|
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 15
Location: New Jersey | Hi,
I have an Al Dimeola Custom Legend that I am having a problem with.
It seems like some sort of input jack problem. The sound just totaly cuts out sometimes and I have to take the cable out of the back of the guitar and put it back in. I have tried multiple cables and it happens on all of them.
The guitar isn't that old. I got it in October 2007 but I haven't played it much until rectently.
Am I out of luck with the warantee on this guitar?
Anyone else have any problems like this with this model?
Steve |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | First: Change the battery (this may be a low voltage issue);
Second: If it's a loose connection somewhere, you should be able to replicate it by wriggling the offending parts. Try wriggling the cable when it is working, to see if you can make it cut out and in. Also, try wriggling the wires on the inside (you'll need to loosen some strings so you can get your hand inside the bowl;
Third: If you bought it new you have a lifetime warranty. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 15
Location: New Jersey | Hi,
Definitely has a fresh battery.
The other symptom is that sometimes when I put the cable in the sound is poor quality. So it does sound like a loose wire. In fact, when I do percusive slaps on the strings you can hear a rumbling that is kind of distorted. If I simply take the cable out and put it back in I can get a perfect sound for a period of time like a half hour and then the sound just completely cuts out. It doesn't always happen though and some days I was able to play for a few hours with no problem.
I'll have to do some more experimenting. I did loosen the strings like you mentioned and I didn't feel anything loose in there.
One thing that did happen recetnly is that the battery compartment got jammed when I was changing the battery. It's a tricky little mechanism to change the batteries in this guitar. So I brought it into the store and one of the guys helped me get it back in correctly.
I'm pretty sure the problem was happening before that though but I can't be positive about that.
Thanks for the feedback.
Steve |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2008
Posts: 1281
Location: Ohio | 20.00 says it's a bad jack...Oxydation may be the problem |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Remove the nut on the 1/4" jack and gently pull it up to the sound hole. Check the soldered connections on the jack. Sometimes the nut works loose and the jack spins, weakening those connections.
And as Richard said, if you bought it new it's under warranty. Might be a good excuse for a drive up to the factory. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | The connections on the OP Pro sometimes get loose. It's easy to remove the entire OP Pro can. Take the pre-amp out and loosen the two screws on eith side of the can. Threre are two wings that hold the can in place. Rotate the wings and the can comes out. Then you can check the wires completely from the pickup to the can and to the jack and see where the problem is. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2011
Posts: 7
Location: AZ | I had the same problem and it was due to a loose jack...when plugged in, it would spin around and eventually the connections broke/weakened. First time, i re-soldered it and it was okay, but I had a tough time getting the jack tight.
The next time, which is recent, I had someone else rewire it back as it stopped making the connection (and I had the guitar setup properly with the action lowered). However, the guy that set up my guitar may have mis-wired the jack since my battery keeps draining. I was going to take it apart and check the connection, but not sure how it should hook up.
If you did take it out, please describe to me, or take a pic of it, how the jack should be wired.
Thanks! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2011
Posts: 5
Location: Monterey Bay California | It could be your jack,or a cable someone stepped on and has a bad conncetion.... but many times people think it's the guitar, when it possibly could related to your sound - equipment,amps,reverb,delay or other effect pocessors.
Have you checked everything in your sound set up, by using another guitar? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | Although I doubt it is this, because of the age...But thought I would just chime in...I have taken several 30+ year old A/E's, that the seller has had laying around for 25+ years and when I plug them in, I get some string sound and some poltergeist sound. Every time, I have cleaned the jack and connections with contact cleaner really well, put her all back together and have always had clean sound after that.
I am sure you will find the source of your frustration...the bad thing is, it is always the last thing you try...good luck. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Lots of good ideas here. Trying another cable is the first thing I would do. Then removing the nut and checking the wiring and solder joints. If you don't feel comfortable doing that, just have a guitar shop do it for you. Sometimes everything can look ok, but a bad solder joint can hide itself pretty good also. Unless you have a continuity checker(Ohm Meter) hooked up to it while you are moving the wires around and playing with it, it may not show up at all. Sometimes they just need a good cleaning with alcohol to get light corrosion off. Anyway...Good Luck in figuring it out.
... On the other hand, it may just be a bad guitar, and I'd be glad to take it off your hands for you (: |
|
| |
Problem with my Custom Legend
