Wiring Instructions
• Preliminary Notes
To prevent 60 Hz hum, the entire signal path for the Powerbridge™ should be fully shielded. Shield the control cavity and any non-conductive surface to
which the controls are mounted (such as plastic pickguards) with adhesive-backed foil or conductive paint. The shielded cavity should also be tied to ground.
For complete hum prevention, the included stereo jack should also be shielded. A piece of shielding foil has been included. Note that one side is insulated.
After you have soldered the wires to the jack, roll the foil into a tube so that the insulation is on the inside. Surround the stereo jack with the foil tube and
fasten with adhesive tape. Connect the foil side of the tube to ground by soldering it to the shielding of the Powerbridge™ wire or to a jumper that is
connected to any ground. If your instrument has active magnetic pickups requiring an onboard battery) you will need a special 9-pin switching jack (Fishman
P/N ACC-PBR-9PJ) available through your Fishman dealer.
• Install the Stereo Jack
The jack can fit into the jack cavity without removing wood ...
1 Bend the terminals of the included stereo jack toward its center.
See Fig 3
2 Rotate the jack to locate the Tip terminal exactly at the upper left side of
the jack plate recess.
See Fig 4
• Wiring Options
There are several different ways to wire the Powerbridge™.
Choose the option that best suits your needs.
Powerbridge™ & Magnetic Pickups
wired directly to a Stereo Jack
1. Connect the Powerbridge™ signal wire directly to the Ring
terminal on the supplied stereo jack.
2. Connect the Powerbridge™ and magnetic grounds to the Sleeve
terminal.
3. Connect the magnetic signal wire to the Tip terminal.
4. Connect the included 5 M
Ω
resistor between the ring and sleeve
terminals.
Passive Volume for the Powerbridge™
This circuit that is easily assembled from "stock" guitar pots and
components available at any electronics parts retailer.
You will need:
• 250 k audio taper pot
• 330k resistor
• 820 pF capacitor
• 1500 pF capacitor
This network will attenuate the Powerbridge™ so that it better
matches levels between magnetic and piezo pickups. You can
expect a 14 dB (nominal) decrease in Powerbridge™ output with
this circuit.
NOTE: Optional 3-Way Selector Switch - If desired, a
single pole, double throw (spdt) 3-way switch can also be added for
piezo/magnetic pickup selection. Use a switch with an ON-OFF-ON
orientation (no, this is not a misprint)
NOTE: Active Onboard Blending
A Fishman Powerchip™ (not included) must be installed if you wish
to blend/mix piezo and magnetic signals onboard the instrument.
• Active Setup - Powerchip™
With our onboard Powerchip™, you can mix and combine both the Powerbridge™
and magnetic pickups (on the guitar) and plug right into a single channel guitar
amplifier. You can also instantly split signals by simply changing to a stereo cable or
stereo "Y" cable.
See the Powerbridge™ System Users Guide
for Powertronics™ descriptions.
Bridge Installation
If you have a Fender
®
American Standard
®
or Strat Plus
®
(knife-edge vibrato), the VS-
50P is a direct replacement, using the existing pivot screws. (Fig. 1)
For some guitars you may need to slightly widen the bridge cavity to accommodate
vibrato arm receiver.
• Instrument Builders
Refer to the enclosed routing template to locate the two brass inserts.
• Routing the Powerbridge Pickup Wire
Drill a 3/32” (2.4 mm) hole from the vibrato cavity to the control cavity.
Route the Powerbridge™ wire through this hole (Fig 2).
If you prefer, you may route the Powerbridge™ wire through the
guitar's ground wire channel. If you do so, use care where you place
the wire, as it can be easily pinched by the springs or the bridge block
when raising the vibrato arm.
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
FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS
®
340-D Fordham Road Wilmington MA 01887 USA
Phone 978-988-9199 • Fax 978-988-0770
www.fishman.com
TM
FIG 1 - Existing Pivot Screws
Use Existing Inserts
and Pivot Screws
Drill 3/32" (2.4 mm) Hole
from Vibrato Cavity
to Control Cavity
FIG 2 - Hole for Powerbridge™ Signal Wire
FIG 3 - Bend Jack Terminals
FIG 4 - Align Tip Terminal
Powerchip™
Mono Instrument Cable
Stereo Output Jack
(Tip/Ring/Sleeve)
Electric Guitar Amp
Active
D.I.
PA / Recording Console
Pure Magnetic Signal
(Tip)
Powerbridge™ Signal
(Ring)
Passive Setup
Active Setup
Magnetic
Volume
Sleeve
Ring
Tip
Magnetic
Signal
Stereo Jack
Optional 3-Way
Selector Switch
Mag
Both
Piezo
ON
ON
OFF
Powerbridge™
250K - 300K
Audio Taper Pot
Sleeve
Ring
Tip
1500 pF
1500 pF
330 K
820 pF
Magnetic Signal
Optional 3-Way
Selector Switch
Mag
Both
Piezo
O
N
O
F
F
O
N
Stereo
Output
Jack
Passive Volume
Direct Wiring
