Help! What's wrong with my Emmons?

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 19 Mar 2003 7:11 am

A few days ago I started to get a dreadfully strangled and distorted tone from the C6 pick-up on my 2000 LeGrande. It was only on that p/u - E9 was fine. After going back to the guitar some hours later, I found it was OK again!

This has now occurred three or four times, but I've just discovered (by accident!) that a light blow from the heel of my hand to the end of the p/u nearest me will correct the problem, bringing the rich tone back as well as eliminating the distortion. I'd suspect a bad connection, but how come it's working at all if that's that case?

By the way, there's definitely a difference in the two pick-ups - the C neck is usually warmer than the E9, and that isn't just string-gauges, but the tone when this anomoly occurs is just awful; I thought at first that I had an amp problem until I checked the E9 to find it was OK.

Does anyone have ANY idea what's happening here?

Thanks,

Roger Rettig<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 19 March 2003 at 07:13 AM.]</p></FONT>

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 19 Mar 2003 7:17 am

---> ELECTRONICS

Paul Osbty · Post by **Paul Osbty** » 19 Mar 2003 8:37 am

It's behaving a lot like a marginal soldered connection or a sranded wire on its last strands. Start at the pickup wire(s) and work your way back.

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 19 Mar 2003 8:47 am

If you ask me, I think the problem is where the wires exit the pickup on the bottom of the coil. Have you taken it out to check?

jerry wallace · Post by **jerry wallace** » 19 Mar 2003 11:40 pm

Roger, which pickups do you have on your Legrande?.. If they are the Emmons humbuckers, the solder terminals on the bottom of the pickup can touch/ short to part of the changer located just under the pickup..On my 96 legrande, Emmons had put some black electrical tape between the solder terminals and the aluminum piece just below it..With age the tape came loose and I had to replace this tape..

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Jerry Wallace-2001 Zum: D-10,8+6, "98 Zum: D-10,8+8,Nashville 1000,Session 500 ,Session 400 head only amp,Tubefex,ProfexII, Artesia, New Mexico
http://communities.msn.com/jerrywallacemusic http://www.jerrywallacemusic.com

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 20 Mar 2003 7:04 am

Jerry,

I had the exact same problem.

When will All manufacturers, finally make a PU like Sierra or the New Millenium? It could come none too soon,

carl

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 20 Mar 2003 7:43 am

Carl, Sierra sells a retro kit to install their pickup cradle in many, but not all, pedal steels. Of course some machining is required, which is probably more trouble than it's worth for most players.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 21 Mar 2003 6:06 am

Jerry

My LeGrande has stock single-coils.

Thanks for the tips - I haven't even had time to flip the guitar over and check the connections due to a very busy schedule (I'm happy to say!), and it's been no real problem as the patent 'RR thump' to the p/u restores the normal tone (until next time); I'll be sure to report what I find, 'though I'm not confident of my ability to fix it myself unless it's really obvious!

RR

Kurt Graber · Post by **Kurt Graber** » 24 Mar 2003 5:55 pm

Exact same symptoms as what I had. I put a post on here yesterday. My pickup opened up and now I have an intermitten connection somewhere internally in the pickup. I cant tell you any advice, but I aint trusting mine anymore. It works and then distorts etc... and I'm getting it replaced.

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 25 Mar 2003 4:19 am

Even if the wire is connected you should touch it up with solder. I have had a rash of
cold solder joints that have given me a fit
latley. Happy hunting.