Polydrive Replacement System Install Guide

Polydrive Replacement System Install Guide

Introduction

This guide will walk you through the complete installation process.
Idea
If you have any questions, please contact us.
Notes

System Compatibility & Installation Note Godin Multiac guitars come equipped with either the older RMC Polydrive system or the newer L.R. Baggs system.

  • If you have the RMC system: Our CPD board is directly compatible with your existing output jack and cable. You can choose to reuse them and skip the "New Jack Installation" section.

  • If you have the L.R. Baggs system: The existing jack is not compatible. You must remove it and install the included Jack Circuit Board and Ribbon Cable.

IdeaNote for New Builds This kit includes everything required for a fresh installation into a new instrument. If you are installing this into a guitar that does not currently have a pickup system, simply skip the "Remove the Old System" section and begin at New Jack Installation.
Warning
WARNING
Soldering and wire stripping is required to complete this installation. If you do not know how to solder, please get the system professionally installed. 

Required Tools

  1. 9V battery for the preamp
  2. #1 Phillips screwdriver
  3. Soldering iron and solder
  4. Wire cutters
  5. Adjustable wrench
  6. Bench vice or large pliers
  7. Acoustic guitar amp or PA system
  8. 1/4” guitar cable


Package Contents

CPD System Contents
  1. Jack circuit board
  2. 2 Ribbon cable connectors
  3. Ribbon Cable
  4. Preamp
  5. Pickup extender - cable on spool
  6. Drill Bit
  7. Pickup extender - preamp end
  8. Pickup extender - pickup end
  9. Pickups
  10. Install Tool
  11. Zip tie


Prepare the Guitar

In this section you will prepare the guitar for the installation of the CPD System.
  1. Remove the original preamp
    1. Remove the backplate in the upper shoulder.
    2. Remove the backplate containing the battery box.
    3. Cut the cable tie securing the ribbon cable and pickup wires to the back of the guitar. DO NOT remove the cable tie mount.
    4. Remove the preamp from the guitar, disconnect the ribbon cable, and de-solder the battery wires and pickup cables.
    5. Remove the battery box plate and pickups from the guitar.

(Optional) New Jack Installation

The CPD System is compatible with the original RMC Polydrive output jack and cable. You can reuse it if desired. If you want to reuse it, skip this section.

New Jack Installation
In this section, you will prepare and mount the output jack circuit board. 
  1. REMOVE THE OUTPUT JACK PLATE FROM THE GUITAR
    1. Remove the 4 mounting screws and pull the plate and cable out of the guitar.


  2. MAKE THE RIBBON CABLE
    Preamp end of cable
    1. Determine the length the ribbon cable needs to be. Make sure to leave enough length to connect the preamp end to the connector when the preamp is outside the guitar.
    2. Use wire cutters to cut the cable to length.
    3. Insert the cable into the connector as shown above. Make sure the red stripe on the cable aligns with the triangle on the connector
    4. Use large pliers or a vice to evenly compress the connector until it latches closed.
      Jack Board End of Cable
    5. Insert the cable into the connector as shown above. Make sure the red stripe on the cable aligns with the triangle on the connector.
    6. Use large pliers or a vice to slowly evenly compress the connector until it latches closed.
  3. SECURE THE JACK CIRCUIT BOARD CONNECTOR

    1. Connect the cable to the connector board as shown above.
    2. Insert one of the provided zip-ties through the slot in the side of the connector. Wrap it under the circuit board and back up through the hole in the circuit board. Insert the zip tie through the slot in that side of the connector and through the locking end of the zip tie and tighten the zip-tie.



  4. RE-MOUNT THE JACK PLATE
    1. Re-mount the jack plate to the guitar.

(Optional) Installing the Pickup Length Extender

On some guitars the pickup cables are not long enough to reach the preamp. If this is the case, you can install the pickup length extension components. If the pickup cables are long enough, you can skip this section.
Installing the Pickup Length Extender


    In this section you will install the pickup length extension components to the preamp.
  1. INSTALLING THE EXTENDER CONNECTOR ON THE PREAMP

    1. Install the Extender Connector over top of the pickup solder pads on the preamp.
    2. Solder the pins from the side of the preamp with the faders.
    3. Use wire cutters to cut the soldered pins flush with the circuit board.

