Experiencing unwanted hum from your acoustic guitar when amplified? It’s a common frustration for musicians who rely on pickups to project their instrument’s natural sound. Recently, I encountered this very problem, and through a bit of troubleshooting, I managed to resolve it by replacing the pickup. If you’re facing a similar buzzing or humming noise, especially when using an Acoustic Guitar With A Pickup, this experience might offer some insights.
Initially, the source of the hum was unclear. Was it the pickup itself, or perhaps the wiring leading to the preamp? Time constraints and limited access to the guitar’s internal cavity meant I couldn’t delve into complex solutions like shielding the wire right away. Without specialized guitar repair tools, beyond basic pliers and a small inspection mirror, a straightforward approach was necessary. Therefore, I decided to start by replacing the pickup element itself. Fortunately, this simple swap proved to be effective, and the annoying hum disappeared.
While replacing the pickup immediately solved the issue, it’s worth considering other potential causes. As suggested in online forums discussing similar audio problems, shielding issues within the wire could also be responsible. In the past, for electric guitars, I’ve successfully eliminated hum by shielding the internal cavity using copper tape. Interestingly, there was no shielding at all around the endpin jack in my acoustic guitar – an area that some sources online indicate can be a source of unwanted noise.
The culprit: My old pickup
Seeking expert advice, I contacted Fishman, a well-known manufacturer of acoustic guitar pickups, describing the humming issue. Their diagnosis, based on my description, pointed towards a potentially faulty under-saddle pickup element. According to their email response, touching the endpin jack and noticing a reduction in hum often indicates a shielding problem within the pickup itself.
Fishman’s email included a recommendation for a retailer selling the replacement part. Initially, I was skeptical. Visually inspecting the old pickup, I couldn’t detect any obvious damage to the foil. However, I recalled a recent string change where the bridge had popped out. It was possible that during the process of re-inserting the bridge, I might have inadvertently damaged the delicate pickup element.
Taking a chance, I decided to order a replacement pickup. The key was to measure the width of the existing pickup to ensure the new one would fit correctly into the saddle slot. In my case, the width was 1/8 inch. After ordering the compatible part and opting for standard shipping, it arrived within a few days.
The installation process required some delicate soldering. The pickup wire needed to be soldered onto the mini-jack that connects to the guitar’s internal preamp. This soldering had to be done with the pickup already in place because the jack is too large to pass through the pickup hole in the bridge. Although I had performed similar tasks before on other guitars, it still required a steady hand. Despite being slightly shorter (by about 1/32 inch) than the original, the new pickup delivered a balanced volume across all strings, effectively resolving the hum issue and restoring the clear amplified tone of my acoustic guitar with a pickup.
In conclusion, if you’re struggling with hum from your acoustic guitar with a pickup, consider the pickup itself as a potential source of the problem. While shielding and wiring issues can also contribute, replacing a faulty pickup element, especially a piezo under-saddle pickup, can be a straightforward and effective solution.
