LR Baggs Element - Earth Hum

IvisonGuitars

I've got a Gibson J45 with an LR Baggs Element System in and there's a bit of earth hum, nothing that's unworkable but is noticeable in certain venues. My bandmate has just bought the same guitar with the same pickup used and his is MUCH worse, almost unusable plugged in.

The hum in both guitars stops the moment you touch the output jack.

Any of the assembled gents come across this/have a fix please?

Cheers!

ICBM

Sounds like some of the shielding is disconnected in his.

Some buzz is normal on piezo-based systems without a string ground connection, although the better the shielding the less bad it is. It's not 'earth hum', which is something entirely different.

IvisonGuitars

ICBM said:

Sounds like some of the shielding is disconnected in his.

Some buzz is normal on piezo-based systems without a string ground connection, although the better the shielding the less bad it is. It's not 'earth hum', which is something entirely different.

Right thanks. Interestingly, I recently had a J35 in for a headstock repair that had an Element System that was totally silent and sounded great.

So in regards to the shielding, where are they shielded, in the preamp or is it worth be shielding the underside of the UST to see if that cures it?

Funkfingers

How old are the PP3 batteries in the offending guitars?

ICBM

miserneil said:

So in regards to the shielding, where are they shielded, in the preamp or is it worth be shielding the underside of the UST to see if that cures it?

Start by checking nothing has come adrift at the jack, and work back towards the pickup if you don't find anything there.

IvisonGuitars

Funkfingers said:

How old are the PP3 batteries in the offending guitars?

Changed regularly and I've swapped them out for new ones as a matter of course which eliminated that  

ICBM said:

miserneil said:

So in regards to the shielding, where are they shielded, in the preamp or is it worth be shielding the underside of the UST to see if that cures it?

Start by checking nothing has come adrift at the jack, and work back towards the pickup if you don't find anything there.

Great, thanks, will do!  

Funkfingers

Who installed the two L.R. Baggs systems? 

Are they the basic Element model or do either of you also have the Stage Pro control module?

IvisonGuitars

Funkfingers said:

Who installed the two L.R. Baggs systems? 

Are they the basic Element model or do either of you also have the Stage Pro control module?

Gibson.

Nope, none of that guff, just the standard Element Model straight into a D.I.

Funkfingers

miserneil said:

Gibson.

Good. Your mate should have warranty cover.

miserneil said:
standard Element Model straight into a D.I.

In that case, this is approximately* what the electronical gubbins looks like inside.

https://i.imgur.com/ptVA3mN.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/0LHU191.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/oWcv9eX.jpg

Check the solder joints and the strain relief doobrie on the volume control PCB.



* The component layout of LR Baggs pre-amps varies, depending on the model. For instance, the Element PCB should have a second pair of solder pads to accept a second transducer device.

If your volume control module is connected by a mini jack, disconnect it and give it a thorough cleaning.