Guitar Preamp Current Draw?

[drewl]

Are you absolutely certain the owner knows to unplug the guitar *at the guitar end of the cable* between uses? I've had a couple of customers who didn't realise unplugging at the amp end was not equivalent...

Ha, you never know!
Good idea, I'll let him know just to be sure.

I mentioned that it was confirmed by the guitar tech, but you never know.

[Mark Hammer]

The majority of onboard preamps are going to have current draws in the single digits, and occasionally in the low double digits.. There are two reasons: 1) the designs are generally simple enough that current requirements are minimal, and 2) there is good reason to avoid having to unscrew things or otherwise "get in there" to change a battery. Some guitars are smartly designed and have battery-drawer inserts which make changing batteries easy. That said, I've had the same 9v in my Parker guitar for several years, and everything fires up just fine when I plug in. Granted, I'm not playing it much of late, but batteries still get old even when unused. So expedited decline of a battery in a guitar - other than one with onboard FX - suggests a short somewhere that is draining the battery.

[g1]

Another problematic type is where you have an active/passive switch, but the preamp is not disconnected in passive mode. Some of the Marcus Miller basses are like this. Never use the preamp but kill two 9Volt batts. by leaving the cord plugged in.

[loudthud]

Still waiting on some pictures or some kind of model number. A Google search for "Epiphone Guitar Preamp" brings up lots of possibilities. How about number and type of pots ?

[drewl]

It's an Epiphone Electra Six band eq with volume control and anti feedback switch.
two dual opamps and a black square of plastic covering part of the pc board.
Board doesn't want to come out, usually there are screws under the plastic label, but I don't feel any.

It's mounted back in the guitar right now for testing and after about ten hours battery voltage is down to about 8v.

[TomCarlos]

Just checking.... is this an "Epiphone" or is it an "Epiphonic" preamp?

[g1]

From the looks of the Reverb listings, some of them are made by Shadow.

[drewl]

Just checking.... is this an "Epiphone" or is it an "Epiphonic" preamp?

Epiphone guitar Preamp labeled Electra.

[TomCarlos]

Does it look like this one?

[drewl]

Yeah, that's the one

[TomCarlos]

Ok... so G1 was correct.... it is made by "Shadow."

Spelling and proper ID matter!!

So we now know this is the "Shadow Elektar Epiphonic Six Preamp."

Just for the heck of it, I sent an email to Shadow to see if they have a schematic.

[drewl]

Cool, thanks

[drewl]

After another six hours of being on, battery voltage is still at 8v fwiw.

[g1]

Spelling and proper ID matter!!

So we now know this is the "Shadow Elektar Epiphonic Six Preamp."

The 'k' in Elektar is a typo in the reverb listing. The photo shows it is spelled with a 'c'.