Product Setup & Tutorials

The following setup procedure is performed in order to align the centerline of the optics with the center of the strings. This will provide maximum output, as well as accommodate string bending and related playing techniques. This operation can be done by ear, or electronically. In either case, remove the bridge cover, turn on the guitar, and adjust the position of the optics by turning the 9/64” hex adjustment screw on the two ends of the pickup baseplate.

First, adjust the highest string; then the lowest; and then go back and re-trim the highest string. This can be done by ear, or using the visual indication of the centering LED on the Motherboard in the electronics cavity.

Adjusting by ear:

With the instrument plugged into an amplifier, raise and lower the pickup baseplate, listening for the “sweet spot”, where the sound output is loudest. Do this three times, alternating between the high-string and low-string ends of the baseplate, in the order above (string 1; then string 6; then string 1 again).

Adjusting electronically:

Select the string to be calibrated, by turning the miniature rotary selector switch on the Motherboard (use a ~2mm at screwdriver). If your guitar has the HexFX option, the rotary switch will be hidden under the HexFX daughterboard. Lift straight up on the daughterboard to temporarily move it out of the way. The switch positions are numbered to correspond with the strings, with position 1 being the highest string. When the correct string is selected, the red/green LED on the Motherboard indicates the position of the optics. LED ‘green’ indicates that the optics are below the string, and must be raised (counterclockwise turn of the adjustment screw). LED ‘red’ indicates that the optics are above the string, and must be lowered (clockwise turn of the adjustment screw). At the optimum adjustment point, the LED will go out, indicating that the optics are centered. Adjust slowly, so as not to turn the adjustment screw too far in either direction, which will result in moving out of the adjust- ment range. Do this three times, in the order mentioned above (string 1; then string 6; then string 1 again). After the strings have been set up, turn the rotary switch back to its zero position, so the alignment LED will not light during normal play.

After proper optics setup, the output of each string can be adjusted for overall string-to-string balance using the corresponding trimpots on the Motherboard. These are the six miniature trimpots in a row, across the center of the Motherboard, labeled ‘SL1’ through ‘SL6’. ‘SL1’ des- ignates the highest-pitch string. Full output is at the end of clockwise rotation of the trimpot, and is recommended for optimum performance.

To adjust:

Plug the guitar into an ampli er, to be able to listen while playing. Start with all six string trimpots at the full up position, and balance the string levels by turning down the louder strings until the string outputs sound equally loud. The trimpot adjustment range is 10 dB.

Tutorial in Video Below:

Tutorial in Video Below:

Tutorial in Video Below:

The following setup procedure is performed in order to align the centerline of the optics with the long axis of the string. This will provide maximum output, as well as accommodate string bending and related playing techniques. This operation can be done by ear, or electronically. In either case, turn on the bass, and adjust the position of the optics by turning the 5/64” hex adjustment screw on top of each monolith.

With the instrument plugged into an ampli er and/or headphones: raise and lower the optics, listening for the “sweet spot”, where the sound output is loudest.

Adjusting by ear:

With the instrument plugged into an amplifier, raise and lower the pickup baseplate, listening for the “sweet spot”, where the sound output is loudest. Do this three times, alternating between the high-string and low-string ends of the baseplate, in the order above (string 1; then string 6; then string 1 again).

Adjusting electronically:

Select the string to be calibrated, by turning the miniature rotary selector switch on the Motherboard (use a ~2mm at screwdriver). If your guitar has the HexFX option, the rotary switch will be hidden under the HexFX daughterboard. Lift straight up on the daughterboard to temporarily move it out of the way. The switch positions are numbered to correspond with the strings, with position 1 being the highest string. When the correct string is selected, the red/green LED on the Motherboard indicates the position of the optics. LED ‘green’ indicates that the optics are below the string, and must be raised (counterclockwise turn of the adjustment screw). LED ‘red’ indicates that the optics are above the string, and must be lowered (clockwise turn of the adjustment screw). At the optimum adjustment point, the LED will go out, indicating that the optics are centered. Adjust slowly, so as not to turn the adjustment screw too far in either direction, which will result in moving out of the adjust- ment range. Do this three times, in the order mentioned above (string 1; then string 6; then string 1 again). After the strings have been set up, turn the rotary switch back to its zero position, so the alignment LED will not light during normal play.

After proper optics setup, the output of each string can be adjusted for overall string-to-string balance using the corresponding trimpots on the Motherboard. These are the six miniature trimpots in a row, across the center of the Motherboard, labeled ‘SL1’ through ‘SL6’. ‘SL1’ des- ignates the highest-pitch string. Full output is at the end of clockwise rotation of the trimpot, and is recommended for optimum performance.

To adjust:

Plug the guitar into an ampli er, to be able to listen while playing. Start with all six string trimpots at the full up position, and balance the string levels by turning down the louder strings until the string outputs sound equally loud. The trimpot adjustment range is 10 dB.

Tutorial in Video Below: