What to do with this ABG Saddle Slot to balance volume?

[Jeff Bean]

I've got a four string ABG (Ibanez EWB20) with unbalanced amplified volume. The E string is I'd say about 60% of the volume of the other strings. The problem is only when amplified; it's fine unplugged. It's a problem only with the E string, not with the low frequencies, because the same frequencies on the A are louder (and much fuller harmonics).

Reading various threads I suspect it could be a problem with the connection between the saddle and the piezo element in the bridge slot.

I opened it up and took a look, not that I would know what I'm looking at once I took the saddle off. Here's a pic of the saddle removed and the element in the slot:

ABG Bridge Slot

• Jeff Bean
• Jun 11, 2016
• bridge

Picture of Ibanez EWB20 bridge with saddle removed, exposing the piezo element.

Here's the thread that's closest to describing my situation, but the situation they're talking most about (a "bump" in the piezo element) doesn't seem to be my problem.

What am I looking at here? Is something here wrong? What should it look like? Or is this fine and is the problem something else? I don't know what this is supposed to look like, so I don't know what may be wrong with it or what should be done to fix the problem.

 

[Turnaround]

The problem with this kind of under-saddle element is that it often forms a bit of a hump where it goes down the hole to the inside of the instrument. That hump prevents the saddle from sitting flat on the transducer, especially near the E string. Thus the reduced output from that string. The hole usually has a bit of roundover where it dives into the body, but often it's not enough. Increasing the roundover usually helps the pickup lay flatter and improves output on the E string.