Official Luthiers Forum!

I've installed a Fishman under sadlde transducer "Infinity Matrix Blend" and I'm getting no sound from the pick up and very little from the microphone. My saddle is 3/16" wide and the pick up is 1/8" wide. I'm wondering if this larger saddle isn't compatible with the smaller pick up. Also, I routed an 1/8" slot with in the 3/16 saddle slot for the trransducer to sit in leaving a little of the transducer above the slot to make solid contact with the saddle. I've done all the obvious checks of battery and all conections look solid to the jack and controls. My customer has a gig in two days and would like to take his new guitar. Any help would be much appreciated.

If you're sure the saddle is actually resting on the pickup (and it's not submerged in the sub-slot), the problem is electrical. Even if the slot were too deep, you would be able to get at least some signal coming through. You would just have to do progressive trouble shooting. Check signal path, check voltage path, check signal direct from the transducer out of the preamp circuit, then as needed check it leaving the preamp, or at the jack tabs, etc. There's no hard formula, it's all just tracing the lines and problem solving, assuming a basic level of knowledge in electronics.

If your customer needs this right away and you're not familiar enough with pickup systems to know how to trouble shoot, you should consider referring them to an experienced professional who can handle it. It will likely be a rush fee if they need same or next day turn around, but if they need it this may be the safest route.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

ensure that the saddle is not a tight fit against the bridge...the transducer only works when the strings compress the saddle down onto the transducer....as a check, you should be able to press the saddle down with your fingers and get some electrical connection/sound through the amp.....