Fishman Guitar Leaflet

Includes Installation Instructions for Models 
Acoustic Matrix Natural I
Acoustic Matrix Natural II

Wide Format .125” (3.2 mm) Width 
Narrow Format .094” (2.3 mm) Width 

2.125” String Spacing

Width:

.125" (3.17mm)

Width:

.094" (2.39mm)

Height:

.053" (1.35mm)

Height:

.043" (1.09mm)

Length:

2.650" (67.3mm)

Length:

2.650" (67.3mm)

Sensing Area:

2.620" (66.55mm) Sensing Area:

2.620" (66.55mm)

Maximum recommended string spacing for both formats : 2.500" (63.5mm)

NOTE: The overall length of the Acoustic Matrix™ pickup is 2.650" (67.3mm).
We recommend a saddle slot length of at least 2.875" (73mm).

The actual sensing area of the pickup is 2.620" (63.5mm) long and can accom-
modate string spacings of up to 2.500" (63.5 mm). Poor string balance may
result with string spacings greater than this.

DO NOT trim the end of the pickup's

length as ground hum will be introduced. Custom pickup lengths are available
from Fishman.

• Plunge Router with 1/8" (3.15mm) cutter for Wide Format OR 3/32" (2.4mm) 
cutter for Narrow Format 

• Caliper

• 400 Grit Sandpaper or Scraper

• Soldering Iron 

(30 watt max)

• Rosin Core Solder

• Wire Strippers

• 1/2" Open End Wrench

• 3/32" (2mm) Allen Wrench

• 15/32" (11.9mm) Tapered Reamer or .....Variable Speed Drill

X-Acto

®

Saw

Center Punch
1/8" (3.15mm)Twist Drill

15/32" (11.9mm)Spade Bit Drill

• Acoustic Matrix™ Pickup
• 1/4” endpin-mounted miniaturized preamp 
• 3 adhesive-backed plastic wire guides
• Battery clip & screws

1. Both the pickup and preamp are integral components of the Acoustic Matrix™

system. Neither the pickup nor the preamp is meant to be used separately or in
conjunction with other pickups or endpin preamps. Degraded performance will
result from using the pickup or preamp with other systems.

2. Particular attention must be paid to the flatness and squareness of both the sad-

dle and the saddle slot. Pickup performance and balance will be be greatly
enhanced by a properly fit pickup. If you are new to undersaddle pickup instal-
lation, 

The Finer Points of Piezo Installation by Ken Parker is available at

www.fishman.com.

3. Handle the pickup carefully!  Mishandling may result in ground hum or intermit-

tent signal. Fishman Transducers will be in no way responsible for any damages
to the pickup that occur due to misuse or poor installation.

Before you install the pickup, make sure the bridge and saddle are within our
recommended  "safe zone" of usable parameters.

Break Angle
For the pickup to perform opti-
mally, there should be a 20° (mini-
mum) string break angle across
the back of the saddle. An ade-

quate break angle can often be realized by "ramping" the string slots. In
extreme cases, where the break angle is much less than 20° and the saddle is
so low that it is nearly flush to the top of the bridge, the instrument probably
requires a neck re-set. In these cases, resetting the neck to a higher angle will
restore the saddle height and the string break angle required for good pickup
performance.

50/50 Rule
We have found that there is a critical relationship between the overall saddle
height and the bridge slot depth. For adequate mechanical coupling and pickup
balance, we recommend that the saddle slot depth (with pickup installed)
measures no more than 50% of the total height of the saddle. If the slot
measures more than 50% of the total height of the saddle, balance and/or output

level of the pickup may suffer. In these cases, add a hardwood shim under the
pickup. To determine the shim's thickness, subtract 1/2 of the total saddle height
from the slot depth. Then remove an equal amount of material from  the bottom
of the saddle.

Exception to the 50/50 rule: Pickups in bridges (especially Martin

®

style,

3/32" width) with exceptionally steep string break angle will  generally perform
very well, even if the saddle slot depth measures more than 50% of the total sad-
dle height.

A large percentage of string balance problems 
with undersaddle pickups can be traced to an 
unevenly cut or warped saddle slot.
Irregularities on the bottom or sides of 
the slot can often prevent the saddle 
from uniformly pressurizing the pickup.

For this reason, we strongly recommend that 
before you install any undersaddle pickup, re-mill 
an existing slot with a plunge router, jigged up in an 
appropriate slot cutting fixture.

1. Rout a .125" (3.17 mm) wide saddle slot for the Wide Format pickup.

Rout a .094" (2.38 mm) wide slot for the Narrow Format pickup.

2. Be certain that the bottom of the slot is flat. Deepen an existing slot only

enough to obtain a clean, flat surface.

1. Locate the center of the wire hole no less than .100" (2.54 mm) from the clos-

est string.

2. Mark the location where the wire will enter the saddle slot. Center the mark

between the walls (width) of the slot.

3. Drill a .094" hole.

4. Clear wood chips and foreign materials from the saddle slot.

5. Carefully insert (do not bend) the pickup. The fit must be loose in the slot,

without binding on the sides or the ends of the pickup. If the ends of the pick-
up come in contact with the saddle slot, pickup failure could result.

