LR Baggs Acoustic Timbre - Manual

I N S T A L L A T I O N M A N U A L & U S E R ' S G U I D E
L . R . B A G G S P I C K U P S
A C O U S T I C T I M B R E
4 8 3 N . F R O N T A G E R D .
N I P O M O , C A 9 3 4 4 4
W W W . L R B A G G S . C O M 1 . P A C K A G E C O N T E N T S
One (1) Acoustic Timbre Preamp
One (1) faceplate
One (1) Prewired Strapjack Assembly
Two (2) self-stick wire clips
One (1) Ribbon Transducer
Four (4) black flathead screws
2 . O V E R V I E W A N D C A U T I O N S
The Acoustic Timbre preamp is designed for use with the L.R. Baggs Ribbon Transducer pickup only. We can not warranty the unit when it is used
with other pickups.
The installation of this system involves detailed woodworking; therefore we recommend that this system be installed by a professional
dealer/installer. We do not provide installation advice or support for home or hobbyist installations. A metal routing template designed
specifically for this product is available as a separate item. This template only outlines holes for the preamp controls and four mounting screws,
and is mostly recommended for users that intend to use this system without the metal faceplate (leaving the controls unlabeled and protruding
through small holes in the wood for a more discrete appearance).
Installers: please read the instructions carefully before proceeding, and be sure that this product will fit the guitar properly before
making any alterations to the instrument. We will not be responsible for any damage to the guitar or personal injury resulting from installation,
improper installation, use or misuse of the product.
3 . P R E A M P I N S T A L L A T I O N
1. Locate a suitable place on the side of the guitar for the control plate. The area on either side of the waist is usually a good choice. Before
committing to a location, be sure to inspect the inside of the guitar for any obstructions (braces, lining, etc.) that might interfere with the preamp.
The side should curve no more than 1/16” over 3” at the chosen location.
Note: There must be clearance inside the guitar to plug in the pickup cable after the unit is installed.
2. After deciding on the location for the control plate, hold it firmly against the side of the guitar and mark the center of each of the four holes in
the corners of the plate with a pointed object. Cover the drilling areas with masking tape and drill a 1/16” hole in each of these pilot holes.
3. If you will be using the faceplate, create a paper template for the cutting area that is roughly the same shape and size as the white rounded
rectangle on the faceplate beneath the L.R. Baggs logo. If you are uncomfortable cutting without a firm guide, create a paper template and use it
to cut a guide from plexiglas or another suitable material. Installers that prefer to not attach the faceplate should order a metal cutting template
for this product (available separately). To use this template, attach it firmly to the side of the guitar using the #4 x 1/2” sheet metal screws and
spacers (provided with the template).
4. Chuck a 1/8” cutter in a Dremel router (with base) so the shank, not the blade, of the cutter will contact to template when the router base is in
contact with the template in routing position.
5. Ease the router, making a plunge to full depth, into the center of each slot to avoid cutting the template. Then carefully remove all the wood
within the slots using the sides of the template slots as routing guides.
6. Remove the template and drill the four 1/16” holes out to a new size of 1/8”. Be careful here as these holes are near the outside of the plate and
mistakes will not be covered up by it. De-burr the inside and outside of the slots and holes with sandpaper or a file. Remove the masking tape
carefully.
7. We strongly recommend that cross-grain reinforcing braces be added to the inside of the guitar. Scrap spruce or mahogany of approximately
3/16” x 3/8” will do nicely. These should be glued on the inside of the guitar just above and below the preamp box and should extend across the
entire side from lining to lining.
8. Fit the control plate to the curvature (if any) of the side now. If there is a curve in the side, the plate may be bent to fit with the fabrication of a
simple jig. If the side has a 1/16” curve over 3”, cut a 3/8” curve in a piece of 2x3 scrap wood with a band saw. Use this jig, with a piece of paper
between the plate face and the jig, in a vise to bend the plate. Do not bend the plate freehand as this will cause uneven curvature. This step
requires some judgment because the plate is rather resilient and must be over-bent to set it to the right curvature. It is unlikely that your first
attempt will be perfect; modifying the jig is essential to perfecting this.
9. Prepare the guitar for the strapjack by drilling a clean 1/2” hole in the tailblock of the guitar using a step drill. It’s a good idea to mask off the
drilling area to avoid chipping the finish. Remove the strap ring from the end of the jack. There should still be a star washer and locking nut on
the middle of the jack. Put the strapjack into the pre-drilled 1/2” hole using the nut and star washer as a depth guide. The jack should stick out
enough to tighten the strap ring onto the threaded barrel of the jack. Once the depth is set and the barrel is in the hole, screw the strap ring onto
the barrel until the assembly is tight. Use caution when tightening the strap ring so you don’t crack the finish.