Question: Piezo bridges on Sterling basses

[iamcatwarrior]

In the somewhat distant future, I was considering purchasing a fretted Sterling 4 to accompany my fretless. I was thinking about getting the piezo option; I have played other bass brands with piezo bridges and was genuinely interested in the tonal variation, but with my interest in bass brands gravitating towards Music Man again, I was curious about what MM piezo bridges are like.

I'm certain that someone in here owns a Sterling 4 H with the piezo bridge or have played one; I just haven't heard it myself. What are your opinions of this setup? Are there certain things to watch out for (like rattling or buzzing), certain string types to use with it, etc.?

Thanks!

[NorM]

NorMally I'm a guitar player but I have a fretless Sterling Piezo so here goes.

Strings? That's easy. EB Pinks. I understand that is what the factory puts on them and for fretless there is just the right amount of mwah. (For me anyway) That also considers into the equation the amount of string roughness on both fingers and fret boards. Also I find the EB strings to just be so consistant. I have just gotten use to having great long lasting strings all the time.

The piezo equipped guitars have the potential to make some one run in the room and ask "Who's shredding on the Martin!?!" The Piezos on the Sterling won't make some one ask, "Who's thumping on the upright?" But it does move in that direction. I guess I could say, Kinda warm and acoustic-y. Wile Reverb + bass (to me) equals mud; adding just a touch really gives a good big room feel for the piezo pup on the Sterling.

Setup is just like any other bridge. However, the density of the string saddles (again to me) feels just a little different. Not better or worse, just different. After playing piezo equipped bridges on guitars for what I have, I feel I prefer them.

Another noteworthy item:
Just because the piezo is there doesn't mean you have to use it. But when it is the right tool it sure is nice to have.

For the piezo guitars, I (and most other guitarists) really prefer the piezo signal go to an amp different from the one that the magnetic pups are going through. Usually an acoustic amp or a small PA (with effects built in of course cause we guitar players hide our lack of skillz behind cool effects ) The basses don't provide that option directly but that might be fun to explore.

Rattling and buzzing are things I don't worry about much on the fretless. (duh) But on the guitar that only is an issue when the tremolo gets used so hard that the string loses contact with the bridge. After I did that a couple of times I learned what the limits were pretty quickly. A good set up on your instrument makes this a non issue.

Bottom Line:
The Sterling Piezo add a fantastic element that you can't get from the mag pups. The only adaption necessary is getting use to having another tonal possibility. And that's easy to do.

Thanks for letting me share

[iamcatwarrior]

Thanks for your input.

As far as the acoustic tone goes, I've always known about that being able to come from a piezo-bridge-equipped electric bass. It seems pretty intuitive, since the whole idea behind the piezo bridge is vibrations.

I'll continue to give it consideration.

[AnthonyD]

Hard to describe, but it adds a bite on the high and a thump on the low. I use it blended with the mags.

Made the mistake of not including a piezo bridge in my first EBMM... Not again...

[chilix]

I have a Stingray fretless with the piezo option and it is great. It kind of gives more definition to my fretless tone and makes the bass sound bigger than it really is...

[iamcatwarrior]

I went down to GC yesterday and played a fretted SR5 with a piezo bridge -- it totally blew my mind. The piezo pickup has a personality of its own, what with the punchy lows and singing highs. Ignoring for a minute that the bass they had in stock was horribly set up, fret rattling and all, the piezo bridge actually made it sound like something of an upright. The blending of both piezo and magnetic sounds was pretty cool, too.

[Stoo]

I've got a fretted Sterling H with a piezo and love it. Never found it brittle or un-musical, just a just a great way to add some extra clarity. Much smoother than some other piezos I've played, and a great match with the MM pickup/preamp.

Someday, (after the kids are gown) I'll get another Musicman (likely Bongo HS at this point,) and will have to get the piezo bridge with it. Too dang useful to ignore (and easy enough to dial out if un-needed.)

Not great quality, but you can hear the Sterling here:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8um0uLRlAP0"]YouTube - Short melody in 'E.'[/ame]

(and definitely factor out the dorkiness of the peformer )

Best Wishes