Fishman pickup question

[tcamp22]

Though maybe someone might have an answer for this. Anyway, I have a D32 with a Fishman Infinity pickup on board. Factory installed. I've had the guitar for a little over two years now, and believe it or not, I never ran it through my PA until today. Anyway, everything is fine except for one thing. I dont get anything out of the G string. All the others come through fine, but not the G. I havent really tinkered with anything other than changing strings and have never dug around under the saddle. Any suggestions?

[Rick Jones]

My first step would be to take out the saddle, place it on a good flat level surface, put a light behind it and get down and eyeball the bottom of the saddle. If you see light coming through then you have a point of less pressure on the red piezo element under the saddle. If you have enough saddle left, level it out by taping a square of sandpaper to afforementioned flat surface and passing it back and forth until it's even. Go slowly and check often, take off no more than needed.

If there is no gap at the bottom, the next elimination is the saddle sticking in the saddle slot. Sometimes humidity can swell the bridge wood...the saddle is gripped more tightly, and can be squeezed up from the transducer. Less contact pressure equals less sound from the given area.....being that wood is by nature a random density material, it can happen in some spots more than others.
The way to test this is to tape the fine grit paper down as I mentioned above and take a TINY amount off the SIDE of the saddle.... I always take the leading side down and mark it with a pencil. Re fit and test if it goes all the way in more easily. Then string up and check the string balance.

It could be a combination of these two issues but do it in that order.

If this fails, take out the saddle, get a magnifying glass and a small torch and inspect the foil coating of the element for tears or holes or any raised sections.
Should you find any, you need a new element.

If none of this helps, ask a tech to inspect the saddle slot under the element for flatness. Removing the element yourself is fiddly and its foil coat is fragile.

Are you getting a buzz through the pa that goes away when you touch the jack socket?

[Rick Jones]

*edited sorry double post*

[tcamp22]

Rick,
Thank you. I will check it out. About ready for a string change anyway so now will be a good time. Seems odd thats its just the one string. As far as too much humidity, I dont believe that would be an issue. Its generally pretty dry here.

[Rick Jones]

Rick,
Seems odd thats its just the one string.

Not really, if that particular part of the saddle isn't making contact then that string won't sound. Happens sometimes.

As far as too much humidity, I dont believe that would be an issue. Its generally pretty dry here.

That is the thing though, a dry climate can mean that the wood is holding less moisture, and is more likely to absorb any in vicinity, can be even from the heel of your right hand being on the bridge, if the wood is dry and you sweat on the saddle, even on an Avalon with a finished bridge, the moisture can get in there and make a tiny amount of expansion, enough to trap part of the saddle and hinder the vibration transfer to the peizo element.

I don't mean your guitar is over humidified, just that moisture can affect the saddle slot, alot less than you need to cause other problems.

[tcamp22]

Hey Rick,
I tried what you suggested. Saddle was flat and not stuck. But I did find something, and maybe you know what this is....I dont know what the parts are called. Anyway, I took out the saddle and looked at what I guess would be called the contact strip. Its like a thin piece of hairpin or something on that order which lays down in the slot. What I noticed is that this strip has a red membrane, possibly some kind of contact matrial? Anyway, this membrane was on the area below the other strings, but not on the area below the G string. This is a two piece saddle with the E-G, then smaller B-E saddle. Could this be the problem? I'm obviously not an electric wiz. I'm thinking the contact may be hindered, and would there be something I could put on it....foil? Just guessing. After tinkering with it, I was able to get a little sound through the PA, but not anywhere equal to the other strings. Thanks for your suggestions and help.
Tim

[Rick Jones]

Hey Rick,
I tried what you suggested. Saddle was flat and not stuck. But I did find something, and maybe you know what this is....I dont know what the parts are called. Anyway, I took out the saddle and looked at what I guess would be called the contact strip. Its like a thin piece of hairpin or something on that order which lays down in the slot. What I noticed is that this strip has a red membrane, possibly some kind of contact matrial? Anyway, this membrane was on the area below the other strings, but not on the area below the G string. This is a two piece saddle with the E-G, then smaller B-E saddle. Could this be the problem? I'm obviously not an electric wiz. I'm thinking the contact may be hindered, and would there be something I could put on it....foil? Just guessing. After tinkering with it, I was able to get a little sound through the PA, but not anywhere equal to the other strings. Thanks for your suggestions and help.
Tim

Hi Tim,
that red stuff is the foil sheilding, and it's annoyingly delicate.
Are you seeing black or silver where it's not red? If the shield is torn, it's a new pickup element needed, sometimes they just get crud and stuff on them from sweat etc, if you have torn the sheild though I would expect some audible hum/buzz when plugged in, that went away when you toushed the output socket.
Can you post pics of the elements?

[tcamp22]

Hi Rick,
I do see a silverish color where its not red. Not really silver, but not black. As far as humming, it was nasty plugged in through my guitar amp, but thats for an electric. Through the PA, there was a little, but I think more due to needing knob adjustments. After I did that, it was okay.
I could send you some pics tonight if you dont mind. I've tried to upload on this site before, but never quite got it. If I could email a couple shots to you that would be better. My email address is tcamp22@msn.com, and then I could send you a couple photos. Thanks a lot....I have a feeling I am shop bound with this..

[Rick Jones]

Hi Rick,
I do see a silverish color where its not red. Not really silver, but not black. As far as humming, it was nasty plugged in through my guitar amp, but thats for an electric. Through the PA, there was a little, but I think more due to needing knob adjustments. After I did that, it was okay.
I could send you some pics tonight if you dont mind. I've tried to upload on this site before, but never quite got it. If I could email a couple shots to you that would be better. My email address is tcamp22@msn.com, and then I could send you a couple photos. Thanks a lot....I have a feeling I am shop bound with this..

I think you may be shop bound also, sorry to say, looks like you have a damaged element there with some of the crystal material showing.
Also, there shouldn't really be any earth hum to speak of through an electric amp, you probably just eq'd the worst of it out. That all speaks of damaged element/shielding .
If you wanna e-mail me rick@rickjonesmusic.co.uk .....but I think it's academic at this point, afraid to say.

[tcamp22]

Thanks for your help Rick. I'll just take it in to a local. Not pleased about this to say the least.