Installation Instructions

Martin Second Generation

Thinline 332 ®
Acoustic Sound Reinforcement System

martinguitar.com
Thinline 332®

Parts List
• (1) Martin Second Generation Thinline Pickup
• (1) Small Hex Nut 1/2”
• (1) Large Hex Nut 9/16”
• (1) 1/4” Stereo End Pin Jack
• (1) Knurled Shield Cap
• (1) Serrated Lock Washer
• (1) Dress Washer (Thin)
• (1) Dress Washer (Thick)
• (1) Threaded Strap Attachment
All specifications subject to change without notice.

Tools
• Plunge Router with 3/32" (2.4mm) cutter • 3/32" (2mm) Allen Wrench
• Caliper • 15/32" (11.9mm) Tapered Reamer
• 400 Grit Sandpaper or Scraper • Variable Speed Drill
• Soldering Iron (30 watt max) • X-Acto® Saw
• Rosin Core Solder • Center Punch
• Wire Strippers • 1/8" (3.15mm)Twist Drill
• 1/2" Open End Wrench • 15/32" (11.9mm) Spade Drill Bit

INTRODUCTION

The Martin Thinline 332 is string-sensitive, piezo-ceramic under-

®

saddle pickups. It senses individual string vibrations via six fully-shielded

piezo elements. The pickup includes a Fishman designed Switchjack™
endpin jack and can be used without a preamp. The Thinline 332 system
delivers a natural, acoustic sound with plenty of attack for percussive
playing styles.

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 Installation Instructions
PART I –INSTALLING THE PICKUP

INSTALLATION BY A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL REPAIRMAN

IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. C. F. MARTIN & CO., INC. WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR ANY DAMAGES THAT MAY RESULT FROM IMPROPER INSTALLATION.

Mechanical Factors Affecting Pickup Performance

Before you install the pickup, make sure the bridge and saddle are
within our recommended "safe zone" of usable parameters.
Break Angle
For the pickup to perform optimally, there
should be a 20° (minimum) string break
mp No More Than 50%
angle across the back of the saddle. An Ra

adequate break angle can often be realized Figure 2

by "ramping" the string slots. In extreme

cases, where the break angle is much less than 20° and the saddle is
so low that it is nearly flush to the top of the bridge, the instrument
probably requires a neck reset. In these cases, resetting the neck to a
higher angle will restore the saddle height and the string break angle
required for good pickup performance.

50/50 Rule
We have found that there is a critical relationship between the overall
saddle height and the bridge slot depth. For adequate mechanical
coupling and pickup balance, we recommend that the saddle slot
depth (with pickup installed) measures no more than 50% of the total
height of the saddle (see figure 2). If the slot measures more than 50%
of the total height of the saddle, balance and/or output level of the
pickup may suffer. In these cases, add a hardwood shim under the
pickup. To determine the shim's thickness, subtract 1/2 of the total
saddle height from the slot depth. Then remove an equal amount of
material from the bottom of the saddle.
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Thinline 332®

Exception to the 50/50 rule:

Many Martin guitars will have adequate down-bearing on the saddle,
even when there is less than 50% of the saddle height appearing above the
slot. This is due to the close proximity of the bridge pins to the saddle slot.
These guitars will generally perform very well and you may disregard the
50/50 rule.
Prepare the Saddle Slot
A large percentage of string balance problems with
undersaddle pickups can be traced to an unevenly cut or
warped saddle slot. Irregularities on the bottom or sides
of the slot can often prevent the saddle from uniformly
pressurizing the pickup. For this reason, we strongly
recommend that before you install any undersaddle pickup, re-mill an
existing slot with a plunge router, jigged up in an appropriate slot cutting
fixture.
1. Rout a .094" (2.38 mm) wide slot.
2. Be certain that the bottom of the slot is flat. Deepen an existing slot only
enough to obtain a clean, flat surface.
Locate the Wire Hole
1.Locate the center of the wire hole no less
than .234" (5.9 mm) from the closest string.
2.Mark the location where the wire will
enter the saddle slot. Center the mark
between the walls (width) of the slot.
3.Drill a .094" hole.
4.Clear wood chips and foreign materials
from the saddle slot.
5.Carefully insert (do not bend) the pickup. The fit must be loose in the
slot, without binding on the sides or the ends of the pickup. If the
ends of the pick-up come in contact with the saddle slot, pickup
failure could result.

