LR Baggs iMix Onboard - Manual (Page 3)

each of the screw holes and then drill out the holes using a #45 drill bit (.082” or
2.08 mm). Cut out the area for the preamp carefully and slowly using a rotary
cutter with a sharp 1/8” cutting bit. We recommend cutting just inside the lines
for the initial cut and then cleaning up the edges with a file. Remove the
template and clean up any excess tape residue with a soft cloth and naphtha.
4.2 Drilling the strapjack hole: For proper installation, this jack requires a
clean 1/2" hole in the tail block of the instrument. 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 to the strapjack installation as detailed in the
following section.
5 . S T R A P J A C K I N S T A L L A T I O N
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). 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) so as not to crack the finish
of the instrument by asserting too much pressure. Now proceed to the preamp
installation in the following section.
6 . P R E A M P I N S T A L L A T I O N
This preamp is designed for sides that are .090” to .165” thick and reasonably flat
or convex. The skirt of the bezel may bottom out on guitars that have especially
thin or concave sides. This will prevent the bezel from seating completely on the
guitar’s side. If this happens, place the provided fiber washers over the
protruding ends of the screws (inside of the guitar body) to space the preamp
down into the guitar.
The bezel is made of a special material that may be cold-formed by hand and
can be easily made to conform to the curvature of the guitar side. Simply bend
the bezel by hand until it fits to the guitar side without any gaps. It may help to
over-bend the bezel slightly in spots until it lies flush on the guitar side's
surface.
1. Once the bezel has been formed, drop it into the existing cutout and screw
the 4 provided screws into the holes until they protrude into the guitar about
1/16”. Do not enlarge the holes in the guitar! If you enlarge the holes, the screws
will not be able to hold the bezel in place to position the preamp.
2. Insert a battery into the battery compartment (observe polarity!) and push
the compartment into the hole until it click-locks into place. Insert the preamp
into the guitar through the sound hole and place it into the opening in the
bezel from inside of the guitar. Wiggle it until the screw ends find the
corresponding slots in the chassis. Center the preamp laterally (along the length
of the side) in the bezel and start the screws into the plastic. Hold the preamp
firmly against the side so that it does not “walk” as you tighten the screws.
Before you tighten the screws completely, be sure that the battery compartment
does not bind against the bezel when you open and close the compartment.
Do not overtighten the screws! This will cause the bezel ends to lift from the
side. Excess overtightening may even cause the screws to cut through the bezel.
It is helpful to watch the edge of the bezel as you tighten; stop when it seats
nicely against the wood.
3. Plug the strapjack wire into the preamp's right-hand socket, and secure the
wire inside the guitar with the self-stick wire clip provided. Then proceed to the
appropriate iBeam installation instructions (pin bridge or non-pin bridge) in the
following sections.
7 . i B E A M I N S T A L L A T I O N : P I N B R I D G E
7.1 General positioning guidelines: The iBeam is a highly sensitive pickup;
therefore, placement and the unique characteristics of the instrument are
critical factors in producing the outstanding results of which the iBeam is
capable. A few millimeters in any direction can have profound effects on the
quality of the sound. We can tell you approximately where the pickup should be
placed, but we can not provide an exact specification.
tail
block
smaller
threaded
section
protrudes
fig. 2