A pickup system for acoustic guitars developed by Fishman Transducers. The complete system includes a ceramic under-the-saddle pickup (Thinline 332) and state-of-the-art circuitry that is housed inside the shielding of the endpin jack.

• Martin® Thinline 322® Under Saddle Pick up
• Martin® Activejack Endpin Mounted Preamp w/ Strap Button
• Battery Bag

A Note About The Installation Of This Pickup

Please read all of the instructions that come with the pickup for detailed information about the installation procedure. If you're comfortable using a drill and a soldering iron you can most likely do this install without issue.

Since I have personally installed dozens of these pickups I thought I would share a few tips I have learned over the years to help you be successful while doing this work.

Drilling The Holes

Keep in mind you will be drilling 2 holes into your guitar for this installation. That in itself sounds pretty scary but if you are careful and take advantage of the tips I'm sharing here, along with reading through all of the instructions first so you fully understand the process, then things should go smoothly.

The first hole to drill is under the saddle so you can feed the wire from the transducer into the body of the guitar. Once you remove the strings and the saddle from the bridge take the pickup and lay it next to the saddle slot and center it so you can mark where you need to drill the hole for that wire. I try to use the biggest drill bit I can that fits in the saddle slot without touching the sides of the slot. This helps make sure the wire will fit through the hole without binding or kinking the wire.

Take your time drilling. Just go slow and keep the drill bit as straight as you can. Once finished make sure to clear any wood chips or burrs from around the hole so that the pickup will lay flat on the bottom of the saddle slot.

Remember, to keep your action at the same height as before installing the pickup, you will need to remove material from the bottom of the saddle the same amount as the thickness of the pickup by sanding or filing that material away. I like to scribe a line across the bottom of the saddle showing the amount of material I need to remove so I don't take off too much material.

The second hole that needs to be drilled is where the current strap button is located to accommodate for the end pin jack on the bottom of the guitar. After removing the existing strap button you can now start drilling beginning with a small drill bit and gradually moving up to each of the next size drill bits making sure to go slow so as to not chip out the finish on the guitar around the hole. You will eventually work your way up to the size bit you need that fits the jack.

(PRO TIP - If you have access to a 1/2" tapered hand reamer you can get the hole in place without risking the drill bit catching and damaging the guitars finish.)

Congratulations, The holes are finished and you are now past the scariest part of the install.

Doing The Wiring

Now you can grab the pickup wire and bring it out the guitars sound hole.

Go ahead and solder the leads to the jack as per the instructions. Remember to feed the pickup wire along with the battery wire through the jack cover first before soldering it in place. The jack cover should screw on to the back of the jack with all wires exiting the rear of the jack cover.

Once the soldering is done you will now have to feed the jack in the sound hole and all the way to the jack hole you drilled. You will have to adjust the inside nut on the jack so you have just the right amount of the jack that sticks out of the guitar so you can properly tighten the outside jack nut and washer and screw on the strap cap. I like to get it so once the strap cap is in place the end of the jack is flush with the outside of the strap cap.

(PRO TIP - If you have a set of forceps you can clamp them to the back of the jack to help you reach the jack through the sound hole all the way to the bottom of the guitar. Or you can just find someone with small arms that can reach inside the guitar to put the jack in place.)

Next find a good spot to put the Velcro for the battery holder. I like the side of the guitar that faces down when in the playing position. This way you're not fighting gravity.

Finally Install a battery, string it up and tune it up.

You're no ready to plug it in and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

I hope along with reading the instructions these tips will help you feel confident in doing this install for yourself.

Don Tegeler - Tegeler Music