duckbucker problem (new user)

[heros57]

Hi there.I wanteed to introduce myself and say thanks in advance for any help given.I'm Don Hogan,mostly an acoustic player trying to make the jump to electric guitar.That's why I bought a Godin guitar.It is the LGX3 and has an active LR-Baggs bridge (saddle piezo pickups).The electric side has 3 duckbucker pickups in a strat style layout.The duckbucker pickups sound very fuzzy when played.It happens all the time , at any volume, using any pickup combination.The pickups are very quite,no hum at all.But when you play rher is a rattle/fuzzy sound to all the notes.The sound is in the background all the time.If you play a note and mute the guitar quickly,then you don't notice it.Do I need a better pickup ,setup,etc...???Thanks,,,Don

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

Don, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!

Great choice of the Godin, they are excellent guitars, especially for the money.

I think your duck buckers might be wired incorrectly, they should sound very similiar to strat single coils and not buzzy and fuzzy at all.

I'd double check my wiring with this schematic http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/support/schematics/duck_vrails_vol_2tone_5way.html

Hope that helps man!

Luke

 

[heros57]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

Thanks for the help.I'll check it out when I get home. Also,,are the duckbuckers active?The sound I'm getting is just like the sound you get when a battery is going dead.That frying kinda sound when the pickup is still working but the battery is about to go....Don

 

[heros57]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

Also,Is there an improved or upgraded version of the duckbucker ? I want a strat/tele type sound,,(looking for Mark Knofler sound).. . Just wondering,I like the pickups but always willing to try new things....Don

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

No your pups are not active they are passive. It sounds to me like a major wiring problem. Maybe you have a bad solder joint. That would be my guess if all the wiring is correct.

Also,Is there an improved or upgraded version of the duckbucker ? I want a strat/tele type sound,,(looking for Mark Knofler sound).. . Just wondering,I like the pickups but always willing to try new things....Don

The only way to get a true single sound is with a single unfortunately. However you could go with the Classic Stack if you wanted a humcancelling version. It is very stratty.

Luke

 

[tone4days]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

i have a duckbucker and have not experienced the problem you describe .. wiring does sound suspect, especially if it is present on any of the combinations using the ducks

i wonder if the piezo output is somehow crosstalking onto the magnetic output ? ... or a fried pot?

are the magnetic output and piezzo output signals routed to the same output jack (parallel) ? or are they stereo? or are they on their own output jacks? ... no matter what, it should not be making that noise so i say it needs to go back for the shop to have a look at ...

did it always do this ? or did it happen all of a sudden? or has it gradually gotten worse

good luck
t4d

 

[Artie]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

Hi Don; Welcome to the forum.

It sounds to me, from what you're saying, that this is a brand new, relatively expensive guitar. If it was mine, I'd send it back, or at least, call Godin, and tell them the problems you're having.

Duckbuckers shouldn't sound like that.

 

[MikeS]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

I should probably research a bit before posting, but I wonder if the active circuit from the piezzo system is essentially boosting the ducks. I assume the peizzo system is switchable, does the fuzz go away when the piezzo is switched on/off?

 

[tone4days]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

another thing just occurred to me ... what are you playing the guitar into when you hear the noise? a regular electric guitar amp? your computer? some kind of P.A. system? .. it might just be that the output of the duckbuckers is too hot for whatever you are playing into .. this would be especially true if you are going into a mixer with the mic trim not adjusted properly or your computer's mic input ...

tell us more and we'll help more

cheers
t4d

 

[heros57]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

I'll try to answer all replys here....The guitar has two completely different outs.1 for the duckbuckers and 1 for the piezo.I use 2 seperate 1/4" guitar cords. If I turn the piezo volume slider off,it is completely silent.The same goes for the duckbuckers.If I turn the volume knob down , it is silent.I don't think either one is bleeding over on the other.It is a new guitar,but a 1999 that was never sold . I am playing thru the new system made by bose.The personal amplification system.It is made for running a guitar straight into it.I go to a alesis mixer then to the bose.I have tried turning down the trim and then turning it up again but any setting gives the same results....I could see it being a pickup problem if one of the pickups was sizzling.But they all are and at any setting on volume or tone.???????????? I have a Rivera amp arriving today and if it does it with it,I'll send it o Godin.....I guess...Thanks to everyone.Great forum.....Don

 

