Need help! Dead acoustic pickups.

[Basshew]

I have a Dean EQA Acoustic Electric bass. I recently changed the strings for the first time and after doing so the E,A,and D strings sound almost completely dead with barely any volume when played through my amp. The G string is loud as heck just as it should be but the others have nothing. My buddy who knows more about this stuff than me says it seem like the pickups may have come loose on the low side. I stuck my arm through the soundhole and I could feel a thin wire going right into the wood under the bridge. It seems that if the pickups are located under the wood they will be impossible to change. I am wary to try removing the bridge as there are no visible screws attatching it to the body and I dont want to ruin the guitar. I love the sound of this bass and I want to continue to use it for some live performances. Can anyone help?

[barnaclebeau]

Hey, I don't know about the dean system, but I built a bass using a similar Fishman system. With piezos it is very important for the saddle to have equal contact and pressure across the piezo transducer (shiny ribbon thing beneath the saddle, it's what the wire connects to.)

I'm gonna guess that you removed all the strings, then while replacing them you tightened up the g-string first, and now the saddle isn't touching the rest of the transducer. Try slacking your strings completely, then gently pull up on the saddle and push it back in to seat it squarely in the slot. Now tighten up each string a little at a time, starting with the outside strings E and G, and work slowly until all the strings are in tune. You should get all your volume back.

Adam

[Dave-in-TN]

I just traded for a Dean Playmate acoustic/electric bass today, and I'm having the same problem. loud G, very faint E, and nothing from A and D. This is the first time I've ever used an acoustic/electric instrument, so I was really excited to find this thread. I'll give this a shot and see if it helps.

[John Wentzien]

The bridge MUST be in contact with the pickup.
Take the strings off and gently pull the bridge out.
Make sure there is no "garbage" in the bridge-slot.
There can sometimes be a small piece of saw-dust or dirt in there.
Also be sure that the wire from the transducer is going through the hole with no slack in the bridge-slot.

[Dave-in-TN]

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

Also be sure that the wire from the transducer is going through the hole with no slack in the bridge-slot.

Sorry, but you lost me there. What's the transducer?