amplification snafu

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amplification snafu

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Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

amplification snafu

So I was playing a gig and began to have these huge volume changes in the amp's output. The first time, I was playing and all of a sudden noticed the volume had greatly declined. Puzzled, I cranked it. Half an hour later, the volume jumped up to the former level and I had to turn down. That was quite shocking!

Here is the gear I was using:
Cordoba with piezo/mic Matrix system
AER compact mobile

Some possibilities:
1. some kind of glitch in the guitar sliders
2. old 9v in the guitar preamp
3. the AER's high/lo output switch being activated

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 8 2014 19:31:44

n85ae

Posts: 877
Joined: Sep. 7 2006

RE: amplification snafu (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

Go to an electronics supply store (Radio Shack possibly) and buy a can of TV Tuner
or potentiometer cleaner spray. Spray it into the sliders and work them back and
forth. It is probably just oxidation on the windings. Very common kind of problem.
Easily fixed, and a lot of shops make a lot of money doing this simple fix :) I know I
have.

Regards,
Jeff

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 8 2014 22:02:16

Ricardo

Posts: 14801
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: amplification snafu (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

Could be sliders, but I have had this problem with quarter inch cable's and jack connections as well. Check those too. Usually a little wiggle will reveal it.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 8 2014 23:11:17

NewPlayer

Posts: 141
Joined: Nov. 29 2012
From: San Francisco

RE: amplification snafu (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

I have had the sames issues, almost regularly with my GK Cordoba. I was told by a local guitar tech that that it has to do with the saddle not sitting properly on the undersaddle pickup, which he said was common after string changing. When that happens, I gently push in my saddle for it to settle in properly.

It could also be the cables as Ricardo mentioned.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 8 2014 23:22:31

Pgh_flamenco

Posts: 1506
Joined: Dec. 5 2007
From: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

RE: amplification snafu (in reply to n85ae)

quote:

Go to an electronics supply store (Radio Shack possibly) and buy a can of TV Tuner or potentiometer cleaner spray.

I bought an expensive can of cleaner about 20 yrs. ago and it worked well. The cheaper stuff didn't work at all for the same application. I recommend getting quality cleaner from an actual electronics store--i. e., not RS.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 9 2014 1:53:49

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: amplification snafu (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

Thanks for the responses, guys. I've been using this guitar for about 8 years, 100 gigs a year or so, and this is the first time it's happened. I will get some of the pot cleaner.

One thing I hope it is not is the amp. The AER has a switch for hi and lo volume inputs, and if you hit the switch, it would make a drastic volume change like that. I didn't hit the switch, so it could possibly be a circuit on the fritz...

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Connect with me on Facebook, all the cool kids are doing it.
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 9 2014 1:57:52