JTV 89F A string disappears when using variax models

[mskocic]

I can use the magnetic pickups and everything works fine. As soon as I try to use something like an acoustic model my 5th string disappears.  Is there an adjustment or something I can make?  Where are the pickups located for the models?  Even the 6th string is at lower volume than the first 4 but not as bad as the 5th string. 

 

I also have a Variax Standard and a Firehawk 1500 amp. The models work great on the Standard. I would really like to be able to use my high priced JTV 89F Any input would be great. 

[shawnmx]

Connect the Variax to a computer with the Variax USB interface and load up Workbench. There are individual string volume settings there that may need to be adjusted. Make sure you have a decent charge on the Variax battery and plug a 1/4" cable into the Variax or the connection won't work.

[clay-man]

Pickups are the capsules in every saddle on the bridge. They are piezo pickups.

 

Best scenario: You need to adjust string volumes in workbench

 

Worst scenario: You have a bad piezo pickup and either need to clean it with contact cleaner or replace it with a new one (which requires minor disassembly of the bridge and soldering) 

[cruisinon2]

I can use the magnetic pickups and everything works fine. As soon as I try to use something like an acoustic model my 5th string disappears. Is there an adjustment or something I can make? Where are the pickups located for the models? Even the 6th string is at lower volume than the first 4 but not as bad as the 5th string.

 

I also have a Variax Standard and a Firehawk 1500 amp. The models work great on the Standard. I would really like to be able to use my high priced JTV 89F Any input would be great.

You could try cleaning the saddles as has already been suggested, but I suspect that isn't gonna help much. If there's no sound from the A string at all, I don't think adjusting string volumes in Workbench will help you much either...because it would mean that you had somehow turned the A string volume to zero at some point, which is hard to do accidentally. I doubt that's what happened.

 

Each piezo saddle is wired to a board in the bowels of the guitar somewhere...I know where it is on my 69, but I haven't seen an 89's inards, so I can't point you right to it. Though it can't be that hard to find. Could be a loose solder connection there, or the piezo itself may have died. Those are the two most likely scenarios. Either way, if you're not comfortable with a soldering iron, it's gonna have to be serviced.