LR Baggs RTS 2 - Manual (Page 2)

scribe a line along the front edge of the saddle where it extends above the
bridge. The line will later be used as a guide when removing material from the
bottom of the saddle to compensate for the thickness of the pickup (.025" total).
2. Remove the saddle to drill the hole for the pickup. The drill bit needs to be as
large as the saddle slot will allow. Inspect the inside of the guitar and note the
position of the braces in relation to the saddle slot. Drill at either end of the slot
on the side that will enable you to avoid all braces as you penetrate the top, as
shown in figures 2 and 3.
3. Feed the pickup into the slot from inside the guitar with the yellow side up.
Inserting a toothpick or similar object through the hole from the outside is
helpful in finding the location of the hole on the inside of the guitar. Sand the
bottom surface of the saddle on a belt sander until the scribe line (from step 1)
lines up with the bridge top. Leave the saddle just a hair tall and finish sanding
the bottom by hand. It is best to do this against a machined flat surface with
fine sand paper. Use a straight edge with a strong light source to inspect the
flatness of your saddle.
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 in
the slot loose enough to be able to be just pulled out with your fingertips. If it is
too tight or binds at all, this will have a negative effect on the string balance.
Likewise, if the saddle is too loose, it will have a substantial forward tilt when
under string pressure, causing it to make poor contact with the pickup (see
figure 5).
A saddle that fits correctly in the slot will have a slight forward tilt under string
pressure (see figure 6). The saddle material can be a key element in curing string
balance problems. This pickup responds most favorably to a rigid saddle
material such as micarta or bone. Using softer, more flexible materials may cause
the outside strings to be lower in volume than the other strings.
If you are replacing the saddle, prepare the bottom of the new one as explained
above (see step 3). Place it in the slot and scribe the same line on the front of it
like the original saddle. To duplicate the action, lay the old saddle on the new
one, match up the scribe lines, and trace the shape of the old saddle onto the
new one. We recommend either bone or Micarta for your saddle. Softer materials
tend to sound overly boomy.
4. Insert the pickup all the way into the slot, lay the saddle on top of it and
temporarily secure it with a piece of tape. Remove the backing from the
adhesive on the end of the pickup hanging inside the guitar and attach it to the
bridge plate or the underside of the top as shown in figures 6 or 7. Be careful
not to place the adhesive over the bridge pin holes.
5. Choose a location for the wire clip and secure the pickup wire. Remove the
backing from the adhesive on the end of the pickup hanging inside the guitar
and attach it to the bridge plate or the underside of the top as shown in figures
5 or 6. Be careful not to place the adhesive over the bridge pin holes.
2.2. Battery Bag Installation:
Stick the double-sided adhesive to an easily-accessible spot inside of the guitar.
The battery can then be changed by opening the flap on the bag and pulling
out the battery.
Two wire clips have been provided to secure the battery bag wire to the inside
of the guitar.
3 . U S E R ' S G U I D E
The RTS 2 preamp by itself has no user controls. The output level has been set to
the -10dB standard when partnered with the Ribbon Transducer. The RTS 2
preamp is designed to interface with just about anything you can plug into. The
output jack acts as the switch; plug it in and it's on, unplug it and it's off. The
easiest way to check the battery is to plug into your rig and play very hard on
the lower strings. If you hear a distorted tone (and your gain is not too far high),
drop in a fresh battery.
Passive auxiliary channel: It is possible to add a mini-mic or second pickup to
proper saddle-pickup contact
(saddle lean exaggerated)
improper saddle-pickup contact
(saddle lean exaggerated)
fig. 4
fig. 5
fig. 6
fig. 7