Sound Checker Internal User Instructions

Web Edition

1. Introduction

Congratulations on purchasing Sound Checker©-Internal. Sound Checker©-Internal is a sound board transducer for steel string, classical or resonator guitar, dulcimer or any similar instrument with a flat sound board that has access to the inner cavity of the instrument. The adhesive mounted Sound Checker©-Internal has outstanding natural tone reproduction faithfully reproducing the natural acoustic quality of the instrument. The installation does not alter the exterior appearance of the guitar.

Please take a few minutes to read the information below before using your pickup. Have your pickup on hand so you can identify the details as referred to in the text. Following the information included in this document will help to ensure that your pickup will perform in the most optimum and reliable manner possible.

2. Operation

Sound Checker©-Internal operates on the piezo-electric principal. There is a piezo crystal mounted in the head of Sound Checker©-Internal. When the string of the instrument is struck, tiny vibrations are transferred to the sound board and converted to acoustic sound. Sound Checker©-Internal can also sense these tiny vibrations and convert them into an electrical signal that can be amplified.

3. Installation

*Note*
The installation of Sound Checker©-Internal requires the drilling of ½" hole through the tail-block of the guitar. While this is generally not a difficult procedure for the experienced guitar technician, it may be daunting to the amateur. Do not attempt this procedure unless you are completely confident that you can perform this successfully yourself. If you have any doubts at all, take your instrument to a luthier or guitar shop to have the hole drilled for you.

Pickup Location

The first step in installing the pickup is to determine the optimum pickup location. This is done prior to mounting the pickup inside the instrument. Identify the small yellow piece of sonic putty. The sonic putty is used to temporarily mount the pickup to the outside of the guitar to assist in determining the best location for the pickup. Remove the sonic putty from the protective mylar and stick it to the face of the sound checker on the side marked with a small indentation.

Take Sound Checker©-Internal and press it on to the sound board of your instrument. Start with a location close to the bridge. Use a slight twisting motion to bed the putty. To avoid damage to your instrument Do not use excessive force!!. Test the pickup through your amplification system. Experiment with different locations on the soundboard of the instrument to find the area with the most desirable sound.

Once the optimum location has been found, take note and mark it with a piece of masking tape. The pickup will be permanently mounted on the opposite side of the soundboard at the same location inside of the instrument.

Installing the Endpin Jack

Remove the strings of the guitar. Drill a ½" hole through the tailblock from the outside to the inside of the guitar. Separate the Sound Checker©-Internal pickup assembly from the endpin jack assembly. Remove the threaded nut and washer from the endpin jack. Inset the cable lead through the ½" hole and thread the cable into the inside of the guitar. Push the endpin jack into the hole completely so that the shoulder of the jack rests square with the guitar. Reach for the cable lead through the sound hole of the guitar and slip the nut and washer over the cable lead. Slide the nut and washer down to the protruding end of the jack and thread the nut securely on the threaded end of the jack on the inside of the guitar.

Mounting the pickup

Remove all acoustic putty residue from the sound checker sensing head. Trim the 2 sided adhesive to fit on the indented face of the sound checker. Peel the release paper from one side of the adhesive and stick to the sound checker. Plug the pickup assembly to the jack assembly. Inspect the inside of the guitar to make sure that the location previously selected is free from internal bracing or other obstructions. Make a slight adjustment to the location if there are objects that interfere with the exact placement. Remove the release paper from the adhesive and stick the sound checker to the inside of the guitar at the desired location. Ensure that the area is clean and dust free. Use the strain relief clips to restrain the loose cables inside the guitar. Place a strain relief at each side of cable connection to take the weight of the connectors. Do not let any excessive weight of the cable or connectors to hang from the sensing head.

Replace the strings and tune the guitar.

The installation is Complete!!!

4. For Optimum Sound

• Ensure that Sound Checker©-Internal is securely fastened and good contact is made with the sound board of the instrument.
• Experiment with different locations on the soundboard of the instrument to find the area with the greatest vibrations resulting in the largest signal.
• You can use a preamplifier to improve signal response. For best results, use a preamplifier that is designed for piezo type pickups.