Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: Nighthawk1 Dec 9 2010, 12:21 AM

Hi there GMC,
I have a question about my Guitar a Jackson Soloist SL3MG. I bought it in April this year and I practice guitar almost everyday. For some time now it really bothers me, that I don't get nice clean sounds out of my guitar. If I strumm a little bit harder or pluck the strings harder there comes distortion very quckly. It has nothing to do with clipping of the channel stripps it is no overdrive. The problem also occurs on my amp ( I usually play through guitar rig and headphones). Strummed chords on the acoustic channel are always a little bit distorted when strummed a lil bit harder.
Now I have to admit that the Jackson was shipped with no manual at all even though I bought it entirely new. So that is the reason why I didn't really know that the EMG pickups are active ones and that's the reason why I wondered about the battery in my guitar the other day Please forgive me but I played a Fender Strat for 6 years and active pickups where totally new to me till this point
All in all my final question to all those out there using active pickups or have a clue about them...does the crappy clean sound has anything to do with the fact, that I haven't been changing the battery for the pickups so far??? I also have the impression that the general output of the guitar tends to get lower..How often do I have to change that battery? Is there a continuum meaning that the lower the battery the crappier the sound or is it just if it is empty there is no sound at all anymore and before that point it is all fine?
Please help me out with that?
Thanks

Posted by: Sollesnes Dec 9 2010, 12:40 AM

As your battery dies, the sound will distort and eventually disappear. Switch your battery and your fine
How long the battery lasts is different on pickups and batteries and the amount of hours you play a day.
You will hear it when you need to change bettery (like now for example)

Posted by: Mudbone Dec 9 2010, 04:27 AM

EMG (and all active pickups) equipped guitars have to be unplugged when you are not playing, otherwise the battery will drain. The pickups turn on the moment you plug in the guitar. The lifespan for the battery is about 8000 hours, so if you've kept your battery plugged in all this time its most likely time to change it.

Remember, the cable has to be unplugged from the guitar. Leaving the cable plugged into the guitar and unplugging it from the amp will not suffice.

Posted by: emirb Dec 9 2010, 09:28 AM

I agree with other it's probably battery but also check the height of the pickups if they are really close to the strings the signal will be hotter. If the distortion is a 'classic' break-up distortion they the signal is simple too hot. Combination of height + active electronics. But if it's due to the battery (being drained) then the sound should be reminding of old germanium fuzz i.e. not really distortion but hmm I don't know how to explain it better then that it sounds like a starved fuzz. Start with battery and then if than doesn't help try lowering the pickups a bit.

Posted by: Nighthawk1 Dec 9 2010, 11:16 AM

Thanks to all...it was really due to the battery I have just changed it and I can now strum clean chords without distorted peaks again...
My Guitar goes straigth into my apogee duet audiointerface do I also have to plug out the guitar in that case?

Posted by: MickeM Dec 9 2010, 11:30 AM

Remember to unplug the cord from the guitar when you're done playing ot the battery will drain.

Posted by: Sollesnes Dec 9 2010, 02:10 PM

QUOTE (Nighthawk1 @ Dec 9 2010, 11:16 AM)

Thanks to all...it was really due to the battery I have just changed it and I can now strum clean chords without distorted peaks again...
My Guitar goes straigth into my apogee duet audiointerface do I also have to plug out the guitar in that case?

Posted by: Todd Simpson Dec 9 2010, 05:44 PM

Some great replies. The guys are right. If you use battery powered pickups, always unplug your guitar if possible. Sometimes you will forget and come back to it and they may be a bit drained which will wreck your tone. But just pulling the jack out of your guitar each time you go to put it back on a stand is a good habit to develop. If you get in the habbit of not unplugging it, it becomes a hard habit to break.

Todd

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Dec 11 2010, 10:18 PM

QUOTE (Nighthawk1 @ Dec 9 2010, 11:16 AM)

Thanks to all...it was really due to the battery I have just changed it and I can now strum clean chords without distorted peaks again...
My Guitar goes straigth into my apogee duet audiointerface do I also have to plug out the guitar in that case?