Installing a Fishman Matrix Ellipse Blend Pickup to your Acoustic Guitar

Since we’re launching our new Prestige Eclipse Acoustic guitars in June/July, we thought we would focus this month’s “Shop Talk” article on installing a Fishman Matrix Ellipse Blend Preamp system into your Acoustic Guitar. If you already read the “What’s Hot” article in this newsletter, you probably already know that the Fishman Matrix Ellipse Blend is the preamp system we have decided to partner with, to offer the player the best amplification system on our Acoustic guitars.

We decided to demonstrate the pickup install for you on non-other than the new Prestige Eclipse KOA/KOA model. Make sure to remove the strings, saddle and bridge pins off your guitar before you begin.

Installing the Fishman Matrix Ellipse Blend

1. First thing’s first. To ensure a strong reliable bond, you must sand, clean, and seal the underside of the soundhole where the preamp will mount.

Sand the underside of the soundhole down to bare wood. Take care to remove all residual lacquer, polish and dirt. Use mineral spirits or paint thinner to clean the sanded area. Be sure to remove any excess oil, resin and dust from the exposed wood. Let the area dry.

Once dry, seal the exposed wood with an appropriate coating of all purpose two-part epoxy. You don’t need too much – just enough to have a smooth surface for the preamp’s adhesive surface to mount sturdy. Wait at least 1 hour for the epoxy to dry.

2. Next, drill a 3/32” hole (2.4mm) in the saddle slot for the Matrix pickup wire, no less that .100” (2.5mm) from the nearest string. Note that our Acoustic Guitar has a split bridge saddle system. We need to drill 2 holes in each slot as we use split Matrix pickup wires.

Once the hole is drilled, feed the Matrix wire through, and make sure its sitting in its slot nice and snug. Here’s what it looks like in its new home:

3. Because the pickup will effectively raise the saddle, you need to remove exactly the same thickness of material off the bottom of the saddle. Measure carefully, and draw a guide line on the saddle with a pencil.

Then make sure to sand and file the saddle right to the line. It’s necessary that the saddle and the slot in the bridge be perfectly flat because the pickup sensing unit responds to the up and down vibration of the saddle, and you want exactly the same pressure under each of the strings.

4. Our next step is at the bottom of the guitar. Carefully Remove the End Pin as its tightly fitted in a tapered hole. Pry it out with a pair of diagonal cutters bearing on a soft pad to protect the finish.

The hole in the end block must be enlarged to 15/32″ diameter, and drilling would be very risky. To avoid ripping chips of finish or wood, Stuart Macdonald makes a specially designed reamer just for such purposes.

It’s a reamer that tapers for most of its length, but ends in a straight section exactly 15/32″ in diameter. That way, the hole is gently enlarged to a very clean cylindrical hole.

Lastly, stick the jack through from the inside, pull it back out, and set the internal nut to the right spot to get the jack to stick through the exact amount necessary. Once set, tighten the jack in place with the supplied nut and screw on the chrome strap button.

5. At this point, we’ve already got the Matrix saddle pickup wire and output jack installed. Its time to fasten the pickup wires onto the preamp. The great thing about the Fishman Matrix Ellipse Blend system is that there is no soldering involved. The preamp has a terminal block bracket for both Input and Ground slots. Simply feed the shielded wire into the “IN” slot, and the signal wire into the “GND” slot. Use a small flathead screwdriver to screw the terminal clamps shut.

6. We’re almost done! The Epoxy coating applied under the soundhole in Step 1 should be dry by now. Make sure it is completely dry before you continue.

Before exposing the adhesive, test the preamp for fit. Locate the preamp flush with the edge of the soundhole. Center it between the transverse brace and the bass-side X brace.

Once satisfied with the location, simply peel off the film to expose the adhesive on the bottom of the mounting bracket and fasten the preamp to the underside of the soundhole. Apply even, steady pressure to the preamp to set the adhesive. It will gain maximum hold after 24 hours.

We prefer to use small hobby clamps after fastening the preamp, and wait at least 12 hours to make sure its set. Take your time and do it right. There is no sense in rushing to the next step. The last thing you need is for the adhesive to lose its grip onto the epoxy.

7. Once the preamp is installed, secure the wires inside the instrument with the supplied adhesive-backed clips. Clean the area where you will mount the clip with mineral spirits or paint thinner. Make sure to let the area dry before mounting the clips.

8. Last but not least – installing the battery bag on the neck block: Clean the area with mineral spirits or paint thinner. Make sure to let it dry. Peel off the plastic film from the Velcro patch, and attach it to the neck block inside the guitar. Burnish the entire area of the patch, especially the edges.

Install a 9V alkaline or lithium battery. Tuck the battery into the bag, and re-attach to the Velcro patch inside. Note that the Velcro Patch requires 24 hours to achieve a full bond, so take care to not stress the adhesive if you remove the battery bag after the initial install.

9. Restring and Play!

Here are some Useful Tips after install:

Tip #1 – Separating the preamp from the mounting bracket:

Once the preamp is installed, you may separate it from the mounting bracket for better access inside the guitar. You’ll need a heavy guitar pick to separate the two. Lodge the pick between the preamp and mounting bracket, and twist until the preamp snaps away. Swing the preamp toward the soundhole, then separate it from the mounting bracket. This is useful if you need to regain access to the circuit board or Wire Terminal Block.

Tip #2 – Setting the Mic Trim Control:

Use a small slotted screwdriver to adjust the Mic Trim potentiometer recessed below the volume slider. This is a “set it and forget it” control for calibrating the microphone level in relation to the pickup. Set the Blend slider to the center position and adjust the Mic Trim control until both the microphone and pickup levels are balanced to your liking.

Tip #3 – Microphone Positioning:

You can position the microphone to find the “sweet spot” inside the instrument. Experiment with the placement until you find the position that works best in the instrument.

Tip #4 – The Voicing Switch:

Reach into the sondhole with your index finger and locate the slide switch behind the control panel, just to the right of the phase switch. Push this switch away from you for deeper bass (Natural I Voicing) and towards you for a leaner response (Natural II Voicing). Choose the setting that works for your instrument and your performing requirements.

There you go folks. Follow these simple steps in your install and the Fishman Matrix Ellipse Blend pickup will prove to liven up any guitar. I hope you enjoyed reading this article and getting some sneak peaks of the highly anticipated Prestige Eclipse Acoustic Guitar!!!