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If you never read manuals and prefer to dive in blind please at least read 

the following before starting. 
After powering up the Multi Z PIP wait at least one minute before changing 

any switch settings. The unit has to  stabilize its large reservoir capacitor 

and  zero voltage sources. If you do not wait, loud pops will occur when 

changing settings. These pops could be damaging to other equipment. 
The Multi Z PIP has many options, be aware of how the PIP is configured. 

If you chose some of the custom options read the jumper settings part 

of this manual carefully before moving the jumpers and of course do it 

with the power off.
Plug your speaker output into the Multi Z PIP only after selecting the 

speaker in, then do not change the input select while speaker level is feed-

ing the Multi Z PIP, (otherwise damage to the internal electronics could 

result from the excess level being fed into it). When using the speaker in 

mode, keep in mind this is  not a power soak. Many amplifiers require a 

load and could be damaged when not using either a power soak or speaker 

connected to its output.  Do not plug the speaker out of the amplifier 

into the Multi Z PIP and then plug the speaker through the Multi Z PIP  

Instrument thru.  This will send excessive current through the internal 

traces of the Multi Z PIP and burn the traces up.
There you have it, but please read on for more information and tips that 

should help the inexperienced and experienced engineer alike in obtain-

ing the highest performance out of the Little Labs Multi Z Professional 

Instrument Preamplifier.

read this before using the

little labs multi z pip

1. With a 1/16” Allen hex remove the two rear panel capscrews and the 

2 xlr cap screws. 

 

2. The rear panel and the plastic frame should come right off. A service 

loop is provided so keep the power connector attsched. 

 

3. Slide the black textured steel cover carefully off of the base extru-

sion. 

 

4. This will expose the insides to your leering eyes.  Nicely made eh. 

Stop here if you just need to change jumper positions. 

 

5. If you need access to under the circuit board use a 1/16” Allen hex to 

remove the front screened panel screws. The circuit board should now 

easily slide out from the base. 

 

6. Unless you have to replace the pad or switch assembly, I do not 

recommend removing the front utility (not screened) panel.  If you 

must, noting which knob went where, gently but firmly pull off the two 

knobs. 

  

7. Use a 1/2” nut driver to remove the front phone jack nut. 

   

8. Use a 7/16” nut driver to remove pad assembly nut. 

 

9. Slide out utility panel and plastic frame so the switch is still at-

tached, and then  remove spacer washers from phone jack and pad 

assembly. Do not lose these. 

  

10. With a 14mm nut driver or crescent wrench, carefully remove 

switch nut, remove utility panel, sliding out the leds then remove spac-

DISASSEMBLY

Summary of Contents for multi z pip rev.b

Page 1: ... 6 0 4 2 8 SUPER HIZ OPTIMIZED FET MONOLITHIC AMPLIFIER DIFFERENTIAL INPUT MID Z OPTIMIZED FET MONOLITHIC AMPLIFIER 6dB 8 SPEAKER LEVEL ATTENUATOR spkr lo z mid z 26dB ol out re amp level LITTLE LABS HEAVY IRON CORE CUSTOM WOUND AUDIO TRANSFORMER LITTLE LABS CUSTOM WOUND VINTAGE PICK UP EMULATION TRANSFORMER overload in ol in hi z input circuit select overload out Main instrument in T mounted appl...

Page 2: ...ss pedals key boards etc The PIP can be used as a mini hi fidelity mixer Buffered output Internal user configurable jumpers can set this output to be fed from either pre or post the level pot pre is the default setting OR this output can be configured as a trs volume tip send ring return expression pedal jack pre or post level pot OR this output can be an extra summing amp input Balanced only expa...

Page 3: ... pre main out balanced insert and others 4 5 1 2 6 3 7 re amp out ol out ol in input circuit select hi z spkr lo z mid z attach level earth lift multi z pip 3 0 0 2 4 6 16 14 18 20 12 8 10 4 3 2 1 16 DIFFERENTIAL FET MONOLITHIC SUMMING AMPLIFIER 9dB FRONT PANEL EARTH LIFT SWITCH 7 5 14 18 MALE XLR 2 6 FRONT PANEL EARTH LIFT SWITCH 47V 0 8 ol out re amp level LITTLE LABS HEAVY IRON CORE CUSTOM WOUN...

