Tequila Rob
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Posts: 683
Formerly Known As: Guitar Fool
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Post by Tequila Rob on Nov 9, 2022 16:43:30 GMT -5
I'm working on a Fender acoustic that has a Fishman pickup inside the body....I'm getting what sounds like a bit of crackling when pushing on the battery button, and some low level interference/noise when the volume pot is turned up all the way..
as of yet I haven't cleaned the input jack,..I'll do that tomorrow...but not convinced that is the issue
I removed the control panel from the guitar, cleaned the connectors and tried to clean up the volume control as much as I could...
is there anything else I should be looking for?
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Nov 9, 2022 18:55:41 GMT -5
I'm not sure what the "battery button" is...?
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Tequila Rob
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Posts: 683
Formerly Known As: Guitar Fool
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Post by Tequila Rob on Nov 9, 2022 20:53:37 GMT -5
sorry...I meant the button that switches off the pickup so you can tune it....
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Nov 9, 2022 21:43:37 GMT -5
I would pull the preamp module and clean all switch contacts. The pickup connection to the preamp should be a simple sub-mini plug in a jack.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Nov 10, 2022 9:45:11 GMT -5
Ah, those built in tuner mechanisms cause headaches a lot. Cleaning is the best start. It might be bypassable, and just use a Snark instead.
A much less likely thing would be a low battery. When voltage drops enough, preamps sometimes make weird noises. Hitting the button could trigger that. I haven't run into it in this exact circumstance, but if you're running out of ideas it would be an easy thing to check.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Nov 10, 2022 9:46:32 GMT -5
I would pull the preamp module and clean all switch contacts. The pickup connection to the preamp should be a simple sub-mini plug in a jack. Also, visually inspect it while it is apart. Those switches are usually surface mount components, and it is really easy for contacts/pads to be damaged from a user with a gorilla touch. |
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Tequila Rob
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Posts: 683
Formerly Known As: Guitar Fool
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Post by Tequila Rob on Nov 10, 2022 10:53:17 GMT -5
I would pull the preamp module and clean all switch contacts. The pickup connection to the preamp should be a simple sub-mini plug in a jack. I had to reinsert the input jack as it had fallen into the guitar....had my wife with her skinny arms take care of that..lol...then I installed a high E string...as I have a bunch laying around, put in a new battery, and plugged it in...it works but it sounded like wind and or radio type interference...so then I removed the preamp module and, removed the connectors and sprayed them with a little Inox and re inserted them...
I havent cleaned the input jack yet...will do that later today.....if the noise continues Ill take the amp and the guitar to a different part of the house and see if I might be getting interference from inside my garage which is the man cave..
if it fails at this point I can only surmise that either the model has crapped the bed or the pickup.....
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Tequila Rob
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Posts: 683
Formerly Known As: Guitar Fool
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Post by Tequila Rob on Nov 10, 2022 10:56:16 GMT -5
Ah, those built in tuner mechanisms cause headaches a lot. Cleaning is the best start. It might be bypassable, and just use a Snark instead. A much less likely thing would be a low battery. When voltage drops enough, preamps sometimes make weird noises. Hitting the button could trigger that. I haven't run into it in this exact circumstance, but if you're running out of ideas it would be an easy thing to check. I took the cover off the back of the module, and then there are 2 screws holding the circuit board in place...I'm a bit leery of removing those yet, but it will allow better access to the back of the controls.....
One thing I've learned that anything mechanical or electrical can go bad if you don't use it...and its a good bet that is the case....dirt crud, humidity etc
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Nov 10, 2022 11:05:05 GMT -5
I havent cleaned the input jack yet... You have a .25 cal bronze cleaning brush, right?  |
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Tequila Rob
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Posts: 683
Formerly Known As: Guitar Fool
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Post by Tequila Rob on Nov 10, 2022 13:09:30 GMT -5
I havent cleaned the input jack yet... You have a .25 cal bronze cleaning brush, right? well as a matter of fact I do!...also got a .30, .45, .22 and 9mm....lol  |
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Nov 11, 2022 10:08:01 GMT -5
I would pull the preamp module and clean all switch contacts. The pickup connection to the preamp should be a simple sub-mini plug in a jack. I had to reinsert the input jack as it had fallen into the guitar....had my wife with her skinny arms take care of that..lol...then I installed a high E string...as I have a bunch laying around, put in a new battery, and plugged it in...it works but it sounded like wind and or radio type interference...so then I removed the preamp module and, removed the connectors and sprayed them with a little Inox and re inserted them...
I havent cleaned the input jack yet...will do that later today.....if the noise continues Ill take the amp and the guitar to a different part of the house and see if I might be getting interference from inside my garage which is the man cave..
if it fails at this point I can only surmise that either the model has crapped the bed or the pickup.....
A windy sound is sometimes a weird battery connection. I've seen it more with active basses that have those flip top battery boxes if there isn't enough tension holding the battery in place. Why they do that I have no idea. It is easy to trouble shoot if you can duplicate the problem, because moving the contacts around on the battery will make it go away.
Also, a single string, especially an outside string, sitting alone on a saddle with a transducer isn't going to sound great. Keep that in mind. The saddle might be bouncing under the vibration, and the bass side lightly slapping against the pickup as the treble side is pinched down. The saddle needs even pressure on the pickup, and it isn't getting that with just one string. I usually just tap the saddle with my finger until it is time to test string balance. I'm used to knowing how much of a "thunk" is healthy, and usually if the problem is electronic it will be off by enough to notice.
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Tequila Rob
Wholenote
Posts: 683
Formerly Known As: Guitar Fool
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Post by Tequila Rob on Nov 11, 2022 21:04:07 GMT -5
Also, a single string, especially an outside string, sitting alone on a saddle with a transducer isn't going to sound great. Keep that in mind. I agree...but I couldn't think of any other way to really test it...... as it turned out, after I strung it up it sounded great...still a small amount of noise but it was something I could live with....I used an air compressor on the control module after I had sprayed it with the contact cleaner..and on the inside of the guitar but had it turned down low...just enough to get rid of any dust or debris inside that might be clogging the mic on the pick up.. all in all a learning experience and it came out better than expected and better than it was.....I appreciate all of the input guys!! |
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