Preamp needed?
nerdydave
Posted 2012-11-07 12:38 AM (#461604)
Subject: Preamp needed?


Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 887

Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah
I have a 1681-9. When I plug it in only 3 strings are electrified. I can change it to the other 3 strings by switching the plugs from the pickup under the bridge. And it only works when plugged in to the monural jack. Also the sound only comes out of one speaker (plugged into a stereo system). Does anyone out there know if this means that one of my preamps is bad?? And if it is plugged into the monural jack should the sound come out of both speakers?? Hoping someone out there is more familiar with this than I. If I plug the cable from the stereo system into the stereo jack on the guitar none of the strings are electrified. I bought this guitar used. Thanking in advance for any help which I might receive. always nerdy dave
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Mark in Boise
Posted 2012-11-07 10:07 AM (#461607 - in reply to #461604)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755

Location: Boise, Idaho
All the strings should put out sound when plugged into the mono jack. Start there. If they don't all work on the mono jack, I would switch the plugs at the pickup and see if they all work.
Beyond that, I can't help. I've never played mine into a stereo system, so I only know how it is supposed to work on an amp. I think you need a special cord to make use of two amps out of the stereo jack.
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nerdydave
Posted 2012-11-07 11:09 AM (#461609 - in reply to #461604)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 887

Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah
Thank you for your reply. Only 3 strings have sound at the mono jack. If I switch the plugs inside the guitar (at the preamps) then the sound switches to the other three strings. That is why I think I may have a bad preamp.
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ProfessorBB
Posted 2012-11-07 12:24 PM (#461611 - in reply to #461604)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?



Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881

Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains
Is the battery fresh? Based on my ecxperience, the first sign of a dying battery is loss of sound from half the strings regardless of the output jack used.
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moody, p.i.
Posted 2012-11-07 12:33 PM (#461612 - in reply to #461604)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664

Location: SoCal
Clean out the plug on the preamp that's not working. Spray it out with some DeoxIT or something similar. I've had this happen on several of the reissue 2 knobber preamps. But check the battery as well.....
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nerdydave
Posted 2012-11-07 1:48 PM (#461615 - in reply to #461604)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 887

Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah
Battery is 9.7 volts and I replaced both of the small plugs on the preamp where the pizzoelectric pickups plug in. So they are clean and functional. Thank you all for your replies. Does anyone have a preamp assembly to sell?? It is the old two knob type.
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moody, p.i.
Posted 2012-11-07 2:18 PM (#461616 - in reply to #461604)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664

Location: SoCal
It's the reissue, redesigned 2 knob preamp. Talk to Al. He can probably get one for you.....
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nerdydave
Posted 2012-11-09 5:00 PM (#461669 - in reply to #461616)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 887

Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah
Can it be a reissue if it was made in 1981??
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moody, p.i.
Posted 2012-11-09 6:11 PM (#461674 - in reply to #461604)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664

Location: SoCal
Maybe not. I've never heard of the problem you are having with the original. Only the reissue.....
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hwebster
Posted 2012-11-19 7:51 AM (#462044 - in reply to #461604)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 489

Location: California
How about the stereo pickup? It may be some bad crystals on the pickup, were you able to buy a new preamp or a new pickup?
Interesting to know what the problem is, let us know what you found.


Edited by hwebster 2012-11-19 7:54 AM
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jay
Posted 2012-11-19 11:44 AM (#462058 - in reply to #461604)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?



Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249

Location: Texas
Boy, you can certainly find yourself on the wrong side of the guess here and end up buying something you don't need...is it a contact problem on the Piezo side or a pre-amp malfunction?
Surely Al or the MS would have a better way of isolating the culprit, other than a flip of the coin.

And as HW requested, please let us know how you resolved it, so that the next poor soul will have your experience to benefit from.


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nerdydave
Posted 2012-11-19 9:23 PM (#462094 - in reply to #462058)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 887

Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah
Of course I will let you know what it turns out to be. I think the fact that when I switch the plugs (at the preamp) the other three strings are amplified means that the pizzoelectric pickup is good. This would also seem to mean that the receptacle for the cable is functional. At this point I am planning on replacing the preamp. Mike has one I can buy as soon as he locates it.
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MusicMishka
Posted 2012-11-19 11:51 PM (#462098 - in reply to #462094)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563

Location: Blue Ridge Mountains
Dave the search is getting narrower...the wife and I have one more place to look...it;s crazy...had it in my hands two weeks ago...hang in there (so many places it can hide...lol)
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nerdydave
Posted 2012-11-20 7:59 AM (#462111 - in reply to #462098)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 887

Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah

Thank you for the update. I am blessed with infinite patience so rest assured that I am content to wait whilst you find said device. I will look forward to hearing from you at such time as you uncover its hiding place. forever nerdy dave
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MusicMishka
Posted 2012-11-27 5:36 AM (#462467 - in reply to #462111)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563

Location: Blue Ridge Mountains
Dave, we have eliminated the garage...looking in the storage locker...thanks for your patience...so many places it can hide...lol
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nerdydave
Posted 2012-11-27 8:58 PM (#462496 - in reply to #462467)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 887

Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah

Thanks for the update. I am quite sure I will want it when you locate it. Just bought a new amp so I am ready to go electric. Just let me know when you locate it.
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nerdydave
Posted 2012-12-03 12:36 AM (#462706 - in reply to #461604)
Subject: Re: Preamp needed?


Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 887

Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah
Problem is fixed. I replaced both of the female jacks on the preamp and I now have sound on all 6 strings. Only one of the jacks was bad (hence the sound on only 3 strings) but I replaced both just because I was in there and my soldering iron was hot (plus they come in a pack of 2 at Radio Shack).
Just letting folks know as I promised I would earlier in this thread. Merry Christmas everybody!!
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