[tone4days]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

ah .. okay ... thats alot of useful info for diagnosis ... yeah, i am doubting crosstalk too given the clarification about (2) 1/4" outs (my guitar with a piezo uses a stereo out) ...

that PAS is cool, and i am sure you will be able to eventually get all squared away ..

why do you need the alesis? i am thinking that could be your trouble right there ... can you put the piezo into one of the PAS inputs and the ducks into another just to see? ... and yeah, the rivera (sweet amp) will give you definitive diagnosis .. i hope it is something simple for you so it doesnt need to go back

let us know

cheers
t4d

 

[heros57]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

Update/////// The rivera amp sounds killer.The problem I was having disapeared.But,,new problem.....It turns out that as long as I use one cord and let the guitar do the mixing,it sounds killer.Both piezo and ducks.When I use 2 cords,it makes the amp hum and the piezo sounds week.As soon as I unplug the piezo cord,the hum goes away and the ducks work perfect.So ,,there is a grounding problem or something weird going on at the guitar jacks ??? Also,the volume knob is working like it's supposed to.When I first got the guitar,there was no swell,just volume on and with a 1/4" turn,volume off.Now,,it works better,,nice travel and swell.Remember,this guitar hasn't been played and is a 1999 model.I think some contact cleaner or something would be a good idea...Don

 

[Artie]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

Don; If you were plugging each cord into a different system, that would make perfect sense. It would just mean that there was a ground loop problem between the two systems. But, if I understand your setup, you're plugging both cords into the same system.

Still, just to be sure, if you have access to a small voltmeter, I would measure between the two sleeves of the two cords and see if there's some small voltage there. As a start.

 

[tone4days]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

yeah, artie is on to it ... before doing anything else, try to get the amp and the PAS on the same ground path ... the rivera might have a switch on the back to help with this ... then you might need to open the hood of the godin to see about the proper grounding of the piezo output and the ducks output ...

so are you running the ducks to the rivera and the piezo to the PAS, each on their own cord, when the piezo is weak? ... my guess is that you need to tweak with the PAS setting for the piezo to get it optimized ... the PAS forum is a good place to get tech help - the bose factory guys are super helpful ... also, have you changed the battery for the piezo?

good luck - sounds like a kick a$$ system you are gonna have there .. i've looked at the PAS, but cant justify $2K for my setup at this time ... if i get to earning money from playing, i'd be all over it

cheers
t4d

 

[heros57]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

Thanks for all the help guys.Yes,the problem is when I am using 2 cords.Piezo to PAS and ducks to Rivera.I changed the battery but both batteries are good.I can run the piezo and the ducks with one cord into the rivera and it is amazing.Killer sound.My only problem now seems to be cross-talk.The min. I go seperate with two cords,I get a buzz sound in the rivera.If I unplug the piezo cord,it stops and sounds so clean and pretty.The guitar is set up so that a mono cord is fine to use because there are on-board mixing controls to allow the player to do his own mix.That part is great.Using 2 cords and 2 systems,I get a buzz sound in the pa and the rivera.My setup will probably be with 1 cord but it would be nice if the guitar would work like it is supposed to.After all,it's a new guitar......Don

 

[tone4days]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

hmmm, i say its time to either have your shop open it up and fix it, or call / email godin ... i cant think of anything else to try ... dont just settle for using it with one cord ... you are gonna want to send the piezo separate to the PAS without crapping out the sound of the rivera .. make em do the right thing .. let us know what they tell ya

cheers
t4d

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

hmmm, i say its time to either have your shop open it up and fix it, or call / email godin ... i cant think of anything else to try ... dont just settle for using it with one cord ... you are gonna want to send the piezo separate to the PAS without crapping out the sound of the rivera .. make em do the right thing .. let us know what they tell ya

cheers
t4d

I agree with T4D, check all the grounds with the meter and if you can't figure it out take it back to the shop where you got it. I'd go so far as to take the Rivera as well where they can here EXACTLY what you're talking about.

Luke

 

[heros57]

Re: duckbucker problem (new user)

I had to contact my dealer and he gave me the # for godin.Ofcourse the guy I needed to talk to was gone to lunch,then the bathroom,then home for the day.I did talk to his office partner who assured me she would put a sticky note on his computer so he couldn't miss it. I was going to open it and check what I could but , I'm afraid I might void the warenty if I don't talk to someone there first. So,please check back tomorrow for the latest,,,Don