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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2020 20:57:29 GMT
Hi guys
Can a low battery cause your pickup to buzz when you plug into an amp? I haven't changed the battery in my Lakewood for more than a year. Plugged it into an amp today and there's a significant buzz/hum. It didn't do that before. I wonder if low battery is a possible cause.
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Post by andyhowell on Jun 29, 2020 21:30:12 GMT
Not sure whether this is the issue or not but yes it can.
I change my battery twice a year - on the longest and shortest days (So I don’t forget).
Could be a poor ground connection though?
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 29, 2020 21:38:37 GMT
Try to pin down the source of the fault by changing one component at a time - battery, lead, amp, guitar. Could be any one of those. Just hope it isn't two of them!
Keith
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2020 22:11:43 GMT
It's definitely not lead or amp.
It's been working fine but I haven't plugged it in for a long time. Today someone came round to have a look at it and of course, when I plugged it in, it started to buzz. He wanted to take money off for the buzz. I said to wait and I'd ask around about causes.
Of course this is a guitar I restrung last week when I also posted about restringing being a perfect opportunity to change the battery. Why didn't I test it before I restrung it?
Mind you, he made the guitar sound so good I feel like popping it back into its case and holding on to it for year, by which time I might have developed enough skill to get something good out of it.
Meh. I'll make my mind up in the morning.
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jun 30, 2020 4:17:31 GMT
Try to pin down the source of the fault by changing one component at a time - battery, lead, amp, guitar. Could be any one of those. Just hope it isn't two of them! Keith Good advice. Also check that the plug “covers” on the leads are screwed on properly, that’s been a cause of buzz for me in the past.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2020 8:45:04 GMT
I know it's not the lead or amp because I've used the same lead and amp with a couple of different guitars and they are both silent.
It's just the one which still has the same battery from when I bought it about a year ago (so the battery is more than a year old).
I'll dive in there in a bit and change it and see if that does the trick.
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Post by andyhowell on Jun 30, 2020 9:07:25 GMT
The only time I have had this problem — and indeed still do — this was some kind of connection problem rather than the battery. I jsut haven't got around to having it looked at yet mainly as I don't play that guitar live these days (mind you I don'at play any of them live now!)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2020 10:02:45 GMT
Well the buyer seems to have disappeared. We were supposed to speak this morning. I guess it will be back on ebay and I'll put it on the classifieds here soon. Thing I'm most annoyed about is that I just changed the strings!!!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2020 17:29:21 GMT
Finally realised why I've always found that Lakewood a bit awkward compared to my Larrives. It has a 46mm nut.
I had no idea that one mil could make so much difference. But it does.
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Post by andyhowell on Jul 1, 2020 7:16:22 GMT
When it comes to nuts and necks 1 mil can make A big difference!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2020 9:37:17 GMT
A marked and distinct difference to my hands.
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Post by skyetripper on Jul 1, 2020 13:09:27 GMT
In reply to the original question, my Larrivee has an Anthem SL pickup and it does give increased noise when the battery is dying but I've had similar problems when the contacts in the end-pin jack get dirty so both might be worth a try. (I believe the Lakewood has the full Anthem?)
Just out of interest, I'm considering selling my Larrivee OM50v for the opposite reason to you Dave. I'ts an 1 11/16 (43mm) nut which I find too narrow for my hands, particularly now I'm getting used to my Sobell which is a 47mm nut. Despite the clear 4mm difference in nut width there is actually only a 2mm difference in string width at the nut (38mm vs 40mm) but it makes a significant difference.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2020 19:16:58 GMT
I've discovered that when I push the jack into the socket the buzz stops but as soon as I release the pressure it comes back.
Does that give anyone an idea of what the problem might be and how (and how much it might cost) to fix it?
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Post by ocarolan on Jul 1, 2020 21:47:42 GMT
I've discovered that when I push the jack into the socket the buzz stops but as soon as I release the pressure it comes back. Does that give anyone an idea of what the problem might be and how (and how much it might cost) to fix it? Ah, yes - sounds like it could be an earthing problem caused by the jack not seating fully in the socket. If so it'll cost you nothing as it's easy to do yourself. Have a look at the socket on the guitar - it's usually possible to unscrew the exterior nut(s) (plus or minus srtrap nut if present) and twiddle the nut inside so that you can poke a little more of the socket barrel out from the guitar. Prob only needs a millimetre or so, then reassemble and hopefully Bob will be your mother's brother. Worth a try anyway! keith
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2020 10:24:49 GMT
Brilliant. Thanks Keith. I'll take a look at it in a moment.
And on the bright side the buyer has decided to buy the guitar regardless of buzz and (God willing) will come and collect it later today!
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