Raise the two piv
ot screws to obtain the desired action.
T une the str
ings to pitch and
float the bridge le
vel with the top of the guitar b
y adjusting the tension of the spr
ings
at the vibrato cla
w.
With the saddle hold-down scre
ws still loose, re-chec
k the string
spacing and set the intonation.
After the intonation is set, lock the saddles to the top plate b
y tightening hold-do
wn
screws
.
Re-check the action, and if necessar
y, re-adjust the piv
ot screws
.
Fine
adjustments can be made to each string with the saddle height adjusting scre
ws.
Always remember to loosen the hold-do
wn screws bef
ore making any adjustment to
the saddles.
Parts List
• VS-50P
Wilkinson™ style knife-edge P
ow
erbridge
™
pickup
• Vibr
ato Arm
• (2) Piv
ot Screws
• (2) Br
ass pivot scre
w bushings
• (3) Vibr
ato Spr
ings
• (2)
Vibrato Cla
w Mounting Screws
• Vibr
ato Claw
• Stereo Output J
ack
• Shielding F
oil
• 5 Megohm resistor
• Routing T
emplate
• 1.5mm he
x wrench
• 3 mm he
x wrench
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 Powerbridge™ Pickup is warranted to function for a period 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 conse-
quential 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.
FENDER, STRAT, AMERICAN STANDARD STRAT, AMERICAN STANDARD TELE, TELE are registered
trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corp. with which Fishman Transducers Inc. is not affiliated.
POWERBRIDGE
™
P
I
C
K
U
P
System Components
• Stereo Jack (included)
A 1/4" stereo output jack is
provided with your
Powerbridge™ Pickup. It is an
essential component to the
Powerbridge™ System. With it
you can send piezo and magnetic
pickup signals to separate
amplifiers. The magnetic pickups
are wired to Tip, and the
Powerbridge™ Pickup is wired to
Ring.
• Instrument Cable (not included)
Depending on how you want to set up your Powerbridge™ system, you can use
one of the following three instrument cables (available from your Fishman dealer).
1 - Stereo "Y" Cable
This will split the Powerbridge™
and magnetic pickup signals and
send them to separate amplifiers
or other destinations (PA,
recording devices, etc.).
2 - Stereo Instrument Cable
Both magnetic and piezo signals can be sent through a single stereo instrument cable
to our PowerBlend pedal. With the pedal, these signals can be either combined to a
mono output or split to separate outputs.
NOTE: For best results, use a "2-pair" premium stereo cable (available through your
Fishman dealer) with separate shielding for both the Powerbridge™ and magnetic
signals.
3 - Mono Instrument Cable with a Fishman Powerchip™
If you want to blend the magnetics and the Powerbridge™ together on the guitar,
you'll need a Fishman Powerchip™. Plug a standard mono instrument cable into a
Powerchip™ equipped guitar and you can mix piezo and magnetic signals, right on
the instrument. (See the Fishman Powerbridge™ System User Guide for more on the
Powerchip™).
Without a Fishman Powerchip™: A mono instrument cable will short out the
Powerbridge™ Pickup, but your magnetics will function exactly as they did before you
installed the Powerbridge™.
• Basic Passive Setup
Stereo Outputs
The simplest way to get the Powerbridge™ Pickup up and running is to wire it and the
magnetic pickups to Tip/Ring outputs of the supplied stereo jack. A stereo "Y" cable
or a standard stereo cable can then carry the two signals. From there, all mixing and
blending functions will be performed offboard the instrument. A Fishman Powerblend
pedal is especially suited for offboard blending/mixing with this passive setup.
For a passive setup don't tie the Powerbridge™ and magnetic pickup wires together
to a guitar's mono output jack. This may seem like a good idea, but it won't work. If
you connect the piezo and magnetic outputs, you will experience a loss of tone and
a very bizarre and un-musical interaction between the Powerbridge™ and magnetic
pickups.
Magnetic and piezo pickups operate on different electrical platforms. Magnetics are
"inductors" and piezos are "capacitive" devices. To mix signals on your instrument
you’ll need to electronically isolate or "buffer" the two signals with the Fishman
Powerchip™.
Thank you f
or choosing the Fishman VS-50P P
ow
erbridge™ Pic
kup.
This 2nd
generation P
ow
erbridge™ off
ers the convenience and fle
xibility of our newly
reintroduced Wilkinson™ f
ormat br
idge, with se
ver
al updated improvements o
ver its
predecessor, the
VS-100P .A
new design f
or the piezo assemb
ly improves the pic
kup
sound and reduces string breakage
.
All cr
itical adjustments to the saddle
height/intonation and vibrato ar
m can now be easily accessed with the same he
x
wrench.
Y ou will find that there are se
ver
al wir
ing options availab
le.
T o help y
ou decide how
to integrate it with y
our Strat style guitar
, please read the Pow
erbridge™ User's guide
that accompanies these instructions
.
Tips on setting up the VS-50P
Once the VS-50P is installed, str
ing up the guitar and tune the strings taut, b
ut not up
to pitch.Loosen the saddle hold do
wn screws and adjust the str
ing spacing by
moving the saddles side
ways
.
Set the height of the two "E" str
ings so that the bottom of each saddle is flush to the
top plate.
Be careful not to pinch the signal wires under the saddles.
Raise or low
er
the pivot scre
ws so that both "E" strings are just touching the last fret on the
fingerboard.Adjust the "A", "D", "G" AND "B" str
ing saddles so that these strings are
also just touching the last fret.Y
ou have
now duplicated the nec
k's radius
.
Important!
Do not disturb the blac
k signal wires located under the
saddles.
They are e
xtremely delicate
.Pic
kup failure may
result from handling these wires.
Installation by
a qualified prof
essional repair-per
son only.
Fishman Transducer
s will not be responsible f
or any dama
ge
s
that may result fr
om improper installation.
Please read these instructions carefully.
For technical
assistance,
contact Fishman Customer Service at
[email protected] or 978-988-9665.
L
I M I T E D
W
A R R A N T Y
I
N S T A L L A T I O N
G
U I D E
FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS, INC.
340-D Fordham Road Wilmington MA 01887 USA
Phone 978-988-9199 • Fax 978-988-0770
www.fishman.com
009-086-001 • Rev 2 • 4-9-02
TM
F
I
S
H
M
A
N
P
O
W
E
R
B
R
I
D
G
E
™
P
I
C
K
U
P
I
N
S
T
A
L
L
A
T
I
O
N
G
U
I
D
E
F
I S H M A N
P
O W E R B R I D G E
™ P
I C K U P
I
N S T A L L A T I O N
G
U I D E
Stereo Output Jack
(Tip/Ring/Sleeve)
Stereo "Y" Cable
Powerbridge™
Signal
(Ring)
Pure
Magnetic
Signal
(Tip)
Powerbridge
™
Stereo
Instrument Cable
to Stereo Input
Magnetic
TM
M
ODEL
VS-50P
Wilkinson™ style vibrato
bridge/pickup system
Direct Replacement for “knife-edge” Stratocaster Bridge
Powerchip™
Mono Instrument Cable
Powerbridge
™
Magnetic
Stereo Output Jack
(Tip/Ring/Sleeve)
Mono Instrument Cable
Powerbridge
™
Magnetic
