Help! piezo+input jack question

[Chaka5150]

I have seen of these kinds of threads before but I have not really seen the answer to my particular question. First of all, I use a regular mono cable when plugging into either input jack (to my jp6 bfr). When I plug into the stereo (mag/piezo) it sounds better (this is not because I am using the piezo at this point--the toggle for the piezo is switched off on the guitar) when i plug into the mono jack (mags only) it sounds very different. It sounds a bit nasal to me very similar to when you back off the tone knob.

is the stereo jack only meant to sound proper with a TRS(stereo) cable to truly carry both signals. I have seen on this forum that some guys use a stereo cable to carry both signals, but only to carry them to a splitter box to have 2 discreet signal paths(i totally get this). if I am using a mono cable in the stereo input jack, and say play direct into my DAW and engage the toggle switch on the guitar to blend mags and piezo, will the mono cable actually blend both signals clearly?

 

[the24thfret]

To the best of my knowledge, a mono cable in either jack should sound the same. I recommend contacting customer service and getting the official information from them.

 

[beej]

The signals are a bit different from each output jack.

The stereo jack gives you the passive output from the mag pickups, as you'd get on most normal guitars.

However the signal from the mono jack is active. Both the mag and piezo pickups are fed to an on-board preamp before being fed to the jack. This is necessary in order to blend the two signals, as the mag signal is high impedance and the piezo signal is low impedance. The resulting signal is low impedance.

So ... if you hear a difference from each output, what you're hearing is the effect of the preamp (buffer), preserving your tone from whatever you're plugging into further on in the signal chain (cable run + amp/DAW). If you were to take the magnetic signal and first run it into a buffered pedal with a short cable, you'd likely hear the same thing.

 

[Spudmurphy]

^ Well I never knew that - well "explained" Beej !!!

 

[Eilif]

A mono cable plugged into the different jacks will produce different sounds. I can clearly hear the difference with my Axis SS, and I prefer the sound of the magnetic pickups through the mono jack.

I wish I could say I remember hearing a difference when I had my Luke w/ piezo, but I almost always plugged into the piezo jack with that guitar.

 

[beej]

I wish I could say I remember hearing a difference when I had my Luke w/ piezo, but I almost always plugged into the piezo jack with that guitar.

It's not exactly apples to apples in that case, since the EMGs on the Luke are active. Even though the mono output is buffered, both outputs would be low impedance.

 

[Chaka5150]

I don't have emg's in mine…crunch lab/liquifire that I replaced the Dsonic set with. Not sure if it's me but it sounds a little more nasal to me (I love them) I usually plug into the piezo jack (even if I am just going to use the mag pups) and it seems to sound better than when plugging into the other jack. I use a mono jack in either case, that is what prompted me to post this thread as I wasn't sure if i should be using a stereo cable when plugged into the piezo jack to truly blend the signals. If I am plugging directly into a preamp/processor I don't believe the guitar input is stereo anyway so doesn't seem to matter. I think a lot of users here seem to use one of those eb splitters and run one stereo cable out of the gutiar…I like this option, currently I run a mono cable into a radial bigshot ABY to split one signal to preamp/processor and another straight to DI for reamping purposes.

 

[KINGSFAN]

Does anybody know if there is a wireless system that I can use a stereo cord to the pack that would separate the magnetic / piezo. What I am getting at, is I want to be able to use both pick up options with only one wireless unit.

 

[beej]

I don't have emg's in mine…crunch lab/liquifire that I replaced the Dsonic set with. Not sure if it's me but it sounds a little more nasal to me (I love them) I usually plug into the piezo jack (even if I am just going to use the mag pups) and it seems to sound better than when plugging into the other jack.

Right- what I'm saying is that with the two outputs on the Petrucci, one is buffered (mono) and one is not buffered (stereo). The difference that you hear in tone is due to the loading of the pickups from your cable, DAW, etc.

Same kind of thing happens if you have a passive guitar into a long run of cable, etc. and use a buffer first in line- you're going to hear a difference, and that difference is b/c a low impedance, buffered signal is less affected by electrical effects further down the signal chain.

I use a mono jack in either case, that is what prompted me to post this thread as I wasn't sure if i should be using a stereo cable when plugged into the piezo jack to truly blend the signals.

There's no right or wrong here ... you can really use either and it's up to you. With this kind of setup you have lots of options. Options are good

Btw, the EMG comment was about the Luke.

 

[Chaka5150]

ahh! I thinks me got it…thanks beej I do love the tonal spectrum you can coax from this guitar--EBMM is the best.

 

[dannymusic]

Does anybody know if there is a wireless system that I can use a stereo cord to the pack that would separate the magnetic / piezo. What I am getting at, is I want to be able to use both pick up options with only one wireless unit.

no

you will always need 2 separate transmitters.

 

[Eilif]

Aaah, then that would explain why I don't remember hearing a difference with the Luke.

"Professor" Beej comes through again.

It's not exactly apples to apples in that case, since the EMGs on the Luke are active. Even though the mono output is buffered, both outputs would be low impedance.

 

[AgustinJP50]

Hi, sorry to revive the old thread, but I didn't want to open an OT thread for a little question, and since the Radial Bigshot ABY and buffered pedals were mentioned in here... Well, here's the thing. I've got a Bigshot ABY and have read in the manual that if you are to use the transformer, you should have a buffer before the ABY. My doubt is... Is any pedal a buffer? For instance, is a Dunlop Wah a buffer? Or the pedals only act as buffers when they are on?
Thanks a lot guys.

 

[beej]

A buffer is unity-gain amplifier, meaning it electrically isolates your guitar's signal from other components in the signal chain. In practice, every buffer imparts some colour. Some are more musical than others.

Some effects pedals have a buffering capability. For example, all the Boss pedals are buffered even when the effect is off. Others don't unless they're on.

If you're using a guitar w/ active pickups, your signal is already buffered. If not, I'd look for a good dedicated buffer. I have an Axess Electronics BS2 on my board. Tone Freak Effects makes a "Buff Puff" that's great. Lots of other good ones out there as well.

 

[AgustinJP50]

Thanks a lot! This would mean that true-bypass pedals are not buffers, right? (At least when they are off). By dedicated buffer you mean a pedal that does just that, not an effects pedal, right?

 

[beej]

Exactly. Anything true bypass is out of the signal chain when off.

Some guys will use an OD or booster as a buffer- leave it on, but set the level low (for example, I know guys that like to leave their RC Booster or Timmy pedal on all the time, etc.). If you like the effect a particular pedal has on your tone, you could leave it on. You'd have to check the specs on output impedance, but many pedals work fine for this.

 

[AgustinJP50]

Thanks a lot beej!

 

[beej]

Anytime!