Instruction Manual

ManualsBrandsLR Baggs ManualsMicrophonesiBeam Active System

INSTALLATION MANUAL & USER'S GUIDE

L.R. BAGGS PICKUPS

iBEAM ACTIVE SYSTEM

483 N. FRONTAGE RD.

NIPOMO, CA 93444

WWW.LRBAGGS.COM

fig. 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Package contents

2. Overview and cautions

3. Strapjack/preamp installation

4. iBeam installation: pin bridge guitars

5. iBeam installation: non-pin bridge guitars

6. iBeam installation: classical/nylon string guitars

7. iBeam removal and repositioning

8. Battery Bag installation

9. Volume control installation

10. Other applications

1.PACKAGE CONTENTS

One (1) iBeam pickup and volume control wheel pre-attached to the iBeam Active Preamp

One (1) Battery Bag

Three (3) self-stick wire holders

Two (2) extra adhesive strips

One (1) pin bridge mounting kit (not included with the iBeam Active Classical)

2.OVERVIEW AND CAUTIONS

The iBeam Active System pairs the award-winning iBeam bridge plate

transducer with an all-discrete, class A FET preamp built into the endpin jack.

A soundhole-mounted volume control provides onboard volume adjustment

with no cutting or drilling required. The system is powered by a 9 volt battery,

and should provide approximately 1000 hours of use per battery. The battery

is not included in this package.

We recommend that this system be installed by a professional dealer/installer.

We do not provide installation advice or support for home or hobbyist

installations. Installers: please read the instructions carefully before

proceeding. We will not be responsible for any damage to the guitar or

personal injury resulting from installation, improper installation, use or

misuse of the product.

Simply plugging in the cord will turn the iBeam Active on -- be sure to have

your amp or PA muted, as there will be a plug-in "pop." The output impedance

is very low, and, at 600 ohms, the iBeam Active can drive any length of cable

and be plugged into almost any outboard gear with full frequency response. The endpin preamp is pre-contoured to get the most from the

iBeam, so very little outboard equalization should be necessary. However, because the iBeam is top-sensitive, an outboard preamp with phase

reversal and/or notch filter(s), such as our Para D.I. or Feedback Master, may be helpful for controlling feedback (especially in loud playing

situations).

The iBeam fits x-braced guitars with at least three inches of flat open space directly under the saddle (see figure 1). Verify that this requirement is

met before altering the guitar in any way.

The peel-and-stick adhesive is the best way to adhere the iBeam. It will hold the iBeam quite firmly, but will allow the pickup to be safely removed

at a later time. The use of any adhesive other than the provided self-stick pads is not recommended and will void the warranty.

3.STRAPJACK/PREAMP INSTALLATION

Drilling the strapjack hole: For proper installation, this jack requires a clean 1/2" hole in the tail block of the instrument. If the guitar lacks this

hole, start by placing a piece of masking tape on the outside of the instrument over the drilling area (to avoid chipping the finish), drill a small

pilot hole in the tail block and then follow with a step drill. Now proceed with the installation.

Remove the strap ring, retaining nut and one washer from the end of the jack. There should still be one star locking washer, one flat washer and a

nut remaining on the jack. Bring the jack down through the soundhole into the body and insert it into the pre-drilled hole in the tail block. Using

the internal nut (be sure to include the flat and star washers), set the proper depth that will allow the entire smaller threaded section to protrude

from the instrument (see figure 2).

Summary of content (5 pages)

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L . R . iBEAM B A ACTIVE INSTALLATION MANUAL G G S P I C K U P S SYSTEM & USER'S GUIDE 4 8 3 N . F R O N T A G E N I P O M O , C A R D . 9 3 4 4 4 W W W . L R B A G G S . C O M TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Package contents 2. Overview and cautions 3. Strapjack/preamp installation 4. iBeam installation: pin bridge guitars 5. iBeam installation: non-pin bridge guitars 6. iBeam installation: classical/nylon string guitars 7. iBeam removal and repositioning 8. Battery Bag installation 9.
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With the jack in place, lay the remaining washer over the threads and attach the external retaining nut until it’s tight. Finish by attaching the strap ring (it should cover the retaining nut and washer). Note that asserting too much pressure may crack the finish. Then proceed to the appropriate iBeam installation instructions (pin bridge, non-pin bridge or classical/nylon) in the following sections. 4 . i B E A M GU ITARS I N S TA L L AT I O N : P I N fig.
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12. Restring the guitar and plug into your amp or PA. Now test the pickup placement. If the sound is satisfactory (see below for a definition of this), secure the wire with a wire clip and turn to the Battery Bag installation in section 8. If the sound is unsatisfactory, we encourage you to experiment with alternative placements (see section 7). Do not test the pickup placement without firmly securing the adhesive. Without completely securing the pickup, the sound test will produce unreliable results. fig.
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of the instrument. An unsatisfactory location will often be characterized by a woofy or nasal tone, poor string balance and a high sensitivity to feedback. alternate placement range (light gray area) fig. 9 6. i BE A M I N S TA LL ATI ON: CL A S S I C A L GUITAR S 6.1 General positioning guidelines: The iBeam is a highly sensitive pickup; therefore, placement is a critical factor in producing the outstanding results of which the iBeam is capable.
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feedback. 7.iBEAM REMOVAL AND REPOSITIONING The adhesive used to secure the iBeam is very strong. Once you stick it down, it will increase its grip over about a week’s time. If you wish to experiment with placement, it will be easier before the adhesive develops its full strength. To experiment with placement, begin by outlining the pickup in its current position with a pencil; this will act as a reference of the initial location.