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 Installation Instructions

Prepare the Saddle

We highly recommend the use of a genuine Martin Micarta™ saddle.
1.Prepare a .094" or 2.38mm wide saddle. For adequate pickup per-
formance, the bottom and sides of the saddle must be absolutely FLAT.
2.Remove only enough material from the width of the saddle to
provide a sliding fit in the slot. To test the fit, the saddle should slide
easily in the slot, but should not fall out when overturned. To
maintain your current action, the new saddle must be .048" shorter
in height than your current saddle.
PART II – INSTALLING THE ENDPIN JACK
Stereo Switching Endpin Jack
Our new SWITCHJACK™ T•R•S•S (Tip/Ring/Sleeve/Switch) Stereo
Switching Endpin Jack allows simultaneous stereo operation and battery
switching. This new configuration now simplifies stereo wiring with
many pickup combinations that were previously incompatible.
• Fishman-designed, industry standard endpin jack.
• New internal contact geometry for reliable, noiseless operation and
better plug retention.
PREPARE THE ENDPIN HOLE FOR THE JACK
There are two ways to widen the endpin hole to accept the stereo
endpin jack.
Slow and Safe
If you have the time, this is the preferred method. Remove the endpin
and widen the hole to size with a 15/32" (11.9 mm) Two-step endpin
jack reamer may be obtained in the U. S. and Canada through Stuart
MacDonald at 1-800-848-2273 Part#4323
OR ...Quick & Clean
The objective here is to quickly drill out the endpin jack hole, with
the endpin or other suitable plug in place. You may remove a loose
endpin and refasten it in the endblock with cyanoacrylate glue before
starting the procedure.
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Thinline 332®

Note: We do not recommend this method for instruments with brittle

ornamental veneers (ex: abalone) around the endblock.
Quick & Clean (continued)
1.Apply masking tape around the endblock area to protect the instrument.
2.Locate an X-Acto® saw blade 1/16" (1.6mm) away from the body
and saw off the endpin.
3.Centerpunch a guide hole in the center of the trimmed endpin.
4.Drill a 1/8" (3.2mm) pilot hole through the endpin.
5.Line up a 15/32" (11.9mm) Spade bit in the pilot hole and begin
drilling. Maintain a perpendicular plunge in relation to the
instrument. Use steady (but not heavy) pressure, especially as the
drill exits inside the guitar.
6. To avoid damage to the instrument, let the drill come to a complete
stop before removing it from the hole.
7.Remove masking tape immediately to avoid damaging finish.

PART III – WIRING THE ENDPIN JACK

Wiring
To gain better access to the Tip, Ring and Switch terminals, gently
bend back the Strain Relief/Sleeve tab, before you begin to solder.
Protect the guitar top from solder or rosin splatter by using a sheet of
cardboard or canvas as a work surface above your guitar.
There are three possible ways to wire the stereo switching endpin jack
to the Thinline 332 .
®

Mono Wiring to the Thinline 332®

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 Installation Instructions

Optional Stereo Wiring

Thinline 332® and a Second Pickup Thinline 332® and a Microphone

ENDPIN JACK PARTS IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

RELATED ACCESSORIES

Martin Thinline Active Jack™ Preamp ”Retrofit”

(Upgrades Thinline 332® to a 332+Plus™)
Martin Item #24AAAJ
Martin/Fishman Pro-EQII®
(”Outboard” Equalizer Unit)
Martin Item #24PROEQ2
Martin Porta-Con® Acoustic Preamp
(For External Uninstalled Use)
Martin Item #24CEPQ2
Available Through Your Local Martin Dealership
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 LIMITED WARRANTY

The Martin Second Generation Thinline 332® Pickup is designed and

manufactured by Fishman Transducers Inc. to the exact specifications
of C. F. Martin & Co., Inc. and is subjected to 100% testing in an
acoustic guitar environment. Should you experience any difficulty,
contact C. F. Martin & Co., Inc. for assistance. These devices are
warranted to function properly for a period of 90 days from the date
of purchase. If this pickup fails to function properly within the
warranty period, free repair, and the option of replacement or refund
in the event that C. F. Martin & Co., Inc. is unable to facilitate repair,
are C. F. Martin & Co.’s only obligations. This warranty does not cover
any consequential damages, damage to the instrument, or to the
pickup due to misuse, mishandling (i.e. bending, twisting or
unauthorized modification), incorrect installation, accident, or neglect.
C. F. Martin & Co., Inc. retains the right to make such determination
on the basis of a factory inspection. Products shipped to C. F. Martin
& Co., Inc. must be shipped prepaid. This warranty remains valid only
if repairs are facilitated by C. F. Martin & Co., Inc.. This warranty gives
specific legal rights that vary from state to state. It is suggested that
you retain the dealer’s bill of sale as evidence of date of purchase.
Thinline® Pickups are covered by the following U. S. Patents:
4,727,634; 4,774,867; 4,944,209 & 5,029,375. Additional U.S. and
foreign patents are pending.

Please read the instructions carefully.

For technical assistance, contact C. F. Martin & Co.
customer service at 1 (800) 633-2060.

C. F. MARTIN & CO., INC.

P.O. Box 329, Nazareth, PA 18064-0329 USA
(610) 759-2837 • FAX (610) 759-5757
martinguitar.com
© 2000. Thinline 332+Plus®, Thinline Active Jack™, and Thinline Gold+Plus® are registered trademarks of C.F. Martin & Co., Inc.
of Nazareth, PA. Thinline pickups are covered by the following U.S. patents: 4,727,634; 4,774,867; 4,944,209 and 5,029,375.
Additional U.S. and foreign patents are pending. Velcro® is a registered trademark of Velcro Fastening Systems of Manchester,
NH. Specifications subject to change without notice. Printed in USA.
All specifications subject to change without notice. 0006-6 Layout Revised for PDF