Installing the Pickups

In this section, you will install the pickups in the guitar.
This guide will show the steps required if the pickup extender was used. If you chose not to use it, simply solder the pickup wires directly to the preamp.

  1. INSTALLING THE PICKUPS IN THE BRIDGE

    Pickup wires soldered to the pickup extender

    1. Use the included drill bit to ream out the holes that the pickup cables go through in the bottom of the saddle slot. 

    2. Carefully insert a pickup into the High E (1st String) position. Orient the pickup so the silver dot faces the headstock.

      • Check: Ensure the cable is not pinched and the pickup sits flat without rocking.

      • Troubleshooting: If the pickup rocks or the cable exits at a sharp angle, use the included drill bit to gently ream the hole in the saddle slot to create more clearance.

    3. Solder the wires to the 1st string solder pads (located on the far right in the diagram).

      • Solder the Shield (bare) wire to the pad labeled ‘Black’.

      • Solder the White wire to the pad labeled ‘White’.

      • Tip: Check for shorts with a multimeter before moving to the next string.

    4. Repeat this process for the remaining 5 strings.


  2. (FOR PICKUP EXTENDER) CONNECT THE CABLE
    Cable connector open with cable ready for insertion

    1. Carefully pull away from the solder pads on each side of the black slide latch to open the connector.
    2. Carefully insert one end of the cable into the connector. Make sure the copper-colored side shown above is facing up.
    3. Carefully slide the black latch back towards the solder pads to close the connector. When you are finished, it should look like the following picture. 

      Pickup extender with pickups and cable attached.
  3. (FOR PICKUP EXTENDER) MOUNTING THE EXTENDER IN THE GUITAR


    1. Locate a suitable place to mount the pickup extender circuit board. The location should allow the other end of the cable to have enough slack to easily connect it to the preamp before the preamp is mounted in its final position. It should also be somewhere you can easily reach to remove it in case you need to service the guitar. On a Godin Multiac, the above photo shows a good location.
    2. Once you have found a good location, stick it in place.


Installing the Preamp

In this section, you will connect and mount the main preamp.

  1. RUN ALL CABLES TO THE PREAMP LOCATION
    1. Run the ribbon cable, the battery wires, (and the pickup extender cable if used) to the cavity for the main preamp.


  2. CONNECT THE PREAMP

    1. Connect the battery wires to the green screw terminals. Red to the location labeled ‘+’ and black to the location labeled ‘-’. If you previously cut the battery wires, strip and tin the wires before connecting them to the terminals.
    2. Connect the ribbon cable as shown in the photo above.
    3. Connect the pickup extender cable. Make sure to open the latch before inserting the cable.


  3. MOUNT THE PREAMP IN PLACE

    1. Mount the preamp in place with the 4 original mounting screws. Make sure to align the faders in the slots before fully tightening the screws. 
    2. Temporarily mount the back plate with the battery box in place with 2 screws.

  4. BALANCING THE STRINGS
    1. Plug the guitar into an amplifier and make sure the amplifier EQ is set flat and the volume is at a reasonable level. If any strings do not output signal, check for shorts at the pickup solder pads.
    2. Play a chromatic scale starting on the low E string and note any strings that sound louder than the others.
    3. Referring to the above image, use the large blade on the Installation Tool to turn down the trim pots of the loud strings. String 1 is High E, and String 6 is Low E.
    4. Play a chromatic scale starting on the low E string and note any strings that seem to be quieter than the others.
    5. Referring to the above image, use the large blade on the Installation Tool to turn up the trim pots of the quiet strings. String 1 is High E, and String 6 is Low E.
    6. Repeat Steps B through E until you are satisfied.
    7. Play chords, arpeggios, scales, and songs to ensure the guitar response is accurate. Take as much time as you need to get the results you want.


Final Installation


  1. SECURING THE CABLES


    Ribbon cable and pickup cables secured in place

    1. Use a zip tie to secure the ribbon cable and pickup cables to the original zip tie mounting point.
    2. Re-mount the battery box and preamp cover plates.