Switching out a piezo saddle on a JP

[sambarugh]

So the A string on my JP7 had been producing a lower volume output than the other strings - I followed protocol and called EB CS who advised me to switch out the saddle due to what was likely a bad crystal.
I've decided to try it myself rather than have send the guitar in to the factory. Anyway I just un-screwed the saddle to locate to dot color for re-ordering purposes and noticed the solder joint was hidden inside the saddle piece.

So can I get some advise/pictures from those of you who have replaced piezo saddles on the best/easiest way to approach this.

Thanks.
Sam

 

[threeminutesboy]

I think you need to disconnect the saddle from "the other side". Means not from the saddle side but from the preamp side. I think Spud is an expert in doing such thing

 

[straycat113]

Sam I would not mail back a guitar either for an issue like the one you are dealing with but maybe you should have a really good tech that has done this have a look and do the job.

 

[buckethead777]

You have to remover the bridge, unscrew the piezo board from underneath, and there you'll see soldered wires..
It's quite simple, just go for it

 

[Spudmurphy]

Hi
I rebuilt the piezo when I refurbished my JP6.
The first thing you need to do is take the old saddle off and see whether its Reverse polarity or not - this will shown by the letter R stamped underneath - see photo below

As you can see the tag wires are short and they are soldered onto a PCB which is screwed to the trem block

This photo shows the tags soldered to the PCB ( I redid the joints again using better solder gun) if the solder joints are too proud they will ground out on the trem block.

on a scale of east/medium/hard I'd say it's medium because you do have to have your wits about you.

 

[Grifff]

Do the JP's piezo saddles often malfunction or is this a once in a blue moon kind of thing? I'm looking to purchase a JP model Music Man soon.

 

[threeminutesboy]

I don't think this is very common problem. It's normal to have some pcs with failure and EBMM always provide top notch customer service so I don't think you have to worry.

Ernie1966 (forum member) has over 60 JPs (maybe more in fact ) never heard about any problem from him

 

[Spudmurphy]

I have seen it on other guitars and also on EB guitars - the string may break and it has been known for the piezo crystal to ping off the saddle. My JP 6 had issues such as this but in EB's defence it was a war horse that hadn't been particularly well looked after- but you oughta see it now!!! I don't know how the crystal is fixed to the saddle - it may just be "peened" in.
I've never tried peening the crystal back in place nor have I tried another fix such as a dab of superglue.
It would be interesting to know if a saddle can be fixed in this way - assuming you have recovered the crystal.