Martin DCX1RE Acoutic Guitar Pickup Problem, succesful diagnosis and repair

[@JustMe6904GitarosPamokos]

Sometimes problem with flexible piezo transducer you can solve by drilling about 3-4 mm deep hole in bridge along the saddle's slot buttom to hide the end of transducer. Because twisted end is much harder than whole transducer and saddle kind of hanging on this end and doesn't contact with piezo part at the e string. So you have to hide this twisted end into the drilled hole and saddle will evenly contact piezo on entire lengt. And when i drill the hole for the flexible transducer's cable i do it to make less sharp angle to prevent damage by bending it hard.

[@UOttawaScotty]

Wonderful comment, thanks for sharing this tip

[@TrevorHelt]

Great advice!! Thank you

[@muzikboxplus]

I was encountered exactly same problem as yours in my Fishman Classic 4. You are suspecting that the broken shield ( 2.21) night be the cause of the problem? I can assure you it's not. Try to drill another hole at the opposite end and extend the reach of the piezo. Move the piezo abit through the new drilled hole ( insert about 3/16mm) Check the flatness of the saddle contactside & you're good to go. It works on me. I hope it will help you too. Cheers.

[@UOttawaScotty]

I agree, I'm not sure why the pickup would have a dead spot at the end, moving it over would definitely solve this problem. I didn't want to drill any new holes in my guitar, so I put a new pickup in the guitar and it now works great. I have encountered this problem a lot with acoustic pickups. Thank you for the good advice.

[@muzikboxplus]

Just like you, i had made alot of modifications in my guitars, just like what you did (you replace the Sonicore Piezo to Matrix/ Red thinline piezo) I did it too. They are both made by Fishman In my experience, the sensitivity for is to high for me. But if it's fine in your playing style. I must be happy that you made it. Cheer Bro.

[@UOttawaScotty]

@@muzikboxplus I didn't realize that there was a difference in tone between the two pickups, as I was likely so focused on getting the guitar to work properly. The thin Red pickup works well for me, I play the guitar in this video about 20 hours per week on gigs, so the frets are now starting to wear out ! I will have to bring it to the luthier to have him replace my frets. I will try to get stainless steel frets so they will last longer. Thank you for your comment, and recommendations, I now know why that problem happens, and if it happens again I will know what to do, cheers from Canada.

[@muzikboxplus]

Hmm, You're always welcome. I am willing to share anything that everyone might have a benefit in it. Try to consult your Luthier about Evo Gold by Jescar first before you decide to go on Stainless steel Fret. Goodluck Brother Cheers From Ph

[@Hannah_Aboh]

How do you fix a pickup that isn't producing any sound at all, like no sound when brought out and tapped

[@UOttawaScotty]

Start with the obvious things though, all solder joints still intact, getting power to the preamp or pickup if it requires it...those kinds of things, then move on from there.

[@VajrahahaShunyata]

Does the quality of the piezo replacement pickup effect sound, feedback, etc. I recently had to replace one and everything works again but it seems to feedback easier. It was a cheap piezo that my luthier had laying around

[@UOttawaScotty]

Im not really sure, but I would be predisposed to say yes.

[@VajrahahaShunyata]

@@UOttawaScotty thanks for the reply, I recently had one fail and replaced it with one my luthier had laying around and the guitar now seems more prone to feedback than it did before. I can't find much information about the quality difference of replacement pickups in the forums.

[@kankanchoudhury2669]

I just cut the overlying layers . Will covering it with copper solve the problem.. my pickup is not taking any sound

[@peterbayram]

Thank you Bro.

[@zachangelonitunes]

Did you ever try fixing the original pickup by cutting it like you had thought about? I'm having the same issue as you were, even after adjusting the saddle and thought about giving that a try. My pickup looks like same as yours in the video, as if it is damaged towards the high ends.

[@UOttawaScotty]

Since changing the pickup and fixing this problem, I have not had a reason to revisit this issue, and so I have not tried cutting it, however, seeing as how I will not likely ever use that pickup for anything again, I guess I could cut into it and try it out. I have seen this happen quite a lot, and I really believe there is something internal going on with the crystal that may be preventing an even pickup pattern.

