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PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 5:16 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2018 4:05 pm
Posts: 2
First name: dave
Last Name: kraft
City: Vail
State: CO
Country: USA
Focus: Repair
Status: Amateur
SOS both my guitars are running without amps. I'm brand new here. HELLO FROM SKI COUNTRY USA... VAIL. I've had bad luck with all four of my classical guitar electronics. My Ibanez G850EC-NT electronics died a month after purchase. After Ibanez's replacement part sent to the dealer didn't work. Ibanez eventually replaced it with a brand new guitar, that lasted a year. I was out off commission for a month at least. I kind of gave up on fixing the electronics after someone at a bar cracked the side wall down near the jack in three places. I would like to trouble shoot it and or replace the preamp/pickup, but with what? I need more than a year out of guitar electronics.

My brand new Oscar Schmidt's electronics lasted a month and the dealer was cool enough to let me upgrade trade my dead guitar for slightly nicer brand new model OC11CE. The electronics went through the same life span as my Ibanez... worked long enough to expire the warranty with the company. The electronics are EQ-505R. That was the same shite that lasted a month in my first Oscar Schmidt.

1. a. Is either piece of junk worth trouble shooting? (I can't find any videos that apply to classical). My first priority is the Oscar Schmidt. b. If not, can anyone post a link for DIY troubleshooting and or replacement of electronics? c. with what models should I consider?
2. The stop cap fix of a sound hole pickup, has never fit the sound hole of classical (of any I came across) and even if it did, the nylon strings wouldn't pickup would they?
3. Would the all in one output jack/piezo pickup placed under the bridge with no interior wires work with nylon strings?, I figured probably not, passive pickups don't work with nylon do they?

Thanks for your help,
Starshipcommander


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PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 6:25 pm 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Thu May 12, 2005 5:46 am
Posts: 2931
Location: United States
Welcome Starshipcommander,
You should give K&K a look. They're a fairly high output soundboard transducer so can be used passively, but they also have a external preamp which works quite well. They have an excellent sound also.

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http://jameswattsguitars.com



These users thanked the author Jim Watts for the post: starshipcommander (Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:17 pm)
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 10:19 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:09 pm
Posts: 870
Location: Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada
First name: Conor
Last Name: Searl
City: Duncan
State: British Columbia
Zip/Postal Code: V9L 2E5
Country: Canada
Status: Semi-pro
I agree with Jim Watts, I replaced the expression system in an old Taylor I had with the K&K mini. It was passive and still way better sounding than the original electronics. I'm sure K&K makes something classical specific.



These users thanked the author Conor_Searl for the post: starshipcommander (Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:17 pm)
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 9:32 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:49 am
Posts: 12971
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
First name: Hesh
Last Name: Breakstone
City: Ann Arbor
State: Michigan
Country: United States
Status: Professional
The crap that comes on many import instruments as a so-called pup is usually proprietary and when they go south, and they do.... other than board level replacement by dealers they are not worth the time and effort of even repairing.

You can check the obvious and as mentioned you can try to get a replacement but at the end of the day replacement with a stand alone pup system that is commercially available and well received and rated is usually advisable.

I second the K&K recommendation. Their stuff often does not look like it's ready for prime time, golf tees for installation..... etc. but tonally K&K is great. They have one now with a preamp that is installed in a hole in the side. I do wonder who they were targeting as an OEM replacement, anyone care to speculate?

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These users thanked the author Hesh for the post: starshipcommander (Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:18 pm)
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 11:58 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:02 am
Posts: 3227
Location: The Woodlands, Texas
First name: Barry
Last Name: Daniels
Piezo pickups work just fine on nylon strings. The only type of pickup that does not work with nylon strings are magnetic pickups like humbuckers.

I also highly recommend K&K pickups. They even work fairly well without a preamp.



These users thanked the author Barry Daniels for the post: starshipcommander (Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:19 pm)
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:22 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2018 4:05 pm
Posts: 2
First name: dave
Last Name: kraft
City: Vail
State: CO
Country: USA
Focus: Repair
Status: Amateur
appreciate everyone that weighed in. I will check out K&K


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