Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Don Goguen on March 7, 2013 at 12:36pm

I would try tapping into the + side of C3  (desolder or cut the trace and don't forget the guitar cable ground) just after the volume control but I suspect there is just a level difference between the output of the pickup and the audio output from the tuner.  If so the solution is to add gain to the guitar.  A op amp chip on a small breadboard using the volume control from the radio would do.  Plenty of standard 8 pin chips and circuits on the web.  Do a quick google search for Op Amp guitar pre

Permalink Reply by Todd on March 7, 2013 at 1:52pm

Thanks Don.  An Ipod worked fine, so that would make sense that none of my guitars were loud.. but I would have thought my acoustic with the LR Baggs preamp would jam... but it was barely louder than the piezo coming from the CBG.

I'm sorry, but I'm a rookie at electronics mods... Can I just measure the voltage on each side of C3 by reading between C3 and ground to find the + side?

Permalink Reply by Don Goguen on March 8, 2013 at 12:24am

The Baggs pre is mainly a buffer amp and not intended as a gain stage.  The piezo is really high impedance and the pre helps with the relatively low input impedance of the amps.  Even if the output was doubled of what a mag pickup was, you are still in a low level situation.  The guys in the Mod section can likely help you out with resources and ideas.

Here is a simple circuit I found using a common op amp chip.  Change the value of the two input resistors, you change the gain.

Guitar Wiring Blog PreAmp

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on March 7, 2013 at 2:24pm

If u look @ the Cap(C3) there's a bold stripe going down the side w/ some -  - (Dashes) right? That's - neg other side is + pos just remember the opposite side of the stripe is + Positive.

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on March 7, 2013 at 2:28pm

U should join dis Group:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/vintage-radios-converted-into-g...

lots of conversion videos there

Permalink Reply by Todd on March 8, 2013 at 12:17am

Thanks Brian!

Permalink Reply by Todd on March 8, 2013 at 12:29am

Thanks again Brian and Don!

Moved discussion to:  http://www.cigarboxnation.com/xn/detail/2592684:Topic:1467634?xg_so...