Advanced Tuning TechnologyBuilt into the guitar!Knob

Washer

Nut

Display ring

LED circuit board

Ribbon cableand connector

C Washer

Nut

Pot/Switch

PACKAGE CONTENTS2 Displaydiscs(Gibson®modelonly)4 Displaydiscs(Fender®modelonly)1 LEDcircuitboard1 Volumepot/switch1 9Vbattery1 BatteryholderandVelcro®1 Pickupscrew(Fendermodelonly,seepage7)2 Nuts1 Plainwasher1 ‘C’washer1 Thismanual

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SafetyInstructions1. ReadInstructions.2. KeeptheseInstructions.3. HeedallWarnings.4. FollowallInstructions.5. Donotusethisapparatusnearwater.6. Cleanonlywithadrycloth.7. Donotinstallnearanyheatsourcessuchas

radiators,heatregisters,stoves,orotherappa-ratus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

8. Refer all servicing to qualified service person-nel.Servicingisrequiredwhentheapparatushasbeendamagedinanyway,suchasadamagedconnector,liquidhasbeenspilledorobjectshavefallenintotheapparatus,theap-paratushasbeenexposedtorainormoisture,doesnotoperatenormally,orhasbeendropped.

9. ObjectandLiquidEntry—Careshouldbetakensothatobjectsdonotfallintoandliquidsarenotspilledintotheinsideoftheapparatus.

10. Disposeofusedbatteriesinaccordancewithallapplicablelawsandprocedures.

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ContentsSafetyInstructions.................. 2Introduction............................. 4Features................................. 5Installingthetuner.................. 7Tunerdetails........................... 18Tuningprocedure................... 19Changingthebattery.............. 21Specifications ........................ 22Warrantyandrepair................ 2�

Quickstart!Seepage19ifthetunerisalreadyinstalledandyoucan’twaitasecondlongertotuneyourguitar.

Advanced Tuning TechnologyBuilt into the guitar!

Inst

alla

tion

Tuni

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IntroductionTheN-Tune™Chromatictunerreplacesthevolumecontrolofyourelectricguitar.Itcanbeinstalledbyexperiencedguitartechniciansinmostelectricguitarorbasses,withouttheneedfor routing, woodworking, or other modification.

Thetunerwilltaketheplaceofastandardthree-terminalguitarpotentiometer.Twopotsareavailable:• A 250kΩ pot intended for Strat®-styleguitars.• A 500kΩ pot intended for everything else.Note:Iftheexistingvolumepothasextrafea-turesthatmakeitdomorethanjustcontrolthevolume,thentheseextrafeatureswillnotworkwhenthetunerisinstalled.

IMPORTANT NOTE:InstallationoftheN-Tunesystemmayvoidthemanufacturer’swarrantyonyourguitar.Checkwithyourguitar’smanu-facturerorthedealerfromwheretheguitarwaspurchasedfordetails.Itishighlyrecommendedthat only a qualified guitar technician install the N-Tune.ZeroCrossingInc.assumesnoliabilityforanydamageorinjuriesincurredinrelationtothe installation or modification of your guitar.

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Features

1. Youroriginalvolumeknobisreused.

2. Adisplayringunderthevolumeknobshowsthevariousnotesandthetuning-statussymbols: flat, sharp, and tuned.

3. Asastringisplucked,thesignalsfromthepickupsaresampled,andthenoteandtuningstatusareshownbythedisplay’sLEDs.

Knob

Washer

Nut

Display ring

LED circuit board

Ribbon cableand connector

C Washer

Nut

Pot/Switch

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4. Thepotentiometerisahighgradedesignthatwillimprovetheperformanceofmostguitars.

5. Pullthevolumeknobuptoturnthetuneron.Pressitdowntoturnitoff.

6. Theguitar’soutputismutedwhenthetuneristurnedon(sotheguitar’soutputismutedwhileyouaretuning).

7. Thetunerispoweredbyauser-replacable9Vbattery.

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InstallingthetunerItisrecommendedthatthefollowinginstallationprocedureshouldonlybeundertakenbyexpe-riencedguitartechnicians.Makesurethatthetuneristhecorrectmodelforyourguitar.

