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Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???

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morbidguitar
Posted 2013-05-07 12:56 PM (#470258)
Subject: Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???


Joined:
May 2013
Posts: 5

Hi, i bought a brand new ovation celebrity cc28 online, and to my surprise when i plugged it in, the notes can be heard when played, but its through a layer of static, distortion, popping, and cutting out. I tried 3 new batteries, took the preamp out of the guitar and checked all of the solders and connectors. wiggle tested all connections and wires while plugged in made no change. Im not happy at all, i bought this brand new and cant get hold of the place i bought it from, cant get through to anyone for 2 weeks now. I am 300 Miles from the closest service dealer. I am an electronics technician so dont mind looking at it myself even though i shouldnt have to.

Can you guys tell me is there supposed to be some kind of resistance through the pickup? I test ohms through the connector of the pickup and got OL (open). I know you can test regular wound pickups this way, but not sure about the ones in these guitars. Can anyone tell me the ohms of the pickup??? If I can eliminate the pickup, its gotta be a bad preamp. Ive already priced it out, for almost $100 after shipping and tax I will probably end up getting a replacement, but i want to be sure its not the pickup first. I found absolutly nothing online about that question.

Hope you guys can help, it would be nice to be able to play my brand new guitar. Not impressed one bit by this.
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morbidguitar
Posted 2013-05-07 12:57 PM (#470259 - in reply to #470258)
Subject: Re: Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???


Joined:
May 2013
Posts: 5

I posted in here because i cant post anywhere else it seems like.
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Damon67
Posted 2013-05-07 3:37 PM (#470263 - in reply to #470258)
Subject: Re: Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City
morbid, I think you've passed the "BOT Test". You're now free to move about the cabin.

Welcome!
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Damon67
Posted 2013-05-07 3:39 PM (#470264 - in reply to #470258)
Subject: Re: Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City
BTW, I don't believe you can test an Ovation piezo like you can a wound pup, but I could be wrong. Someone who knows more than I should come along soon, but maybe try posting in the main sections where more people can see it and respond.
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MWoody
Posted 2013-05-07 4:49 PM (#470266 - in reply to #470258)
Subject: Re: Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987

Location: Upper Left USA
What preamp is in it?
It sounds like a bad unit vs. connections.
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morbidguitar
Posted 2013-05-07 9:12 PM (#470276 - in reply to #470258)
Subject: Re: Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???


Joined:
May 2013
Posts: 5

Ok, thanks! Can this be moved to the appropriate section so I get tech advise, or post a new thread there?


The preamp in that model is the OP4BT. Cant decide if i want to spend $100 after tax and shipping for a replacement. If there was a way to test the pickup that would pretty much tell me its the preamp. I have power and ground on both connectors, and no resistance/open through the + and - of the pickup. There is one diode on the top of the circuit board that says 4.3V beside it. I tested and have 9.3 (battery voltage). But that might not mean much. Any help?
:D
Thanks
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dobro
Posted 2013-05-08 5:03 PM (#470308 - in reply to #470258)
Subject: Re: Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???



Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120

Location: Chicago
What pream is it, MG? I may have a "leftover" unit sent from Hartford years ago. Let me know and I'll just mail it to ya (if i fits, that is). No sense letting it collect dust around here.
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MWoody
Posted 2013-05-08 5:24 PM (#470310 - in reply to #470258)
Subject: Re: Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987

Location: Upper Left USA
The good weather is here. Maybe time to start having gatherings and have a dozen or so OFCers trouble shoot the unit for you!

It's a shame whoever sold it to you can't make good on it.
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Damon67
Posted 2013-05-09 2:25 AM (#470327 - in reply to #470310)
Subject: Re: Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City

MWoody - 2013-05-08 3:24 PM The good weather is here. Maybe time to start having gatherings and have a dozen or so OFCers trouble shoot the unit for you!

 

Is that an offer to host?

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Mark in Boise
Posted 2013-05-09 10:36 AM (#470332 - in reply to #470258)
Subject: Re: Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755

Location: Boise, Idaho
I'll be in the vicinity for the BSU-Washington game the end of August.
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FlySig
Posted 2013-05-09 11:20 AM (#470334 - in reply to #470258)
Subject: Re: Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???



Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4044

Location: Utah
The Ovation pickup is a piezo unit. I believe it is 6 individual piezo units, one under each string. Piezo elements are very high resistance so I think you would likely read an open circuit with a multimeter.

If you can find the adapter plug you could plug the pickup into the line-in or mic-in of any amp to see if you get a signal. It won't be a strong signal but any generic preamp for instruments should be able to hear it.

I would advise caution messing with things much so that you don't void the warranty.
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morbidguitar
Posted 2013-05-09 1:25 PM (#470339 - in reply to #470258)
Subject: Re: Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???


Joined:
May 2013
Posts: 5

Sounds great, its an OP4BT preamp.

Thanks for the help so far everybody!
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morbidguitar
Posted 2013-05-22 12:19 PM (#470766 - in reply to #470258)
Subject: Re: Ovation Celebrity preamp or pickup Junk???


Joined:
May 2013
Posts: 5

Anybody know where I can get a USED OP4BT preamp????
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