Test the system before putting on the strings. To do this, plug
into an amplifier and then tap lightly on the top of the guitar to
make sure that you can hear the transducer when you tap. An-
other good test is to shake the guitar when plugged into ampli-
fier. If anything is loose or if the transducer’s leads are touching
something you will hear it. This should not happen.
Install the strings and test the system. Now play, keep it real
and enjoy!
10. TROUBLE SHOOTING
10.1 No sound at all or intermittent sound
• Check the guitar cable and amplifier / mixer you are using.
• Check that the battery is not discharged. If the sound is noisy
or distorted, replace the battery.
• Check that the transducer and battery connectors are inserted
onto the pin headers of the preamp correctly.
• Check that the plug is making good connection with the out-
put jack. It may be so that the output jack is not sticking out
far enough when the strap button is on. To check, unscrew the
strap button off and plug in to the jack. If the symptoms go away
the output jack needs to be removed and the nuts adjusted so
the jack sticks out further.
10.2 Loud hum
• Check to see that the connectors of the UST / AST are inserted
with the two holes up. If these connectors are upside down the
system will work but it will buzz.
• Check that the connectors are inserted correctly onto their pin
headers at the preamp.
10.3 Resonance or distortion with some played notes
There are a couple places where a resonance can typically oc-
cur with some notes, causing distorted-sounding output. First,
check that the lead portion of the transducer to the preamp is
not touching anything and that the battery or output wires are
not loose and thus cause resonance.
With the UST, another place, which in some cases has caused
resonance, is the UST hole from the saddle slot to the inside of
the guitar. Using a soft padding in it has cured these problems
effectively.
With the AST, if resonance is occurring, it may be coming form
the first 5 mm (.20”) of the “lead” wire coming from the AST.
Using double stick tape, stick this first 5 mm (.20”) of the lead
to the guitar.
10.4 Imbalance, one or several strings sound louder or
quieter than the others (with UST)
If there’s only a very slight imbalance, let the saddle “shape” on
the UST for a few days. The fault may be repaired on its own.
Users have reported that after three (3) days the saddle has
settled on the UST and the balance becomes perfect.
10.5 Possible reasons for imbalance:
• The saddle or the bottom of the saddle slot is not flat.
• The saddle fits too loosely in its slot.
• The saddle slot might be too tight for the saddle to go in all the
way. Try pushing on the saddle firmly to seat the saddle all the
way down on the transducer.
• The saddle is too short.
• There is debris in the saddle slot.
• The angle of some of the strings behind the saddle is too low
or too high.
• The top of the guitar is bent.
• The pickup is not installed all the way to the end of the sad-
dle slot.
• If the material of the saddle is bone.
