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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand | Hey y'all,
You may recall me posting a while back and asking for suggestions for what I should play through. Well, I got a few days ago, and A&H Mixer (ZED series) and an RCF Art312a speaker.
Very exciting!
A little less exciting though when I find if I plug my guitar in, it is very, very quiet (maybe one or two lights coming up, nowhere near where it should start to clip... and that is when the gain dial and both faders are maxed out. I popped back in to the local sound store and they said the guitar should not be that quiet and most likely there is something wrong with it.
It is an Ovation custom legend, 1978... bought second hand in March, complete with a brand new battery. Suggestions? Anyone know what might be wrong? They have given me a name of someone who can look at it... and I am REALLY hoping it is not going to cost heaps to fix. It is all the original electrics on board. Are they likely to be stuffed by now? The owner said they were fine... but they would surely have a lifespan? And what would I do if they are stuffed????
Sorry, having a little bit of an offload there as it was very disappointing. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | How are you connecting the guitar?
The 1/4 inch instrument level output on your guitar is intended for an instrument level input on an amp or preamp.
A Direct Box (DI) is needed to go from the 1/4 inch instrument level output of your guitar, into the line or mic level input on a mixer.
If your guitar has an XLR-output, you can go straight into an XLR-input on your mixer. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | It's possible the new battery is dead. Check that again.
Noah's also got a good point ... does your mixer have preamps built-in? There may be special high impedance inputs you need to use. Check the manual. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | One of my favorites is the old Boss AD-5. It serves as a DI and also provides stereo chorus, reverb, anti-feedback, etc.
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand | It's the A & H ZED12FX - and I am putting it into the instrument input- it has ones for instrument, line or mic- both the instrument and mic lines have preamps... also has built in effects, so wouldn't need the stereo chorus etc. I asked if it needed a DI box, and they said only to clean the signal up- should not affect volume.
I have only used it plugged in a handful of times. Could the battery be flat already? That would be very disappointing, but yes I will check that. Sigh. It means undoing all the strings. Grooooaaaaaan. |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand | Oh and a 1/4 inch output, no XLR. Also, the built in preamp was on the highest setting as well. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | I see where the ZED10FX has HiZ instrument inputs on channels 3 & 4, but A&H's literature online says that is unique to the ZED10/ZED10FX. The ZED12FX shows XLR Mic and 1/4" Line inputs on channels 1 thru 6. Did their Guitar DI subsequently get worked into the ZED12FX? |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand | I was meaning the built in pre-amp on my guitar was at its highest setting. But the 12FX says it has pre-amps for both of the mic and line chanels- more gain with the XLR input (mic) and then less for the line input (1/4 inch).
From the manual: "12Fx use a two stage deign, with carefully controlled amounts of gain in each stage...line level signals are simply plugged into the second stage of the preamp by using the line input jack socket. This has the great advantage of lower noise when using the line input."
Each chanel has its own dial to adjust the gain of the input amplifier to match the signal level of the input.
I don't really understand all of what this means EXACTLY- being a total newbie to electrified acoustic guitars, but the higher you turn the dial, the louder it should be... and the gain needed to be on full and the fader on maximum to get minimum sound. The sound guys said the DI box would not amplify the sound anymore. Correct or no? I have to say, I am confused now. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | The battery could be dead, especially if you inadvertently left a plug in it for a period of time. You should be able to get to the battery holder by just loosening the strings and not taking them all the way off. But the inside holders are a PITA. |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand | Mmm... okay, definitely sounds like I need to check the battery then. Thanks for the tip on loosening the strings. I am nervous about doing it as haven't done anything like it before.
I think there are instructions around here someplace, so I'll have a looksie.
Do you guys reckon I need a DI box? The Rock Shop guys recommended the LR Baggs Para DI... quite spensy... but if it will enhance the sound? Or can I get away with something cheaper, given the 12X also has good onboard EQ settings. |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand | Am armed with info- inc a youtube video to change the battery tomorrow. I can do it!!! :) |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Just remember as Bobbo said earlier, don't leave the guitar plugged in when not in use. Inserting the plug switches on the preamp, and will chew the battery regardless whether the amp is on or not.
Good luck
AJ |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand | Hi all,
I can now confirm is it definitely NOT the battery that is the problem. I put in a brand new one and only the very bottom LED indicator light comes on- despite having tonnes of gain and faders on full (which is also putting out lots of hiss, because it should not need to go that high).
So tomorrow I will phone the local vintage guitar guy and get him to have a look. Maybe some of the wiring/ connections are getting a bit loose. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | Have you tried playing your guitar through an amp at your local guitar store? |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand | I have an acoustic amp of my Dad's that I am borrowing... it's a very basic Crate. But I don't know how loud it should get, not having played amplified anything before. So, yes I have played it through that, but not sure how it should be compared. |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Well if you play it through the Crate can you get enough volume to make it feedback?
AJ |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand | I'll give that a go today. |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand | Sorry to take so long to get back on here. It's been a hell week, so the guitar issue has gone on hold. I took the guitar in today. He plugged it into an amp and hey voila, it worked fine. Sigh. I have another cable to try, so can cross that off my list of what ifs.
He also said though, that the signal SHOULD be coming much more strongly into the mixer, that I don't need a preamp or DI box. So, if the cable does not improve the situation, then it most likely is a problem with the guitar. I'll cart my mixer in as well next, as he doesn't think it will be the cable. He did wonder if it was my poor technological skills responsible- which it may well be... but I am pretty confident I am doing everything right with the mixer. |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Did you try it through the Crate?
If it worked ok through the amp in the shop I doubt it is a guitar problem
AJ |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | It could be a bad cable. There could also be a fault in the mixer. Did you try plugging into other channels? Also check the Pad switch. |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand | Tried the new cable, and it is HEAPS louder. The PFL indicator still does not go into the red, but almost... so I guess that is the problem fixed.
Thanks for all the replies! |
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New speaker and mixer- help!
