Members jealouscreature Posted January 18, 2011 Members Share Posted January 18, 2011 Hey everybody. I have an acoustic guitar with a pick-up that was factory-installed and it's doing something REALLY WEIRD. I have not had this problem before, but the last time I played it, the pick-up wasn't picking-up the B and high E string. The other four were ringing loud and clear. Has this ever happened to anybody else? What could cause this kind of thing? SarahJealous Creatures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Samilyn Posted January 18, 2011 Members Share Posted January 18, 2011 Can you tell us what kind of pickup it is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jealouscreature Posted January 18, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2011 I don't really know. It's in a Takamine guitar, though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted January 18, 2011 Members Share Posted January 18, 2011 It's possible the bottom of the saddle isn't making solid contact with the pickup. Could be something in the saddle slot or other issues. I'd take it to a Takamine dealer, preferably the one you bought it from. I'm hoping it's under warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Oldskool Texas Posted January 18, 2011 Members Share Posted January 18, 2011 First, always check the battery -- you never know! If yours is an under-saddle system, it sounds like either the pickup it isn't transmitting the vibration signal or it isn't picking it up from the strings. Check to see that the pickup is securely embedded under the saddle, that the saddle is making uniform contact with the pickup, and that the strings are making good contact with the saddle. Some Takamines have two saddles - one for E - G and one for the B and E. If that's how yours is, look under the small saddle and see what's goin on in there. Here's a picture of what you're looking at/for: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sgt. Rock Posted January 18, 2011 Members Share Posted January 18, 2011 I have this problem with my Cordoba nylon string guitar but it's both the high E and the low E that are silent. I messed around with the pickup strip under the bridge but nothing helps. I think the tension across the bridge saddle is not enough to transfer the vibes to the strip. If you have shaved off some of your bridge saddle you might not getting the right tension. I'm on the verge of buying a Taylor NS72CE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jealouscreature Posted January 18, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2011 I guess I will just have to suck it up and take it in. Thanks for the responses! Edit: Thanks for the picture. I've never had to put a battery in it before...do all pick-ups have batteries? @Sgt. Rock, I think you might be onto something with the bridge saddle... SarahJealous Creatures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Samilyn Posted January 18, 2011 Members Share Posted January 18, 2011 I guess I will just have to suck it up and take it in. Thanks for the responses!Edit: Thanks for the picture. I've never had to put a battery in it before...do all pick-ups have batteries?@Sgt. Rock, I think you might be onto something with the bridge saddle...SarahJealous Creatures No, some pickups are passive, some are not. If there's no "barn door" on the side of your Tak, shine a flashlight inside it and see if you can spot a little pouch of some sort in there. That's where the battery will be. A small makeup mirror is handy for looking around inside a git. Most "non-barn-door" installations have the battery up at the neck block. While you're looking around, it wouldn't hurt to check for loose wires too. If you do decide to take it to a tech, ask him/her to familiarize you with your pickup and give you some tips on easy ways to change your battery and some troubleshooting pointers. It's been my experience that most techs will spend some time with you if you ask 'em nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jealouscreature Posted January 18, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2011 Awesome! Thanks for the advice! SarahJealous Creatures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted January 20, 2011 Members Share Posted January 20, 2011 Takamine A/E's require batteries. If the pickup was indeed factory installed, there will be a preamp control panel and battery compartment door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seagullplayer77 Posted January 20, 2011 Members Share Posted January 20, 2011 Dave (DeepEnd) mentioned this earlier, but the fact that some strings are sounding and some are not strongly suggests that the saddle isn't making good contact with the pickup under the B and E strings. I've seen problems like this before, and they're usually fairly simple to fix. Generally, you "shim" the offending area with a little bit of some sort of clay so that there's a good contact between the saddle and the pickup. I've read about this sort of repair, though I've never actually attempted it so I can't say how easy it is to do correctly. Taking the guitar in for servicing is probably the best option, and it looks like that's what you're doing. The problem may lie somewhere else in the pickup system, and a pro would be able to pinpoint and fix the issue a lot better than we would . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rodeo123 Posted January 20, 2011 Members Share Posted January 20, 2011 I have not had this problem before, but the last time I played it, the pick-up wasn't picking-up the B and high E string. msi credit solutions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jealouscreature Posted January 20, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 20, 2011 @DeepEnd - Here is a picture of the same model guitar I have: It doesn't seem to have a door for a battery... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members garthman Posted January 20, 2011 Members Share Posted January 20, 2011 Hi Sarah Looks like it is a passive PU. Either that or the battery is inside the guitar - a few makers put them there. Have a look inside - if there is no battery it's definitely a passive PU. If it is passive it could one of a couple of things: the E and B string piezo crystals on the transducer which sits under the saddle (see post #5 above) may be damaged; the transducer may not be making a good contact with the base of the saddle. Best thing to do is take off the strings, take out the saddle and lift out the transducer carefully. Connect up the guitar to the amp and very gently tap each section (you should see a small approx 1/4" raised section that corresponds to each string) of the transducer with a small screwdriver - if it's working OK you should hear the sound from the amp. If it's OK you need to check that the seating of the transducer is done properly. If it's broken you need to replace the transducer - plenty on Ebay. Check it and come back - if it's a contact problem there is a good easy fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jealouscreature Posted January 20, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 20, 2011 WOW! Thanks for the incredibly thorough response, garthman! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members garthman Posted January 20, 2011 Members Share Posted January 20, 2011 WOW! Thanks for the incredibly thorough response, garthman! No problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted January 20, 2011 Members Share Posted January 20, 2011 [video=youtube;anwy2MPT5RE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted January 20, 2011 Members Share Posted January 20, 2011 @DeepEnd - Here is a picture of the same model guitar I have: . . . . . . It doesn't seem to have a door for a battery... I'm not sure but this looks like it could be a battery compartment door. What model is your Takamine? Edit: Okay, it looks like it might be an EG240 (http://www.takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=1305&sid=352#). If so, I believe those had passive pickups, which means no battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Samilyn Posted January 20, 2011 Members Share Posted January 20, 2011 I have not had this problem before, but the last time I played it, the pick-up wasn't picking-up the B and high E string.msi credit solutions Reported Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members garthman Posted January 24, 2011 Members Share Posted January 24, 2011 The other four were ringing loud and clear. Has this ever happened to anybody else? What could cause this kind of thing?Search Engine Advertising Services in Greece Go away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tartanlad Posted January 24, 2011 Members Share Posted January 24, 2011 I have not had this problem before, but the last time I played it, the pick-up wasn't picking-up the B and high E string.msi credit solutions The above post reported ^^ Mr Jon Chappell these people are just at itcan you also not be able to check if they may be using 2 accounts ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FretFiend. Posted January 24, 2011 Members Share Posted January 24, 2011 I would suggest that if anyone wants to quote the spammer, they could at least redirect the spam link to somewhere else... like here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tartanlad Posted January 24, 2011 Members Share Posted January 24, 2011 I would suggest that if anyone wants to quote the spammer, they could at least redirect the spam link to somewhere else... like here. Aye a agree again theyre both spam-junkies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members salyan Posted January 28, 2011 Members Share Posted January 28, 2011 Before throwing out the baby with the bath water, go somewhere you know will have a clean power line and that is without lots of electromagnetic radiation floating around. Check out the pick up there. Sometimes just turning off certain room lights will clean up the sound dramatically. Homes for sale Pinehurst NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members salyan Posted January 28, 2011 Members Share Posted January 28, 2011 Before throwing out the baby with the bath water, go somewhere you know will have a clean power line and that is without lots of electromagnetic radiation floating around. Check out the pick up there. Sometimes just turning off certain room lights will clean up the sound dramatically.Homes for sale Pinehurst NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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