We highly recommend the Fishman Cleartone™ saddle for enhancing the per-
formance of the Acoustic Matrix™. We also suggest synthetic materials such as
Micarta™ or Corian™ as adequate substitutes. Organic saddles such as bone or
ivory can not be recommended since these are not structurally as consistent as
synthetic materials and could produce poor string to string balance through the
pickup.

1. Prepare a .125" or  3.17mm wide saddle (.094" or 2.38mm  for Narrow

Format). For adequate pickup performance, the bottom and sides of the sad-
dle must be absolutely FLAT.

2. Remove only enough material from the width of the saddle to provide a slid-

ing fit in the slot. To test the fit, the saddle should slide easily in the slot, but
should not fall out when overturned. To maintain your current action, the new
saddle must be .053" shorter in height (.043" for Narrow Format pickups)
than your current saddle.

Thank you f

or choosing the Fishman Acoustic

Matrix

™.W

e are confident that you will find it to be

the finest acoustic guitar pickup a

vailab

le.

The active Acoustic Matr

ix™

 system employs

state-of-the-art surf

ace-mount technology in its

exclusiv

e endpin-mounted, miniatur

ized preamp

.

The ve

rsatility and ease of installation are

unparalleled.

The pickup ma

y be plugged into any

acoustic or electric guitar amplifier

, sound system,

recording console or direct box with e

xcellent

results.

The Acoustic Matrix

™ under-saddle pic

kup is made with a unique co-polymer sensing

material a

vailab

le e

xclusively from Fishman.

This material e

xhibits a sensitivity and

dynamic range that f

ar sur

passes all other known mater

ials

.The fully shielded Acoustic

Matrix

™ tr

ansducer is a multi-la

yer arr

angement of co-polymer strips that r

un the length

of the pickup

.

This design allows the pic

kup to sense the motion of an entire guitar

saddle’s length, pro

viding superb str

ing to str

ing balance

, as w

ell as sensitivity to both

the strings and top of the instr

ument.

The Acoustic Matrix

™ preamp is a fully-b

uffered, miniatur

ized circuit;

housed in an

elongated shielding cap.

The design features discrete tr

ansistors for lo

w noise and

incredibly long batter

y lif

e.

The preamp's extremely lo

w current consumption allows

years of use betw

een battery changes

.

An onboard microphone or a second active

pickup ma

y be wired (stereo) directly to the Acoustic Matrix

™ preamp

, thanks to our

integral Switchjac

k™

 sw

itching endpin jack (f

or use with the Fishman Blender

®

System).

The Acoustic Matrix

™ Natur

al I is the perf

ect choice for m

usicians who want accur

ate

reproduction of their guitar’s acoustic tone

.

The Natural I w

as designed for

instru

ments with we

ll balanced, evenly v

oiced top to bottom response

.

It

complements all small bodied instru

ments such as concert/auditor

ium guitars

.

This

pickup is frequently the choice of finger-pic

kers and solo perf

orm

ers.When pla

yed at

low to medium  v

olumes

, the Acoustic Matr

ix™

 Natural I also w

orks w

ell with most

full-sized instr

uments

.

The Acoustic Matrix

™ Natur

al II is designed f

or instr

uments that are amplified at high

volumes on stage

, especially full-size guitars with big bottom.

It is voiced to control

boominess and to provide e

xtr

a brightness

.

The Natural II is recommended f

or

musicians in situations where the guitar needs to stand out and sound natur

al,

without feeding bac

k.

The FISHMAN ACOUSTIC MATRIX™ is warranted to function for a period of One (1)
Year from the date of purchase. If the unit fails to function properly within the warranty
period, free repair and the option of replacement or refund in the event that FISHMAN is
unable to make repair are FISHMAN’s only obligations. This warranty does not cover any
consequential damages or damage to the unit due to misuse, accident, or neglect.
FISHMAN retains the right to make such determination on the basis of factory inspec-
tion. Products returned to FISHMAN for repair or replacement must be shipped in accor-
dance with the Return Policy, as follows. This warranty remains valid only if repairs are
performed by FISHMAN. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also
have other rights which may vary from state to state.

RETURN POLICY
To return products to FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS, you must follow these steps...

1. Call FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS at 978-988-9199 for a Return Authorization Number

(“RAN”).

2. Enclose a copy of the original Bill of Sale as evidence of the date of purchase, with

the product in its original packaging and a protective carton or mailer.

3. FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS’ technicians will determine whether the item is covered

by warranty or if it instead has been damaged by improper customer installation or
other causes not related to defects in material or workmanship.

4. Warranty repairs or replacements will be sent automatically free of charge.

5. If FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS determines the item is not covered by warranty, we

will notify you of the repair or replacement cost and wait for your authorization to
proceed.

L

I M I T E D

W

A R R A N T Y

340-D Fordham Road Wilmington MA 01887 USA

Phone 978-988-9199 • Fax 978-988-0770

www.fishman.com

009-066-004  •  Rev 4  •  5-00

®

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9 Vo

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Pickup

Preamp

NO MORE THAN 50%

RA

MP

No less than .100" (2.54 mm)

®

EQUIPPED!