrange cut.

To cut mids, boost the Contour control and then sweep the Frequency control until you find the band of frequencies
that are brash and nasal sounding (usually around the center of the Frequency slider's travel).

Then move the Contour slider below its detent to taste.

Treble

A boost here will help to "cut through the mix". Conversely, cutting the Treble will mellow and subdue your amplified
tone.

This control does not affect the microphone!

Blend Control

Determines the balance between the pickup and microphone. Move the slider left to emphasize the Microphone. Move
it right to hear more of the Pickup.

Fingerstyle

This setting will add fullness to the bass and definition to the
treble.

SPECIFICATIONS

Output Impedance (tip): Less than 3.5 k Ohms
Output Impedance (ring): Less than 6.6 k Ohms
Nominal Output Level (tip): -12 dBV
Output Level Range (ring): Max: -12 dBV Min: -16dBV
THD: Less than .04 %, -20 dBV input
Signal to Noise Ratio: 77 dB (A weighted referred to nominal -20 dBV input)
Power Supply: 9V alkaline battery
Battery Life: Preamp only, tuner off: 130 hrs. @ 3.8mA

SUGGESTED EQ SETTINGS

Anti-feedback

See Quick Start on Page 2

Notch Filter Range: 20Hz - 300 Hz (-15 dB)
Bass Control Range: ± 12 dB at 60 Hz
Treble Control Range: ± 12 dB at 10 kHz
Contour Control Range: ± 12dB

All specifications subject to change without notice.

Mid-Cut

You can scoop out harsh midrange by setting the Frequency
slider slightly above center with the Contour (level) cut to taste
below the center detent. Often the desired mid-cut will fall into
the same frequency range as potential microphone feedback.
You can also cut midrange (pickup only) by boosting the BASS
and TREBLE sliders to realize an "implied" mid-cut at 800 Hz.

Tuner on, no signal: 33 hrs. @ 15mA,
Tuner on, with signal: 20 hrs. @ 28mA,.

PICKUP ONLY

(adjustable from 250 Hz to 10 kHz), Q = 0.5

340-D Fordham Road Wilmington MA 01887 USA

FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS

Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]

www.fishman.com

513-000-001 • 8-8-03