IMPORTANTNOTEFORFENDERGUITARS:Therearemanydifferentstylesofelectricguitars,andinstallingtheN-Tunemayrequiresomecom-promisestoconsiderforyourparticularFendermodel.Forinstance,onsomeFenderStrato-castermodels,youmaynoticethattheN-Tunedisplayringcaninterferewithaccesstoaportionofthepickupadjustmentscrewthatisadjacenttothevolumecontrol.AccessingthisscrewforpickupheightadjustmentmayrequiretemporaryremovaloftheN-Tunedisplayringandcircuitboard.Also,beawarethatFenderusesdifferenttypesofscrewsforthislocationondifferentStratmodels. We have provided a replacement flat head/countersunkpickupadjustmentscrewthatwillworkforsomemodels.Thisprovidedscrewrequiresacountersunkholeinthepickguardinorder to allow for a flat surface under the edge of theN-Tunecircuitboardanddisplayring.SomeotherStratocastermodelsdonothavecounter-sunkholesforthepickguardmountingscrew.

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ItmaybenecessarytocountersinkthatholeandusetheprovidedscrewtogetyourN-Tuneto install flush to the pick guard. BE AWARE THATINSTALLINGTHECOUNTERSUNKSCREWINTOAPICKGUARDTHATDOESNOTHAVECOUNTERSUNKHOLESCANCAUSEDAMAGETOTHEPICKGUARD.FORBESTRESULTS,REFERALLINSTALLATIONSTOAQUALIFIEDGUITARTECHNICIANWHOWILLGIVEYOUTHEBESTOPTIONSFORINSTAL-LATIONOFTHEN-TUNEINYOURGUITAR.

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ToolsrequiredSolderingiron,solder,soldersuckerorsolderwick,pliers,ascrewdriverselection,andnutdrivers.

Electro-StaticDischarge(ESD)precautionsTakecaretoobserveESDprecautionswhenhan-dlingthePCBboard,topreventdamagetothecircuitcomponentsfromstaticelectricitydischarg-ingfromyourbody.UseanESDwriststrapandcorrectlygroundittoreducethestaticelectricitybuilduponyourbody.DonottouchtheLEDcircuitboard’scomponentsorconductors,anddonotgettheLEDcircuitboardoutuntilthemomentyouarereadytouseit.

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ThePotentiometerThepotentiometercomespre-wiredtoa9Vbatteryconnector,withtwoshortwiressoldered,anda4-pinconnector.

Red

Black

Black

White

BatteryConnector

ChassisCaseTerminal

L RM

4

1

2

3

5

6

Nut

C washer

White

Black

Purple

Red

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ProcedureThefollowingprocedureassumesyourguitarhasastandard�-terminalpotentiometer.Usetheseinstructionsasaguide,butpleaserefertoourwebsitewww.n-tune.comformoredetailsbeforeproceeding.

1. SomeguitartechniciansmaywanttoremovethestringsonStrat®styleguitarstoallowforeasieraccesstothepickguard.StringremovalisnotrequiredonmostGibson®styleguitars.

2. ForStrat-styleguitars,removethepickguardandsafelystorethemountingscrewsandanyrelatedhardwareforeasyretrieval.ForGibsonstyleguitars,removethebackplateandsafelystorethemountingscrewsandanyrelatedhardwareforaccesstothevol-umepot.

�. Beforeyouremovetheoldvolumepot,makeadetailedsketchcarefullynotingthelocationofallofthewiresthatareconnected.

4. Thethreadedshaftofthenewpotis8mmindiameter.Iftheholeintheguitaristoosmallforthepot,anon-supportedmethodwouldbetoenlargetheholeto11/�2".

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5. WiththespecialCwasherinplace,adjustthenutuntilthereisatleast5.5mmofthreadshowingabovetheguitar’sface.Checkthepotdoesnotin-terferewiththebackplateorpickguard.(Forreference,5.5mmisthethick-nessofthesuppliedplasticdiscplusthethicknessofanut.

