Ayns
Wholenote
Posts: 767
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Post by Ayns on Oct 27, 2020 13:44:50 GMT -5
As our band have finally managed to book some "acoustic" gigs, I took my '80's Martin D35 to our acoustic practice the other day. It's years since I played it through any amplification.
It's a passive (I'm guessing, as there's no battery that I'm aware of) output from an under saddle piezo direct to the strap button/ jack.
Problem is, direct in to my Fishman Loudbox 100 it buzzes, loudly.  When I plugged it in to my Session DI/ pre amp pedal (which I wasn't intending to use) it still buzzed when switched off, but the buzz disappeared completely when the pedal was switched on  . Any thoughts? (I'm guessing loose wire/ earth?).
For information, I was intending to use my Taylor 314 (which worked perfectly through the amp/ PA) as my main guitar on these gigs, with the D35 as backup. Any suggestions will be appreciated as our first gig is next weekend)
Thanks guys.
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pdf64
Wholenote
Posts: 556
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Post by pdf64 on Oct 27, 2020 14:25:16 GMT -5
Piezo is super high impedance, especially at low frequencies. So cables between guitar and preamp need to be short and very high quality, very well screened. And routed well away from any mains wiring / gear that’s got a transformer.
Hence on board preamps.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Oct 31, 2020 11:21:29 GMT -5
Lots of ways this can cause problems.
One common thing is that it just doesn't have enough output. Low output means poorer signal:noise ratio, and it means turning the volume way up at the mixer/amp/wherever. Under saddle pickups can be difficult to dial in with the saddle fit sometimes (big reason why Taylor migrated away from them). The first thing would be to determine if you're having to crank this more than the Taylor, that will give you a big hint on where to go next.
If it was a loose ground it would be outright unusable, I'm not sure if that is the case based on your description.
Under saddle pickups that have no preamp tend to be on the lower end of the quality spectrum. They were more common in the 80s and 90s when aftermarket preamp systems were bulkier, but they are virtually non-existant on the market now. K&K can get away with being passive because they are larger and are able to have more signal passively. At some point it might be more worth while to replace it.
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Ayns
Wholenote
Posts: 767
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Post by Ayns on Nov 1, 2020 5:22:20 GMT -5
Thanks guys. I had a K&K installed in my Taylor 355 12 String and I love it. It's academic now anyway, as our gig was cancelled yesterday due to new UK full lockdown for the next month  |
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Nov 1, 2020 14:51:14 GMT -5
It's academic now anyway, as our gig was cancelled yesterday due to new UK full lockdown for the next month Nerts! Gives you time to tinker, though. |
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When I plugged it in to my Session DI/ pre amp pedal (which I wasn't intending to use) it still buzzed when switched off, but the buzz disappeared completely when the pedal was switched on 
. Any thoughts? (I'm guessing loose wire/ earth?).
