Pickups on acoustic guitars... Is my baby sick?

Spicy Lauren

hey lads

How do pickups work on acoustic guitars? Is it just one pick up or are there 2 or...? My acoustic is a Takamine EGS-330SC.

Was doing a bit of recording just now and noticed that the G, B, E strings don't sound as amplified as the E, A, D ones... I just changed the strings today and don't really fancy taking them out to see if everything is working fine inside...

I should also mention that a friend of mine used my acoustic at the weekend and plugged it straight into an electric guitar amp to play his gig... I wasn't very keen on him doing it but I let him do it anyway. Would that have damaged the pickups somehow?

Help, I'm kinda worried... Do i need to bring my baby to a guitar doctor?

Lauren

feylya

Acoustic into an electric guitar amp shouldn't damage your pickups.

It sounds like there's an issue with the piezo pickup under your bridge. Would probably be worth getting someone to have a look.

Spicy Lauren

feylya

Although, you can check and see if your bridge is seated properly on the treble side. Could just be that the saddle isn't making contact with the piezo

Spicy Lauren

oh that could be it!!! i took the saddle out today when i changed the strings. Never had taken it out before.. i was just curious to see what it was like underneath :P

So i need to take the strings out then?

feylya

You'd probably be better off rather than trying to force the saddle in.

When you say you took the saddle out, was it only the bone part and was there a wire attached to it?

Spicy Lauren

yes the bone part... if thats what it's called... The plastic thing the strings sit on...

No there was no wire attached. Dammit did I break something?

feylya

Na, you should be ok I think...

Spicy Lauren

ok. thanks Feyl. I wont take the strings out and check it now 'cos I dont think I'll need the guitar amplified in the next couple of weeks and the recording is just for personal use, kinda...

I'll let u know how i get on with it next time i change the strings.
Should be a couple of weeks.

Thanks a mill xx

Lauren

Spicy Lauren

hey feyl.

Looks like I'll need that guitar for a live recording at the weekend so gonna have to change them strings today or tomorrow.
What should I look out for when moving the bone part of the saddle? Should it touch the metal part? Would it be possible that I put it the wrong way around the last time?

L.

Spicy Lauren

helloooo
anyone home?

Spicy Lauren

nevermind, its fixed.
thank u feyl! xx

Fingers Mcginty

curious,,,what was the fix in the end Spicy?

Spicy Lauren

bone part of the saddle was the wrong way around. I'm so relieved! :pac:

Spicy Lauren

And its not fixed!!!
PLayed a gig over the weekend and noticed the exact same problem! Im crushed!

Dord

Spicy Lauren wrote: »

And its not fixed!!!
PLayed a gig over the weekend and noticed the exact same problem! Im crushed!

Give Derrick Nelson a call and tell him it's urgent. He might be able to sort it there and then while you wait as it's not that big an issue.

Eoin Madsen

What you described is a single piezo transducer, so I'd say it's still most probable that the pickup is no longer in proper contact with the saddle or bridge, as per feylya's suggestion - otherwise it probably wouldn't be working at all. How do the EAD strings actually sound? Are they still nice and clear or are they dull? An overall loss of treble frequencies might also cause the GBE strings to sound weak, but would indicate the preamp. How intermittent is the problem? Does it come and go?

Plugging the guitar into an amp is very unlikely to have caused damage to the pickup. I'd say something happened last time you changed the strings. Dropping it into a shop would be a good idea if you need a fix in a hurry.

Spicy Lauren

Eoin Madsen wrote: »

How do the EAD strings actually sound? Are they still nice and clear or are they dull? An overall loss of treble frequencies might also cause the GBE strings to sound weak, but would indicate the preamp. How intermittent is the problem? Does it come and go?

The EAD strings sound good as per usual. Its just the 3 higher strings that arent as amplified, in fact mostly the B and E strings... It doesn't come and go I don't think... It was more obvious last night when i was playing the gig as the high notes werent as loud as the rest in my monitor even though I had the treble up to max on the EQ of the guitar...
I'll bring her to a doctor during the week *sigh* ... my poor baby ...

Eoin Madsen

Yeah, it really does sound like the transducer just isn't sitting right. On the upside, you shouldn't have to replace the pickup.

Spicy Lauren

i'm gonna give it another go at fixing it tonight.