INSTALLATION MANUAL & USER'S GUIDE
L.R. BAGGS PICKUPS
M1
483 N. FRONTAGE RD.
NIPOMO, CA 93444
WWW.LRBAGGS.COM
1 . P A C K A G E C O N T E N T S
One (1) M1 soundhole magnetic pickup
One (1) prewired strapjack assembly
One (1) 12' Mogami guitar cable
One (1) 3/32" Allen wrench
Two (2) spare 3/4" pole pieces
One (1) spare 3/8" pole piece
Two (2) self-stick wire clips
2 . O V E R V I E W A N D C A U T I O N S
The M1 is a passive soundhole magnetic pickup that features outstanding body sensitivity with great warmth and presence. Its dual-coil design
employs L.R. Baggs' exclusive TriAxial Dynamic Technology to produce clear, rich tones that are resistant to feedback, noise and hum, with string
and body sound all in one. The M1 also features individually adjustable pole pieces with smooth, threadless tops. Also included are two cables: a
22-inch prewired strapjack assembly (for permanent installations) and a 12-foot Mogami guitar cable (for temporary installations).
The M1 will fit guitars with soundholes larger than 3.5" that are centered beneath the strings. Ensure that this product will fit the guitar
properly before making any alterations to the instrument.
The installation procedure is very simple; however, we recommend that any woodworking (for instance, drilling a strapjack hole) be performed by
a professional dealer/ installer. We do not provide advice or support for home or hobbyist woodworking. Installers: please read the instructions
carefully before proceeding. We will not be responsible for any damage to the guitar or personal injury resulting from installation, improper
installation, use or misuse of the product.
3 . I N S T A L L A T I O N
3.1 Installation overview: There are two ways to install the M1, by using
either of the two provided cables. For permanent installations, use the
strapjack harness. If the guitar doesn't have a hole in the tailblock, it will be
necessary to drill one in order to use the strapjack.
For temporary or nondestructive installations, use the 12-foot guitar cable,
which is designed to run out of the soundhole directly into your outboard
gear. This is a high-quality Mogami cable; using it will help ensure that the M1
sounds as good as we intended. The other principal advantage of this
installation is that it leaves the instrument unaltered. For permanent
installations, proceed to the strapjack instructions; for temporary installations,
skip to the pickup installation in section 3.3.
3.2 Strapjack installation: If you plan to do a permanent installation, be sure
to try installing the M1 in the soundhole before you drill the strapjack hole.
The M1 will only fit in a soundhole larger than 3.5" in diameter. Also, a few
guitars have off-center soundholes that will not allow the pole pieces to be directly under the strings. If you have one of these, plug in the M1
using the 12-foot cord, and see how well it works before you alter your guitar.
For proper installation, this jack requires a clean 1/2" hole in the tail block of the instrument. If the guitar lacks this hole, start by placing a piece
of masking tape on the outside of the instrument over the drilling area (to avoid chipping the finish), drill a small pilot hole in the tail block and
then follow with a step drill. Now proceed with the installation.
Remove the strap ring, retaining nut and one washer from the end of the jack. There should still be one star locking washer, one flat washer and a
nut remaining on the jack. Bring the jack down through the soundhole into the body and insert it into the pre-drilled hole in the tail block.
Using the internal nut (be sure to include the flat and star washers), set the proper depth that will allow the entire smaller threaded section to
protrude from the instrument (see figure).
With the jack in place, lay the remaining washer over the threads and attach the external retaining nut until it’s tight. Finish by attaching the strap
ring (it should cover the retaining nut and washer). Note that asserting too much pressure may crack the finish.
3.3 Pickup installation: Begin by plugging the strapjack harness or the 12' cable into the pickup. If you are using the 12' cable, loop the cord
beneath the pickup and push it into the strain relief recess on the underside of the pickup until it pops into place (the loop between the plug and
strain relief should be rather tight).
Now loosen the clamp screws on either end of the pickup's top plate until the clamps are open enough to accommodate the guitar's top
thickness. Then slide the pickup into the soundhole and tighten the screws. For small soundholes, it may be necessary to remove one or both
tail
block
smaller
threaded
section
protrudes
