Line6 variax 300 weak piezo? Replace?

[genmce]

Hey all,
Move if needed, this is more about piezos.
I acquired a variax 300 in trade, with a weak piezo element.
The d sting is about 10db lower output than other stings, based on reaper track meter, while attempting similar pick attack.
I noticed some corrosion on the top of the piezo.
So I tried to gently clean the top where it touches the strings. No change.
I then pushed the element out of the saddle to try to clean it, still soldered in.

See image - not showing corrosion - just an image I found, for reference.

I need some advice.
Here are the options as I see them.
1. Buy 1 replacement $13. Remove strings loosen bridge replace that one.
2. Buy a set of 6 for $70 and replace them all while I am there.
3. Buy a set of graph tech ghost saddles - $89 eBay.
Number 3 is most expensive and will require more work, as they have two wire (coax?) coming from each graph tech piezo. Small, fragile wires and one wire from each will need to ground. The stock piezo grounds on the saddle from the housing - one wire each. The other benefit of the graph tech - is they apparently handle hard picking much better than the stock piezos, which are known to have a quacky, pluckily bad sound on hard picking.
Also - better design on the graph techs will mean I shouldn't have to revisit a corrosion grounding issue, I would hope....

So - the high road or the low road?

I honestly don't even know if I like the guitar yet, I have been too preoccupied with the output of this string to even notice if I like the modeling.

Some related questions -
Is ther a way to test the output of a piezo?
Are some just lower output?
Do they go bad, like lowered output or just fail?

If I buy a stock one, will it work and I'd be done? Or do I face to possibility that the one I buy will have the same problem?
Quality control?

Hmmm...

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is the surface above/beneath the piezzo (shelf/saddle) 100% flat? are the surfaces of the piezzo itself 100% flat? Is the string tension adequate? did you try shimming that particular saddle? I know that was the problem with my yamaha acoustic.

[genmce]

Thanks for reply.
They seem flat, on the bottom, to me. Though the outside surrounding is curved, by design. I may need to try to touch up the solder connection too.
Maybe another cleaning with some contact cleaner, when I get home.
It justs seems like this one piezo is 15-20% weaker and with soft playing in nearly disappears.

[Deleted]

Dec 29, 2013 21:04:19 GMT -5 genmce said:

Thanks for reply.
They seem flat, on the bottom, to me. Though the outside surrounding is curved, by design. I may need to try to touch up the solder connection too.
Maybe another cleaning with some contact cleaner, when I get home.
It justs seems like this one piezo is 15-20% weaker and with soft playing in nearly disappears.

Solder connections are prone to create bumps and thus damage the flatness of the seating.