Page 4: ...efault and custom PIP configurations 6 The front of the direct box is now one piece 7 With the 7 16 nut driver tighten the pad assembly nut A 7 16 nut driveroftheexcelitebrand aswellasmostothers hasanoutsidediameter which will center the pad in the decorative panel properly 8 Tuck power supply wires inside then slide black textured cover onto extrusion base Be careful to slide it all the way in an...

Page 5: ...ing the instructions fully before starting 1 Install spacer washers which consist of a lock washer which comes with the switch a metal cup washer a 3 8 fiber shoulder washer onto the center switch assembly switch bushing Attach switch assembly to utility not screened panel with the black plastic frame around it Note orientation of round hole cutouts for toggle switches Carefully attach the nut to ...

Page 6: ... traces up There you have it but please read on for more information and tips that should help the inexperienced and experienced engineer alike in obtain ing the highest performance out of the Little Labs Multi Z Professional Instrument Preamplifier read this before using the little labs multi z pip 1 With a 1 16 Allen hex remove the two rear panel capscrews and the 2 xlr cap screws 2 The rear pan...

Page 7: ...ernal battery powered preamp This preamp can be internally bypassed with a female mini plug to 1 4 plug adaptor Running the Piezo pickups directly to the Multi Z bypassing the Ovation preamp will drastically improve the sound of this instrument MID Z Mid Z use for an active instrument on board preamp or keyboard The main advantage of the Mid Z position on the Multi Z Di is the ability to isolate t...

Page 8: ...board rack cue mixer to be isolated from each other Thus eliminating a source of possible ground loops LO Z Lo Z use on active instruments on board preamp or keyboards The Lo Z position has the least amount of active circuitry in the signal path SPEAKER Speaker in use on the speaker output of an instrument amplifier or on any very high level output instrument or keyboard I can t imagine an instrum...

Page 9: ...e output stage The seperate re amp section will drop the balanced signal feeding it by a minimum of 15dB adjustable with the rear re amp level trim Note the re amp in jack 6 is normaled to the balanced only expansion output so pro level gear can be inserted after the balanced only expansion out jack 4 and returned into the re amp in jack effecting only what is feeding the instrument level hi z mai...

Page 10: ...ellowing effect of the guitar amplifiers limited range speaker cabinets Once on tape the performance in which the artist utilized the musical instrument amplifier as an integral part is captured with the amp settings preserved This signal can now be utilized to feed any low distor tion monitor type amp back out to a guitar speaker which could be put in any room and recaptured at a later date You m...

Page 11: ...njunction with The DI section for gain make up to use vintage pedals on an insert Re amplifier level is set by a 10 turn trim pot located on the rear of the PIP The re amplifier out is also the main guitar level impedance transformer isolated ground liftable output for the Multi Z Professional Instrument Preamp Balanced main XLR output This ouput is available with three options Line level transfor...

Page 12: ...lugged into the instrument input jack 8 will appear at the Instrument thru jack 1 Useful when you would like to use the PIP as a traditional DI with the instrument Yed feeding the instrument input jack 8 and instrument amp at the same time With nothing plugged in the instru ment input jack 8 the input to the PIP is shorted and the outputs will be quiet useful when you are leaving the PIP connected...

Page 13: ... well as your other occasional instruments to feed the instrument amp with the PIPs instrument level hi Z main output and the balanced main output to hit the mixer seems tidy and saves you the expense of extra DIs and more mic cables Besides all that the summing quality is super hi fidel ity 30 remove jumper and 31 jumper 3 4 jumper installed on 35 and on 35X on 75 jumper 1 3 Jumpers 112 128 and 1...

Page 14: ... this input to sum with the main input devices such as bass pedals key boards etc The PIP can be used as a mini hi fidelity mixer Buffered output Internal user configurable jumpers can set this output to be fed from either pre or post the level pot pre is the default setting OR this output can be configured as a trs volume tip send ring return expression pedal jack pre or post level pot OR this ou...

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