Preamp question
 

Hi guys. This is my first post.
I have a Tak and recently the pre amp volume nob was cutting
in and out. Apart from the vol nob, it worked fine. I assume it
was a loose connection cutting out somewhere. It was hard to get
it out to inspect it, so I took it to guitar center. They had to replace the
entire pre amp. The dude told me it would sound exactly the same as
the old pre amp cause it's the same model, etc.

My question is.....can replacing the pre amp (even if it's exactly the same
model), effect the sound? Because now, some of the lower registers are
boomy and it's very touch sensitive. I can't seem to get this new one to adjust perfectly like my old pre amp did. Thanks in advance.

preamp
 

That's too technical for me, but if it were posed in the Acoustic Amplification section, I'll bet many of the folks over there could help you.

Preamp
 

First, welcome to the forms.

As far as the preamp, if it's an old one there may have been some changes to it and the new one might perform a little differently.

Also if all the components and pots aren't set or trimmed the same as the original one, yes it will sound a little different.

But, you should be able to dial that in to the sound that you like.

thanks
 

Yeah....I think they changed some of the dynamics. It definitly doesnt
sound the same. The old pre amp and guitar were about 10 years old.
This new pre amp sounds a bit reedy and boomy all at the same time, and is
very touch sensitive (too touch sensitive). I was SO happy with the old one.
I told the repair guy I wanted the old pre amp back after this fix, but it was lost. what to do? Ugh. never taking it to GS for a repair again.

The term" The guy at GC" does not fill me with confidence.
I think I might have called Tak first: http://www.espguitars.com/pages/support

If nothing else, perhaps they can get your new unit dialed in for you?

Steve

Thanks Steve. Will be checking with Tak.

I seem to recall that Takamine goes to great lengths to keep the preamps upgradable as they make changes. When you talk to them, you might inquire about compatibility with a newer, more advanced unit.

BTW, welcome to the AGF.

Steve

There is a link above that takes you to the ESP/Takamine guitar site, but it doesn't seem to have any info on the preamps that I could readily find.

This link goes to a Takamine site that does have some preamp info....
http://www.takamine.com/pre-amps
Not sure if this sites support/contact might go to a different support person versus the previous link.

I have a CT4B-II pre in my guitar. The tab on the page I linked has a "Removal and Installation" instruction. It doesn't look difficult and I'll see if I can pull my preamp and see if there's something obvious and easy you could possibly check. If yours is one of the Pro series Taks with just two plugs to connect it, I find it hard to see how the how the GC 'tech' could do it wrong.

Have you tried a brandy new fresh battery?

Edit...... Pulled the preamp, which is an older version has hole that a 'tool' is needed to undo the latch, plus a latch in the battery compartment. One cable is an 1/8" trs type plug that has the cable going to the pin jack and the other is an RCA type with the cable going to the pickup. GC tech couldn't have messed this up and not much to troubleshoot.

Now, what Mark has presented sounds interesting. I'm surprised they used an 1/8" plug to make that connection. Typically oxidation can start causing issues after some years.

From an electronic standpoint, component tolerance is typically not 1% or less unless it's critical use (medical) or there's a real need to keep symmetry in a circuit (balanced output, for example) or the circuit just won't plain function without the tight tolerances.

So, given that component batches vary somewhat, yes...I, too, would expect that you might notice a difference. Maybe even the same difference as when comparing 6 month old strings to new.

I'm in no way familiar with the specific setup you have, but even if a pickup element was removed temporary to facilitate the new to be installed...THAT's where I could see a significant change. I.E. - slightly new position for the element(s) placed back in.

I've been doing repairs & mods on a lot of vintage Marshalls lately (60's -80's) and it's amazing on how the not so exact the "exact circuit" is.

Good luck with the resolve. For me? I would fully expect to be able to make eq adjustments and restore it to expected operation. Else, might you have something amiss with the new preamp. (?) Always possible.

And, again...welcome to the group!!! :)