�. Solderthegroundconnections(typicallytheblackwires)oftheoldpottotheLterminalorthechassiscaseterminalonthenewpot.

FORFENDER®:SolderthegroundconnectionsfromtheoldpottoterminalL(orthechassiscase)onthenewpot(groundwiresonStrat®andTele®styleguitarsaretypicallyblack).Soldertheinputsignalwirefromtheoldpot(typically,theleadfromthepickupselectorswitch)toterminal5onthenewpush/pullswitch.

Red

Black

ChassisCaseTerminalBlack

White

BatteryConnector

5.5 mm

L RM

4

1

2

3

5

6

NutC washer

White

Black

Purple

Red

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FORGIBSON®:TraditionalGibson-stylehum-buckershaveasinglebraided-shieldpickuplead.Forthistypeofpickuplead,theexternalbraidedshieldisactuallythegroundconduc-tor,andthehotleadistheinsulated(coaxial)centerconductor.TowirethistypeofpickuptotheN-Tune,thecenterconductor(whichwasprobablyon“R”ontheoldpot)goestoterminal5,andwireajumperfromterminalLtoconnecttothebraidedshieldground.Itmaybeagoodideatowraptheendofthebraidedshieldwithsomeelectricaltape,sothatitdoesnottouchanyoftheotherter-minalsonthenewpotandpush/pullswitch,groundingthemoutinadvertently.

7. Soldertheoutputjackwireoftheoldpot(typicallyterminalM)totheMterminalonthenew pot. (See the figure on page 12.)

8. Soldertheinputsignalwireoftheoldpot(mostlikelyterminalR)toterminal5onthenewpot.(Notethatitgoestoterminal5 andnotterminalR.)

9. Solderanytonewiresfromtheoldpottothesameterminalonthenewpot.

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10.Beforereassemblingtheguitar,plugitintoanampandcheckthatthevolumecontrolisworking.Ifalliswell,unplugtheguitarfromtheamp.Ifyouhaveremovedthestrings,taponthepickupwithascrewdriverandyoushouldhearthetappingthroughtheamp.

11. PasstheconnectoroftheLEDcircuitboardthroughtheopenhole.

12.PushthepotintotheholeandmakesuretheribboncableoftheLEDcircuit board fits intotheopenslotintheCwasher.Jointogetherthecon-nectorsfromtheLEDcircuitboardandthepot.

1�. Installanew9Vbattery,notingthecorrect“+”and“–”polarity.Fitittothebatteryholderclip.

LED circuitboard

NutC Washer

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14.SecurelyattachthebatteryholdercliptotheinsidecavityoftheguitarwiththeprovidedVelcro.Findaplacethatwillnotbeinthewayofanypots,wiresorothercontrols.

15.Pulluptheshaftofthenewpottoturnonthetuner.VerifythattheLEDsalllightup.Pushitintoturnitoff.

1�.CarefullyputtheLEDcircuitboardinsideyourchosenplasticdisplayring,ensuringthattheLEDslineupwiththepocketsinthering.Positionthedisplayring/LEDcircuitboardas-semblyinplaceoverthethreadedshaftofthepot,andgentlypulltheribboncablethroughtheopeningoftheCwasher.

Display ring

LED circuitboard

Pot/switch

Ribboncable

Pot/Switch

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17.Placeaplainwasherandnutontopofthedisplayring,andhandtightenthenutsoeverythingislooselyheldinplace.

18.Rotatethedisplayring/pcb/potassemblyuntilthe“tuned”indicatorispointingupandclearlyvisiblewhenyouplaytheguitar.

19.MakesurethattheribboncablefromtheLEDcircuitboardisseatedcorrectlyintheopeningoftheCwasher,andnotliabletobepinched. Using a nut driver, gently yet firmly tightenthetopnuttolockeverythinginplace.

20.Reassembletheguitar,beingparticularlycarefultorouteallwiressotheywillnotbepinchedwhenthepickguardorotherhard-wareisremounted.Beawareofanybulgesor areas where things don’t fit correctly, and correcttheseissuesbeforeproceeding.Restringtheguitarifyouremovedthestrings.

