The Ovation Fan Club
The Ovation Fan Club
Forum Search | Statistics | User Listing Forums | Calendars | Albums | Language
Your are viewing as a Guest. ( logon | register )

Random quote: "There are more love songs than anything else. If songs could make you do something we'd all love one another." -Frank Zappa



Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page]
SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem

View previous thread :: View next thread
   Members Forums -> About my guitar...Message format
 
muso.greg
Posted 2015-07-11 8:19 AM (#513360)
Subject: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
September 2013
Posts: 52

Location: Brisbane Australia
I was recently fortunate to purchase this lovely instrument that I simply had to play from the moment I saw the photo. I didn't know they existed until recently! It was purchased in the USA and was shipped 1/3 of the way around the world to "down under". I played it acoustically very happily for the first couple of days. I am not much of an acoustic player and generally stay in the realm of electric guitars (mostly solid bodies) but I found this a particularly nice guitar to play acoustically. I thought I would use it for a gig I had coming up, so I plugged it in to see what it sounded like amplified.... my first issue with it No output. nothing! Problem

I have no reason to think it wasn't working when it left the USA (I'm sure it was) so I looked for a loose wire - nothing. I found the battery compartment. I had to look up the online instructions to figure out how to get at it and check the battery - all good there. Battery is 90% charged (but I tried a new battery just in case - no different). I unplugged the piezo output and put a multi-meter on it - I can get a reading so I assume it is working.

So I am turning to the knowledgeable people here to tell me what have I missed? What else can I check? Do the pre-amps just die? I've tried different leads, plugged into different amps and PAs... Suggestions at this point are very welcome. There is no easy option for a repair centre near where I am, so if I you can help me to diagnose the issue (and hopefully fix it) I will be a very happy guitarist
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Damon67
Posted 2015-07-11 2:19 PM (#513382 - in reply to #513360)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6992

Location: Jet City
Hey folks, this was my 84, and it was indeed working when it left. I have another preamp somewhere I can dig up and send worse case, but if anyone has some other ideas, please chime in.

Thanks
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Cavalier
Posted 2015-07-11 8:58 PM (#513396 - in reply to #513360)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem


Joined:
March 2013
Posts: 359

Location: undisclosed
He should be able to see if the battery power is getting to the preamp with a ohm meter. I'd suspect the output jack first but cleaner in the controls isn't hard to try.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
muso.greg
Posted 2015-07-13 3:42 AM (#513424 - in reply to #513360)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
September 2013
Posts: 52

Location: Brisbane Australia
I get a reading of 1.6nf at the jack from the pickup. If I plug the pickup jack into the pre-amp and put the multi meter across the output jack I get a reading of .07nf which goes up to .25nf if I disconnect the battery. I had already tried jumping the output jack - no signal still. The battery power is getting to the preamp - I'm not sure what to test after that. I guess I need a schematic?
Top of the page Bottom of the page
TAFKAR
Posted 2015-07-13 5:02 AM (#513426 - in reply to #513424)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985

Location: Sydney, Australia
Drive up to Muzz's house with a nice bottle of wine.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
muso.greg
Posted 2015-07-13 6:35 AM (#513427 - in reply to #513426)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
September 2013
Posts: 52

Location: Brisbane Australia
is that an hour... a day... or just wishful thinking?
Top of the page Bottom of the page
TAFKAR
Posted 2015-07-14 2:55 AM (#513449 - in reply to #513360)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985

Location: Sydney, Australia
Until it's fixed. Better take a designated driver with you.

Edited by TAFKAR 2015-07-14 2:56 AM
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Damon67
Posted 2015-07-15 6:04 PM (#513494 - in reply to #513360)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6992

Location: Jet City
Greg might be wondering how far Muzza's place is. I hear that there's a bit of space between things down under.

Greg, I'll help how ever I can. I am pretty sure I have parts for anything that could be wrong, I just need you to find where the problem is.

Top of the page Bottom of the page
muso.greg
Posted 2015-07-18 7:37 PM (#513574 - in reply to #513360)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
September 2013
Posts: 52

Location: Brisbane Australia
Thanks Damon. I'm just concerned that I have done something wrong that is really simple (if you know what you are doing!). It wouldn't be the first time...

I don't know Muzza other than what I posted on the forum - so I have no idea who he is or where he lives. I like that he likes wine
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Eynowd
Posted 2015-07-18 10:26 PM (#513582 - in reply to #513574)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
July 2014
Posts: 154

Location: Canberra, Australia
muso.greg - 2015-07-19 11:37 AM

I don't know Muzza other than what I posted on the forum - so I have no idea who he is or where he lives. I like that he likes wine


Muzz lives on the Sunshine Coast, so about an hour or so from you, depending on where in Brisbane you are.

If you go to the Downunderers forum, he was the last one to make a post there.

The Wiz, who used to frequent these forums, and now runs the Australian Guitar Making School in western Brisbane, might also be able to help.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
muso.greg
Posted 2015-07-20 5:33 AM (#513608 - in reply to #513360)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
September 2013
Posts: 52

Location: Brisbane Australia
Thanks
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Damon67
Posted 2015-07-20 10:01 AM (#513611 - in reply to #513360)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6992

Location: Jet City
Greg, my white SSB stopped working. Thought it might be the preamp, but as Cavalier said above found out it was the output jack that was the culprit.

I did find my spare FET preamp too, but I have a sneaky suspicion that's not the issue.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
TAFKAR
Posted 2015-07-21 2:34 AM (#513622 - in reply to #513360)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985

Location: Sydney, Australia
Muzz is an electrician by trade, so if you grease him with alcohol (doesn't like beer) I'm sure he'll be most helpful. Send him a PM through here or PM me your details, and I'll text him with your details.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
muso.greg
Posted 2015-07-22 3:16 AM (#513663 - in reply to #513360)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
September 2013
Posts: 52

Location: Brisbane Australia
My work is taking me overseas in the next few days so I made an executive decision and dropped it into Ocheteco Guitars and asked Gabriel to look at it and work out the issue. I am only home for a few weeks and time has just about run out! Gabriel is someone I trust for that sort of thing, but being as busy as he is I will have to get the wife to collect it once he has had the chance to look at it. At least it should be ready to play when I get back
Top of the page Bottom of the page
MWoody
Posted 2015-07-22 8:02 AM (#513665 - in reply to #513360)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13983

Location: Upper Left USA

Electronics repair is the art and science of systematically touching every part until the most expensive or hardest to reach part has been replaced and you eventually find that the battery was dead... just saying.

I have a variety of preamp parts... somewhere... if needed.



Edited by MWoody 2015-07-22 8:05 AM
Top of the page Bottom of the page
muso.greg
Posted 2015-07-22 5:08 PM (#513686 - in reply to #513360)
Subject: Re: SBB Elite '84 Collector's Edition problem



Joined:
September 2013
Posts: 52

Location: Brisbane Australia
Thanks. You describe my methodology well - pick an end of the circuit and proceed slowly and with care Of course sometimes I have picked the "wrong" end to start...
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page]
Jump to forum :
Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread

This message board and website is not sponsored or affiliated with Ovation® Guitars in any way.
Registered to: The Ovation Fanclubâ„¢ Copyright (c) 2001
free counters
(Delete all cookies set by this site)