Piezo problems...

[chrisallen]

Ok. I've sent this guitar back 2 times already and I am extremely appreciative for the service I've had. Nothing but compliments to everyone at the company!!!

However, this problem keeps resurfacing.

JP 6 string fully loaded w/ piezo. The original problem is that one day, after about owning the guitar new from a store for 4 months, the piezo suddenly got very, very quiet as if the battery had died. Lack of bass frequencies and a very thin trebley sound. I changed the battery to a new alkaline, and no change. Tried 2 more batteries, no changes. I tried expensive and cheap cables, different amps, configurations, preamps... no change.

Sent the guitar back, and I believe they changed out the bridge assembly. Great. Got it back, it worked. Great. 2 weeks later, same exact thing. Tried all remedies, no change. Sent it back again. I think they changed the preamp this time. Got it back, worked great. Now 1 month later, the piezo is acting up again.

This time, though, it fades in and out randomly. I've been trying to find some sort of pattern or trigger or something, but it just happens randomly. (Actually it seems to happen when i play a bad note or something!!!)

The sound gets THIN, NO bass whatsoever, volume cuts in half. I've tried mono cables, stereo cables, messing with the EQ and mix controls, changing strings, looking for bad solder points or connections (there aren't any that look bad), checking the switches. I can only wonder if the piezo volume pot was the only thing never looked at.

But why would this thing fade in and out randomly. Again, I really can't find ANY trigger for this... I can't MAKE it not work, and when it doesn't work, I can't MAKE it work again. And the length of time from when it works to not working changes all the time from seconds, to minutes, to even hours!

Sometimes I'll play it, it works, put it in the case, revisit the guitar another day, and it doesn't work... then fades back in randomly.

It doesn't seem like a saddle issue, as ALL saddles exhibit the same drop in volume and gain equally. It's not like, the low string saddles go out, and the high strings are ok... they all equally drop.

EB was so nice to gut the preamp and bridge assy. to try and fix my guitar, but it's happening again. I really treat this instrument well, and don't drop it or be forceful or anything!

Any ideas. I have shows dependant on my acoustic guitar sound, and for me to have to take my acoustic as back up for this thing is not what i want... that's why i bought this guitar! it rips, and is perfect for me.

Help.

Thanks.

Please.

 

[beej]

Wow, that really sucks.

Best advice is to call customer service again. They're take care of you. Anything else is just a guess.

 

[chrisallen]

True, I just wanna see if there are any other suggestions before I call them a 3rd time. They'd probly think I'm jumping on the thing to make it stop working!

 

[slukather]

True, I just wanna see if there are any other suggestions before I call them a 3rd time. They'd probly think I'm jumping on the thing to make it stop working!

I'd very much doubt that, they are more than willing to help you until the problem is solved.

You said that you haven't checked the volume control, maybe a loss wire on that, or just a dodgy pot.

Scott.

 

[chrisallen]

it's funny because it doesn't take a jolt or any physical force to make it stop working. i can strum very lightly without causing much vibration through the guitar and it can happen.

is there any way to check a pot without actually replacing it?

and i'm sure EB checked everything on it... gahhhhhhhhhh!!!!! it's a bit frustratin!

 

[Mick]

Hey try and check the Battery connections maybe the you have some on and off connection.

 

[slukather]

Hey try and check the Battery connections maybe the you have some on and off connection.

Yeah l had the very same problem with my Luke 1, when the sound dies down push on the battery compartment, if the sound comes back on, it's the wire in there.

Scott.

 

[kbaim]

Could also be the way the battery is fitting in the compartment. Some 9v work better than others for some odd reason.

 

[Bierschinken]

This sounds to me as if there´s a bad soldering point...just re-solder em. I think this would solve the problem.

Random fates and such stuff is often just because of a bad soldering.

 

[chrisallen]

Cool. I will try that stuff again. I've made sure the contacts are in constant, well, contact with the battery, and the connections are all solid... but i will look again.

Crazy that a $10 piece would compromise a $2000 instrument...

Actually when I bought it, the elctric ridge pickup was not soldered on correctly... it was a single coil! Eh...

 

[Big Poppa]

JON? any ideas?

 

[jongitarz]

Well, we have replaced the bridge, and preamp. There is not much else that could be wrong, but I would check the battery box. The contacts in the box can get flattened out over time, and with the multiple battery changes, this could have happened.

If after you check this out, and you still have the problem, by all means, call customer service. We will make it right.