Nut

Washer

“Tuned”

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21.Pushyouroriginalvolumeknobontotheknurlofthenewpot.

22.Whentheknobispulledup,thetunerwillwork,andthereshouldbenooutputtoyourguitaramp.Seethenextpagefordetailsofhowtotunetheguitar.

Whentheknobisdown,thetuneranditsLEDswillbeoff,andtheguitaroutputwillberestored.

YouarenowreadytotuneupyourguitarwithN-Tune!

Knob

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TunerdetailsThedisplayringismarkedwithnotesA,B,C,D,E,F,andG.Inadditiontherearetuningstatusindicatorsasshowninthistable:

Mark DescriptionFLAT.Thestringneedstobetight-ened. This red light will flash faster asyougetclosertotune.

SHARP.Thestringneedstobeloosened. This red light will flash fasterasyougetclosertotune.

TUNED.Thestringisintunewhenthisgreenlightcomeson.

TUNED-SHARP.Thislightswhenthestringistunedtoasharp,suchasF#.

Thetunerallowsyoutoeasilytuneanystringtoanynote,andsetupspecialtunings.

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Tuningprocedure

1. Pullonthevolumeknobtoturnonthetuner.(Whenthetunerison,theoutputismuted.)

2. Pluckastring,anditsclosestnotewillbedis-playedbytheA,B,C,D,E,F,andGLEDs.

�. Tunethestringuntilthedesirednoteisdis-played.

4. If the flat symbol is flashing red, then tighten the string. It will flash faster as you get closer totune.

FLATSHARP

TUNEDSHARP

TUNED

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5. If the sharp symbol is flashing then loosen the string. It will flash faster as you get closer to tune. Try tuning down until the flat symbol is flashing, then tune up.

�. Thegreentunedsymbolwilllightwithhappi-nesswhenyouaretuned.

7. Repeatthisfortheotherstrings.

8. Ifyouaretryingtotunetoasharp,suchasF#,thentuneupuntilboththegreentunedlightandthetuned-sharplightcomeon.

9. Pushthevolumeknobtoturnthetuneroffandrestorethenormaloutput.

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ChangingthebatteryThetunerhasminimalbatterypowerdraw,andshouldprovidemanymonthsofuse.Ifyouneedtoreplacethebattery,usethefollowingsteps:

• Dependingonhowitisinstalled,thebatterycanbeaccessedfromtherearpanelofyourguitarorunderthepickguard.

• Velcrostripsholdthebatterymountingclipinplaceinsidetheguitar.

• Removethebatteryandcarefullyinstallanewone,makingsurethatthepolarityiscor-rect.

• Removethebatteryifyourguitarisnotgoingtobeusedforlongperiodsoftime.

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Specifications NoteRange

27Hzto�520Hz(notesA0–A7)Accuracy

+/-2centsInputSource

InstrumentpickupsBatteryLife

Estimatedatoneyear’sworthoftuning(approximately�00+tunings).Thetunerautomaticallypowersdownwhennotinusetoconservebatterylife

PowerRequirementsOne9Vbattery

PhysicalDimensionsTunerDiscwithLEDcircuitboardHeight: 1.�5"Width: 1.�5"Depth: 0.12"PotentiometerBodyHeight: 0.98"Width: 0.72"Depth: 0.94"

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Warrantyandrepair• Ifyoususpectthereissomethingwrongwith

yourtuner,pleasecontactusandwewilltryourbesttohelpyou.

• ThepatentedN-Tuneguitartuningsystemcarriesaoneyearlimitedwarranty.Visitourwebsiteforanywarrantyrelatedissues.Proofofpurchasemayberequired.

• N-TuneisatrademarkofZeroCrossingInc.Allotherbrandsaretrademarksorregisteredtrademarksoftheirrespectiveholders,andareherebyacknowledged.

©2007ZeroCrossingInc.AllRightsReserved.ManualRevAJan2008

Please visit www.n-tune.com for:• Warranty Details• Technical Support• Alternative language instructions

Advanced Tuning TechnologyBuilt into the guitar!