Anyone use a PIEZO?I

[papersoul]

Anyone use a piezo on their guitar?

I have a PRS CE-22 with a piezo bridge but have yet to use it! I miss my tone control! The on/off switch is in the tone slot.

I am thinking of reinstalling the stock bridge, and tone pot so I can get back to normal and maybe even yank out the 5 way rotary.

Anyone have a Piezo and use it much? I could use it with a stereo cable but would need to use a different amp or go through the PA. Seems like a pain really. We play classic rock to modern rock and just can't thik of when I'd use one!

Thoughts?

Rich

[Guitar Josh]

I've got a piezo in my Power Telecaster Deluxe (USA!!). Does it sound like a real acoustic? Of course not. But it sounds closer than any pedal will ever get you. I use it on occasion. I used it like I would any other tone coloring device, as another tool in the arsenal.

Doesn't hurt that the guitar is a killer player anyway.

[Yuval Kramer]

I got two Parker fly guitars (classic 2002, mojo 2006) with the Fishman Piazo system on.
I use it quite often. In the studio and live using a stereo cable.

I found that the Piazo usually sounds better then a real acoustic live - a great acoustic guitar needs a good mic and good mic placement, most times none of them are available... so the Piazo is much easier to control and to get it to its optimum sound - which is not bad.

yes, a good acoustic guitar with a good mic brought to its maximum capabilities - will sound better then any electric with Piazo system... but usually you don't have these conditions live.


bottom line - the Piazo gives you a very stable signal and sound that its very easy to learn how to produce the best result with. regardless to the venue.
stereo cable - magnetic to the amp, Piazo to the DI and you're set.


I hope thats helpfull,
Yuval.

[Pietro]

I pretty much NEVER use any of my guitars without plugging in stereo with the piezo anymore. I love it, need it, want it, enjoy it. My Anderson, PRS (no tone control on electric like yours... I don't miss it...), Godin, and US Masters are ALL two-voice.

Here's what I do.

I plug into separate electric (using a modeler... a miked amp works as well if you can attenuate it) and acoustic rigs and mix them together myself on stage with a little mackie mixer. I monitor that sound through an acoustic amp, basically just my own personal full-range monitor. I send that mixed signal to the house. It's HUGE.

[DiazDude]

I have a L.R. Baggs system in my CS Strat and McNaught VDC. I use a Lehle pedal to switch amps on the fly so I can use my wireless. They sound GREAT on both guitars. For other gigs I'll bring a Martin.

[c_mac]

I use my EBMM piezo all of the time. I installed an LR Baggs system on another guitar and use that a lot too.

[Rock Johnson]

I use the Fishman on my Slash LP all the time. Of course, I just lost one tone control on the LP, the other is wired as a master tone.

[scott58]

got one in my Dean. Love it, just wish it was as close as my Variax.

[michael30]

This has a piezo PU in the bridge. Must be one of the earliest examples.
I don't use it very much since it's sort of thin sounding.

[papersoul]

what kind of songs are you guys playing where you need it? I am wondering if I would ever need it for classic rock and metal.

I mean a buddy of mine plays 3 set cover gigs with his Kramer into a Marshall and nothing more. Thoughts?

Maybe I can just forget about using the tone control and live with it, LOL!

So, if I ever need it, I would just plug into the DI?

[papersoul]

bumpster

[KCWM]

i have a fishman vt powerbridge with the fishman powerchip installed. I normally use the adjustment knob on the chip and basically use it as a treble boost. The switch on my tele allows for a mixing of the two. Or, like now, I keep it up full tilt and then roll back the volume to adjust as needed.

I really dig it and I don't miss the tone knob on my tele. Though, I have thought about having a concentric knob installed to use the tone. Just because I don't miss it doesn't mean I wouldn't use it.

[Old Tele man]

...my Ovation EA68 Viper has piezo-pickups built-into the bridge assembly...actually, under the bridge assembly

[FractalGarden]

Originally Posted by papersoul

what kind of songs are you guys playing where you need it? I am wondering if I would ever need it for classic rock and metal.

I mean a buddy of mine plays 3 set cover gigs with his Kramer into a Marshall and nothing more. Thoughts?

Maybe I can just forget about using the tone control and live with it, LOL!

So, if I ever need it, I would just plug into the DI?

Can't speak for live performance, but I found it has a niche for recording. It gives you the ability to dual-track both the magnetic pickups and the piezo for some interesting textures. A narrow niche, however, and not something I used much.

I recently traded in said guitar for something more along my lines.

[major-minor]

I got hooked on piezo bridges when I started playing Andersons. I now have them on 3 Andersons, 2 Fenders, and a Schecter Tele copy.

I run through Fishman's Powerblend pedal (now discontinued). Magnetic sound goes to my Bassman RI. Acoustic sound goes to a Genz Benz and out to the house PA. Blending the two is a HUGE sound. I'm to the point where I'd be kind of lost without it.

Too bad Fishman dropped that pedal. Really works great.