Wiring Instructions
• Preliminary Notes
To prevent 60 Hz hum, the entire Powerbridge™ Pickup signal path should be fully shielded. The control cavity, jack cavity, and any non-conductive surface to which the controls
are mounted (such as a plastic pickguard) must be shielded with adhesive-backed foil or conductive paint. The shielded cavities should then be grounded.
For complete hum prevention, the included stereo jack must also be shielded. To do this, we’ve included a piece of shielding foil. 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 and surround the stereo jack with the tube. Connect the foil side of the tube to ground
by soldering it to the shielding of the Powerbridge™ Pickup 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 Part Number 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 avail-
able 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.
250K - 300K
Audio T aper Pot
Sleeve
Ring
Tip
1500 pF
1500 pF
330 K
820 pF
Magnetic Signal
Optional 3-W
Selector Swit
Mag
Both
Piezo
O
N
O
F
F
O
N
Stereo
Output
Jack
• 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
• Strat
®
Style Guitars
The VMV Powerbridge™ is a direct replacement for Fender
®
Stratocasters
®
with a 2.22" (E to E, center to center) pivot screw
spacing. Note that some non-USA Strats
®
have a smaller pivot screw
spacing and will require plugging and re-drilling these holes to
"vintage" Fender
®
specifications.
See Fig 1
• Instrument Builders
Refer to the enclosed drilling template to locate the six (6) pivot screw
holes.
•
Routing the Powerbridge™
Pickup Wire
• With a 3/32” (2.4 mm) aircraft bit, drill a hole from the vibrato cavity
to the control cavity.
• Route the Powerbridge™ Pickup wire through this hole. See Fig 2
If you prefer, you may route the Powerbridge™ Pickup wire through
the guitar's ground wire channel. If you do so, secure the
Powerbridge™ Pickup wire so that it cannot be pinched by the
springs or the bridge block.
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
2.220"
(56.38 mm)
.444"
(11.29 mm)
3.085"
(78.35 mm)
1"
(25.4 mm)
.705"
(17.9 mm)
.535" (13.58 mm)
7/64" (2.75 mm)
Diameter Holes
Center Line of Guitar
FIG 1 - Locate the 6 pivot screws
Drill 3/32"
(2.4 mm) Hole
from Vibrato Cavity
to Control Cavity
FIG 2 - Hole for Powerbridge™ Signal Wire
Stereo Output Jack
(Tip/Ring/Sleeve)
Electric Guitar Amp
Active
D.I.
PA / Recording Console
Pure Magnetic Signal
(Tip)
Powerbridge™ Signal
(Ring)
Powerchip™
Mono Instrument Cable
Passive Setup
Active Setup
FIG 3 - Bend Jack Terminals
FIG 4 - Align Tip Terminal
Magnetic
Volume
Sleeve
Ring
Tip
Magnetic
Signal
Stereo Jack
Optional 3-Way
Selector Switch
Mag
Both
Piezo
ON
ON
OFF
Passive Volume
Direct Wiring
