Jtv-69 Middle Pickup Woes

[KennyMac]

My JTV-69's middle pickup has quit working.  :(

 

I opened her up to see if there was a loose wire that had become disconnected, but couldn't see any problem.

 

Has anyone else experienced this or a similar problem with your magnetic pickups?

[Kevbo4]

I know this is an old thread but in case anyone strolls by,  my experience with this same issue turned out to be with the 5-pos switch. The 3rd position was the problem. Contact cleaner dripped in there will fix it for a while.

[jtvrider]

Also reviving an old thread but I had the same problem and I think I have a good fix. Like Kevbo4, the problem was the 5 way selector switch affecting the middle pickup. The switch assembly comprises the mechanical part and a small narrow pcb that the pickup wiring is soldered to. The pcb is connected to the mechanical switch via tiny crimps - like rivets. Those rivets corrode and make a bad contact with the copper on the switch. Fortunately, after unscrewing the switch assembly from the scratch plate, the bad joint was just visible and accessible without unsoldering any of the wiring. I was able to flow a tiny amount of solder over the bad joint, hopefully resulting in a permanent fix. Other similar joints were not accessible so I guess it's only a matter of time until another joint goes bad. Time will tell. I recommend using a good quality soldering iron with a small tip (eg. for electronics work) and good quality solder (also for electronics work) with a flux that will cut through the corrosion. Maybe this will help someone else.

 

Update 1 year on ... developed a similar problem with the selector switch not selecting program modes reliably. Cause was corrosion as described above, just affecting a different set of switch contacts. This time required disassembly of the switch and reflowing solder over each of the crimped contacts between the switch and header board. Managed to do it with the wiring still attached but wasn't easy. Hoping it will be a permanent fix this time.

Edited July 12, 2024 by jtvrider
New info

[sareefbaccha61]

To quote: "magnetics have a limited frequency response with emphasis in mid range, while piezo has a wide, flat response, from 10hz-100Khz"

Like I said, it's better to get as much of the natural tone of the strings, before the magnetic pickups rolls off the high and low end, but like I said, piezo pickups just have too much of a difference in dynamics in reacting to the string

[psarkissian]

String tension to piezo is key to the piezo having good mechanical to electric transfer. Optimum string set gauges are 10's and 11's.

After string tension and piezos, the rest is DSP. Workbench HD is good for adjusting things where you want it.