[@thefreese1]

You cant cut them .. they are built as a whole unit

[@57Raz]

Anybody have problems with distorted sound (like distortion fuzz) with these thin piezo pickups (like the one he installed)? I have noticed some tiny abrasions towards the ends of the foil covering and added some extra adhesive foil to cover that, but still have the problem. Wondering if that’s the wrong way to fix it, or if it’s the pickup itself, or a slightly loose saddle, or some electronically produced buzz from the system. Not seeing much on this and trying to not have to spring for a new pickup just to troubleshoot. It’s a fairly new guitar and wasn’t cheap.

[@UOttawaScotty]

Hmmm, interesting, sorry but I have not experienced that yet. Are you positive that it's a physical condition and not caused by a bad preamp or low battery etc etc. What kind of guitar and pickup ?

[@57Raz]

UOttawaScotty Hi - it’s a Fisher Prefix ProBlend in a Ramirez N2CWE. It had a slight buzz early on that was a loose washer. Then had a hum due to loose jack (related to the washer/nut placement), fixed. Then noticed the “fuzz” on certain strings when amped or recording via computer MIDI input. New strings, checked bridge placement (had no idea how sensitive that is - it changes with string tension!), but that was like a hum. Didn’t fix it, then taped the pickup, fuzz still there. Replaced generic low battery recently with a Duracell 9v, but now I’m hearing that Duracell batteries (1mm thicker) can misalign with contacts and cause issues). And not sure if my shielding tape job was up to snuff since I only covered the noticeable areas. It’s a 2017 build but purchased new only last year.

[@UOttawaScotty]

@@57Raz How is your setup, sure your strings are not buzzing slightly against your nut down low ? If the sound changes with different string tension, that would tell me that it might have something to do with your neck adjustment, your neck could be too straight or bowed backwards cause the strings to buzz slightly against your frets. Also concerning is the fact that you had a "loose jack" with an obvious repair on the shield which would explain the "hum" sound. Your indication that the hum was caused by the loose washer makes perfect sense, but Im wondering if some other kind of damage had occurred because of that problem ? Having a loose end pin/jack/strap attachment is a pretty big deal. Lots of sensitive electronics all relying on the one nut being intact, and if not, the weight of the guitar, and your strumming hand all falls on that one point, seen a lot of problems with that in guitars in general, not just acoustics. Does the "fuzz" sound sound like it is an electronic type fuzz or a physical kind of fuzz ? And by that I mean does it sound like a distortion pedal type effect, or is it clearly only present on particular strings. If its only present on particular strings than it means that it must be a mechanical fuzz or vibration. If the fuzz is present globally on the guitar, then you might have an actual problem with the preamp, wiring, or any number of other issues. What does it sound like to you ?

[@57Raz]

@@UOttawaScotty Thanks for the suggestions. I checked all that stuff and found no problems with the action (it's pretty high), or the nut. There's not much wear at all - thankfully - and the neck is still straight. It was an electronic type fuzz which had me thinking it was the pickup hearing something in the guitar but no loose braces or cracks. I kept messing with it and turns out the Fishman pre-amp is, I think, basically overdriving the signal at anything other than a very, very low volume setting on the guitar. Maybe the tape job on the pickup got it working finally the way it should have been, or maybe there's something unbalanced now. Not sure, but it works well plugged into an amp and.or computer and sounds clean as long as I keep the signal volume low.

[@alucero7832]

So...what was the problem with it anyway?

[@UOttawaScotty]

It was the actual pickup, changed the under saddle pickup, fixed the problem, there was a dead zone in the original pickup

[@alucero7832]

@@UOttawaScotty Excelent!...Thanks for the quick answer!! Cheers!!!

[@MrDandanhesourman]

I came here to address a Martin acoustic saddle issue. This, however, is the CREEPIST video I've ever seen on KZbin!!!! Even the dog was creeped out. Do you tell your guitar to "put lotion on it??"