 

[chrisallen]

woah! the man the myth the awesomeness poppa!

hehe. i think jon actually worked on my guitar both times i sent it up there! i'm the dude from easy music center in hawaii.

i mean, if it's user error or something, i'll own up to it... after 2 times back there i can't help but think it's something i'm doing, but i'm so sure i'm not doing anything crazy.


edit - ok it was jon hehe. he posted while i was typing! but yeah, i'll check the battery box again.

again, i REALLY appreciate everything. i just wanted to post the issue here first to see if i'm being dumb and overlooking something that another user may have encountered as well. thanks!

 

[Jimi D]

It might be a good idea to test anything and everything you're plugging the piezo into... I mean, I don't know much about electronics, but the circuitry for the piezo must be IC stuff, and that's fairly fragile: is it possible that a power surge or short could be doing something to the preamp that's making this problem rear it's ugly head only after some use? I mean, that's the weirdest thing - in every case it works for a while, and then it goes wonky...

off topic: We just went through a hellish time finding a short that was intermittently electrocuting us in our jamspace - imagine four guys running around with volt meters and screwdrivers and extension chords everywhere... Ultimately, we had to go all the way back to the circuit board for the house wiring... Anyway, it reminded me how fickle and harmful power problems can be... Oh ya, and those shocks can hurt! And to think that in the old days when we came across the problem in a bar we'd just tape foam over the mic and scream louder!

 

[chrisallen]

i've tried everything. i fortunately work at a music store, so i can try all sorts of cables, amps, etc... so, yah.

 

[Lance Romance]

Had a similar problem with my Silo Special, and is was dirty contacts on the battery box. Stopped it dead in its tracks! Felt like a newb. give it a try.-Eric

 

[ernie1966]

This is a long shot, but are you tuned to pitch? The strings must be in good contact with the saddles for the piezo to work.


Anther long shot:


Do you live in a high humidity area? Maybe there is some oxidation on the saddles preventing vibration transfer.

 

[chrisallen]

tuned to pitch, bridge is angled correctly... full contact with the saddles.

and i live in hawaii, which is humid, but i don't think the humidity would cause a problem 2 weeks after the bridge was switched out.

i'm certain it's not the bridge. totally suspecting the battery box. i actually put a folded card behind the battery so when i close the door, it's totally pushed to the contacts. so it's not loose or anything. gigged last night, and it still went in and out.

it's weird because it's mostly low-end frequency drop out... but i have another gig tonight. i'll take a look at the actual contacts and see if i can clean those. if not, i'm calling cust.serv. tomorrow... hey dan...!

thanks for all the help everyone. really appreciate it. my color-changing ball is screwy!! (and you can quote me on that )

 

[fogman]

Chrisallen,

I must commend you on your thread!!!
It's nice to actually see someone go through the proper channels first before coming to the forum with the problem. Your thread was prensented nicely and worded so that you were not coming off as a hothead and bashing the company, calling anyone names, etc......
This should be a model for anyone posting a problem here.
Good job!!!! I'm getting sick of seeing threads locked up.

 

[chrisallen]

Chrisallen,

I must commend you on your thread!!!
It's nice to actually see someone go through the proper channels first before coming to the forum with the problem. Your thread was prensented nicely and worded so that you were not coming off as a hothead and bashing the company, calling anyone names, etc......
This should be a model for anyone posting a problem here.
Good job!!!! I'm getting sick of seeing threads locked up.

wow cool. i kinda know BB ettiquite, even though i can get silly sometimes haha.

i have NO reason to be angry or call anyone names. EB has been so great to me in trying to fix this problem. my store doesn't sell EB/MM due to being too close to another store that does, but man... i always have my guitar here, and wear the EB swag to work. people always ask about the guitar, say it sounds great (i demo a lot of gear with my guitar hahaha) and LOVE the mystic dream finish. so i'm really proud to finally own one.

i actually wanted to purchase this guitar when it FIRST came out. my parents helped me place the order (i was 18 at the time) and we put the deposit down, and ordered the 6string fully loaded mystic dream. 2 weeks after we ordered it though, my dad passed away suddenly. it was just me and mom so we had to immediately cut out everything that was extraneous... a $2000 guitar at the time was not feasable. so we were fortunate enough that the place i ordered it from let me cancel the order and get back our deposit. so for 4 years i tried to get the closest i could to the jp.... schecter c1e/a with ghost piezo was the closest i got, 500 bucks, not bad for the price, and i still have it. and i got the olp JP for like, 180... but it wasn't the same of course. i was very fortunate last christmas that a very good friend actually bought the guitar for me (pay him back when i can). to order your dream guitar, and have it taken away from you, that sucks. i'm so proud to have it now though. i tell everyone about it.

WOAH TANGENT OK!!!!!!
yeah, threads like this unfortunately end up getting locked due to immaturity. but everyone here has been super cool!