Fishman Matrix malfunctions after an hour

WesternPicker · #1 05-09-2016, 01:50 AM

My year old old-new-stock Fishman Matrix under-saddle pickup has started making noises like an open connection in a patch cord after over an hour of performing.

I have tried different patch cords. I was thinking of resoldering the connections at the battery terminals and at the pick up.

Thanks in advance for any input you may have.

jonfields45 · #2 05-09-2016, 06:36 AM

There are screw terminals connecting the UST to the preamp. Maybe they are loose???

dberkowitz · #3 05-09-2016, 06:42 AM

Try replacing the battery.

akafloyd · #4 05-09-2016, 07:18 AM

If the strap button comes loose it can cause similar issues

WesternPicker · #5 05-09-2016, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonfields45

There are screw terminals connecting the UST to the preamp. Maybe they are loose???

Thanks, I will be checking all connections.

WesternPicker · #6 05-09-2016, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akafloyd

If the strap button comes loose it can cause similar issues

Thanks, the strap button is secure.

WesternPicker · #7 05-09-2016, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dberkowitz

Try replacing the battery.

Thanks, i have changed the battery.

pieterh · #8 05-09-2016, 01:28 PM

Does it go away if you touch the end pin jack? It sounds like it could be a shielding/grounding issue - the element itself is coated with shielding paint. I damaged mine when changing the bridge saddle and the short term solution was to have a very thin strip of baking foil between the pickup and the saddle, making sure the foil covered the damaged (scratched) section of the pickup and making contact with the undamaged section. The symptoms before I put the foil on the pickup were as you described - but all the time. If the problem you describe always takes about an hour to occur I would check out if there is a less-than-secure connection somewhere that works itself loose after a while or expands due to body or venue heat when you are performing, given that it is ok for a while before coming back.

WesternPicker · #9 05-09-2016, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pieterh

Does it go away if you touch the end pin jack? It sounds like it could be a shielding/grounding issue - the element itself is coated with shielding paint. I damaged mine when changing the bridge saddle and the short term solution was to have a very thin strip of baking foil between the pickup and the saddle, making sure the foil covered the damaged (scratched) section of the pickup and making contact with the undamaged section. The symptoms before I put the foil on the pickup were as you described - but all the time. If the problem you describe always takes about an hour to occur I would check out if there is a less-than-secure connection somewhere that works itself loose after a while or expands due to body or venue heat when you are performing, given that it is ok for a while before coming back.

Thanks. No it does not go away when I touch the end pin jack. I am thinking it may be a less-than-secure connection, as well.

dberkowitz · #10 05-10-2016, 07:25 AM

A number of the responses address common issues that might cause that grounding sound. Another is saddle fit. How tight, and how flat is your saddle and slot? If the saddle isn't making adequate contact, you can have this problem. Lightly sand the saddle so it's a drop in fit -- loose enough that it'll pull out easily, but not so loose that it leans. Some many differ with my protocol, but I've found that having a drop in fit -- one that if you turn the guitar over, the saddle might just fall out, works best for ensuring that the saddle doesn't hang up in the slot. It also prevents binding of the saddle in the slot due to humidity. Confirm that your slot is actually flat. It's quite common on instruments where the slot is cut before gluing down the bridge to get some distortion in the slot. Is it possible that there is some debris in the slot from the installation? That, too, could be the issue. Check the cable hole and make sure there isn't any fur pushing up into the saddle slot, too.

WesternPicker · #11 05-11-2016, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dberkowitz

A number of the responses address common issues that might cause that grounding sound. Another is saddle fit. How tight, and how flat is your saddle and slot? If the saddle isn't making adequate contact, you can have this problem. Lightly sand the saddle so it's a drop in fit -- loose enough that it'll pull out easily, but not so loose that it leans. Some many differ with my protocol, but I've found that having a drop in fit -- one that if you turn the guitar over, the saddle might just fall out, works best for ensuring that the saddle doesn't hang up in the slot. It also prevents binding of the saddle in the slot due to humidity. Confirm that your slot is actually flat. It's quite common on instruments where the slot is cut before gluing down the bridge to get some distortion in the slot. Is it possible that there is some debris in the slot from the installation? That, too, could be the issue. Check the cable hole and make sure there isn't any fur pushing up into the saddle slot, too.

Thanks so much. Will check these things. It is a factory install... 2003 Gibson Woody Guthrie SJ... so I'd like to assume it was installed correctly. However, I realize that this might not be the case. Also, the problem developed after a year and a half, which leads me to assume it may not have to do with the install.

Mandobart · #12 05-11-2016, 06:25 AM

Are you sure it is the pu and not the amp? Have you plugged into a different system to see if the problem still occurs? If you plug a different instrument into the amp you use with the Fishman equipped guitar does it also conk out or not?

Kalani · #13 05-11-2016, 12:32 PM

FWIW, I play near the ocean and my instruments would eventually start cutting in and out. Contact cleaner solved this problem. I just use the cheap one from Radioshack vs the more expensive DeOxit. Now I religiously spray that thing on my cables when I plug in and I haven't experienced these problems since. Worth a try.

WesternPicker · #14 05-14-2016, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandobart

Are you sure it is the pu and not the amp? Have you plugged into a different system to see if the problem still occurs? If you plug a different instrument into the amp you use with the Fishman equipped guitar does it also conk out or not?

Thank you for the response. Yes, I am sure it is the pickup system. The exact same problem occurred with two different PAs.

WesternPicker · #15 05-14-2016, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalani

FWIW, I play near the ocean and my instruments would eventually start cutting in and out. Contact cleaner solved this problem. I just use the cheap one from Radioshack vs the more expensive DeOxit. Now I religiously spray that thing on my cables when I plug in and I haven't experienced these problems since. Worth a try.

Thanks for the response. Yes, indeed, I am planning to hit the thing with contact cleaner when I get in there.