LR Baggs iMix Onboard - Manual (Page 7)

Important: The fit of the saddle in the slot is the single most important factor in
this installation. It is crucial that the bottom of the slot and the lower surface of
the saddle be flat to make even contact with the pickup. The saddle should fit
loosely enough in the slot that it can be pulled out with your fingertips. It will
then have a slight forward lean when the strings are under tension. It is
absolutely necessary to compensate for this slight lean by sanding a tilt in the
bottom of the saddle so it still sits flat on the pickup when the strings are at
tension (see figure 13). If the saddle is too tight, binds at all or is too loose, this
will have a negative effect on the string balance and output.
Set the saddle in the slot, noting how much material must be removed to
compensate for the thickness of the pickup. Sand the bottom surface of the
saddle on a belt sander until the scribe line is just above the bridge top. Finish
sanding the bottom by hand. It is best to do this against a machined flat surface
with fine sandpaper. Use a straightedge with a strong light source to inspect the
flatness of your saddle.
Insert the pickup all the way into the slot, place the saddle on top of it, and
temporarily secure it with a piece of tape. Secure the wire with a wire clip as
close to the exit hole as is practical, with a one- to two-inch service loop. Failure
to secure the wire may produce boominess and feedback. Now plug the Element
into the preamp's left-hand socket, restring the guitar, plug into your amp or PA
and turn the mix knob completely to the left. Confirm that the EQ controls are at
their default positions and test the Element, paying careful attention to string
balance. If the sound is satisfactory, proceed to the next section. If not, read on.
String balance problems are almost always the result of an uneven interface
between the bottom of the saddle and the saddle slot. If the string balance is
uneven, check these surfaces to ensure that they are both completely flat.
Tip: A segmented packaging knife blade is a useful tool in determining the
flatness of the saddle slot. Break off only enough blade segments so as much
blade fits into the slot as possible. Briefly use a back-and-forth scraping motion
to see if the slot bottom scrapes evenly. Any high or low the saddle slot. Break
off enough blade segments so as much of the blade fits into the slot as possible.
Briefly use a back-and-forth scraping motion to see if the slot bottom scrapes
evenly. Any high or low spots will be readily apparent. A minor low spot in the
slot may be compensated for by shims under the pickup; however, for gaps over
.005" or multiple gaps, we recommend rerouting the slot.
1 1 . i B E A M G A I N C O N T R O L
The likelihood of the iBeam and Element gain levels being naturally equal is
extremely low. Therefore we have provided a gain control that affects only the
iBeam channel, which is located on the underside of the preamp. Adjusting this
can be tricky, but it is an essential step in perfecting the mix. To adjust this
correctly, you will need a small Phillips screwdriver.
First, make sure everything is plugged in and turned on, and rotate the mix knob
completely counterclockwise (to "pz"). Now test the overall volume of the
Element by playing all the strings in your normal playing style. Then rotate the
control completely clockwise (to "iBeam") and do the same. Note the difference
between the two pickups.
Now adjust the gain control accordingly. Insert the screwdriver through the hole
on the underside of the preamp. To increase the gain, rotate the screw clockwise
in relation to the preamp's underside; to decrease the iBeam gain, rotate the
screw counterclockwise.
Once the gain has been adjusted, again test both pickups individually, using the
mix knob to pan between the two. If the outputs are equal, the installation is
complete: you can rotate the mix knob to the 12:00 position and start enjoying
your new iMix system. If the outputs differ, repeat these steps as necessary to
make them equal.
Be sure to review the external controls, which are explained in the following
section.
1 2 . E X T E R N A L C O N T R O L S
Caution: Do not remove the battery from the preamp while plugged in.
1. Battery gauge light: When the battery light dims, it time to replace the
battery. To change the battery, simply press the top of the preamp to disengage
the click-lock access. This will pop out the battery compartment.
2. Volume control: This adjusts the preamp volume.
fig. 13
proper saddle-pickup contact
(saddle lean exaggerated)
1
5
2
3
4
fig. 14