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  #1  
Old 12-12-2018, 06:03 PM
Lucky Ambrose Lucky Ambrose is offline
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Location: San Rafael, CA
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Default Misi pickup loud HUM in Blackbird Savoy

My Blackbird Savoy with a Misi pickup is unplayable through my amp.
LOUD hum and buzz with a distorted overdrive sound.
yikes. I have 4 other guitars that don't have a Misi pickup and they all are quiet and clean.
The minute I plug in my Savoy. WOW. Totally unplayable.

I have brought it to my local music store and miraculously there is no hum or distortion at all. Plays crisp and clear.
I live in a 1920's house with some updated electric.
I bought a Furman Powerstrip conditioner... nope still distorts and hmms.

I understand that this could be coming from my house current but... why aren't any of my other guitars doing the same thing?
They are mostly LR Baggs and K&K's.
It's a big mystery to me.
Is there something different about the Misi that is super sensitive to voltage fluctuations?
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Yamamoto Talus All Paulownia/ Barbera Solo pickup
CA Pre-Peavy Cargo/ Misi-Element pickup
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Outdoor Carbon Ukulele
Genzler Acoustic Array Pro Amp

Last edited by Lucky Ambrose; 12-12-2018 at 06:17 PM.
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  #2  
Old 12-12-2018, 07:06 PM
jonfields45 jonfields45 is offline
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Not shockingly, something is wrong with the Mi-Si in that guitar. If your other instruments work, then it should be fine. Short of replacing it with a new one, I'm not sure there is much you can do. Blackbird has of late used a Fishman Matrix, instead of a Baggs Element as the under saddle transducer. If you've got a Fishman version, the Matrix UST is notorious for developing physical damage to its shield which results in hum. The UST is soldered to the Mi-Si preamp and even replacing a Matrix UST, if indeed that is what you've got, is not a simple DIY procedure.
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  #3  
Old 12-14-2018, 12:09 AM
Lucky Ambrose Lucky Ambrose is offline
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Thank you JonFields45.
Nice to get some confirmation.
Yes I have the Fishman version. Bummer.
However, I am still confused at why the buzz didn’t happen when I brought my amp and guitar to my guitar tech at my local music store.
That’s what’s got me and my tech confused.
Frustrating at best.
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"A new car is nice, but a new guitar can change your life"

Yamamoto Talus All Paulownia/ Barbera Solo pickup
CA Pre-Peavy Cargo/ Misi-Element pickup
Blackbird Farallon Ekoa Tenor Ukulele/ Misi- Element pickup
Outdoor Carbon Ukulele
Genzler Acoustic Array Pro Amp
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  #4  
Old 12-14-2018, 06:53 AM
jonfields45 jonfields45 is offline
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Old fashioned fluorescent lights are the most likely generators of the electrical interference. Are there any in the room where you play the guitar (or directly underneath the room)? Over the last 40 years I've played two gigs, both country clubs, where the stage area had an unstoppable interference into our guitars. Luckily we found ways to get through the gig (by holding our guitars in just the right orientation the buzz was tolerable).

If the guitar used to play fine and now doesn't, then something changed and the shield on the Matrix UST can get compromised and become susceptible to noise. If you search the AGF there are threads where people were somewhat successful diagnosing the rip in the shield and improvising a repair. Replacing the UST is the obvious first thing to try if you're hiring a tech to do the work.
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.wav file, 30 seconds, pickup left, mic right, open position strumming best...send to direct email below
I'll send you 100/0, 75/25, 50/50 & 0/100 IR/Bypass IRs
IR Demo, read the description too: https://youtu.be/SELEE4yugjE
My duo's website and my email... [email protected]

Jon Fields

Last edited by jonfields45; 12-14-2018 at 07:11 AM.
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  #5  
Old 12-14-2018, 07:05 AM
der Geist der Geist is offline
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I had the exact same problem with my 714ce. Took it to the tech....nothing. Brought it home- huge buzz and only with that guitar. I plugged my amp into a different circut and problem gone. My house was built in 1920 so old as well with some electrical updates. I bought a Furman too, i figured if there was a buzz there’s a good chance of spikes happening. Something is out of phase somewhere or it could be interference just on that circut.
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  #6  
Old 12-16-2018, 06:00 PM
Lucky Ambrose Lucky Ambrose is offline
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An electrician came out and tightened all connections in my panel, as well as the neutral. Then I had the utility company check my line. Sure enough the voltage was different going out and coming in. They fixed it but the guitar still hummed and distorted like a *****.

A friend can over with a different pickup that we tested it and it worked fine.
Turns out the MiSi is toast.
I ordered a Baggs Element and will be pulling the Mi-Si/Fishman out.
No more MiSi for me. I don’t mind changing a battery.
End of problem.
Thanks for all your help!
Loving this forum. ��❤️
__________________
"A new car is nice, but a new guitar can change your life"

Yamamoto Talus All Paulownia/ Barbera Solo pickup
CA Pre-Peavy Cargo/ Misi-Element pickup
Blackbird Farallon Ekoa Tenor Ukulele/ Misi- Element pickup
Outdoor Carbon Ukulele
Genzler Acoustic Array Pro Amp
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