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Spudmurphy

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Typical pub gig last night - and decided to go "naked" - well not quite!! What I mean is that I had no effects pedals and just the one guitar.
I used the BCB AL and ran a stereo cable out - split it and ran the mags to my Mesa F50 and the piezo to my AER.
Was also trying live (for the first time), the trick of running a modded patch cable in the send/return of the F50 - running the amp hard but bringing the volume down using the send return potentiometer as a master volume. Well pleased - just need to tweek the settings and I'll probably end up running this way for a while - it's so much easier setting up and playing wise. I can get my lead tone switching the channel on the F50 via the Mesa footswitch.

Anyways onto the title of the thread - I noticed during the first set that a guy was holding his phone up in the air and during the break and at the end he approached me asking how was I getting the sound, and we talked at some length about the Piezo and it's dedicated amp which was then via the line out, sent to the mixing desk - he was so taken back he dialed up his (local) friend and got him to come to the gig (hence the phone held in the air).

Another guy asked me similar questions and he too was impressed by the sound and the "cool looking guitar" ha!

So I'm spreading the word - and guys, I implore you to try a Piezo if you haven't already done so - but please put it through a dedicated acoustic amp to get a true indication of it's capabilties a s a tube amp will not give it credit.
 
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Norrin Radd

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I am dying to get my hands on a Piezo equipped EBMM (Albert Lee, of course). You are not helping quench that desire, Spud! :mad:

I have played a number of guitars with Piezo systems before, however, and I will say that you do any of them a dis-service by NOT plugging in to a dedicated acoustic amp (or similar). Definitely a must for excellent acoustic tone, IMO.
 

Spudmurphy

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^
Sorry Norrin.:)

It's just so versatile - use the piezo all on it's lonesome, or just have it with those zingy shimmering highs floating above the Mesa at full throttle ha!
 

brokenvail

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Lakeland, FL
I swear by it! It is to the point that any guitar I have with out it just doesn't get played because in my current playing situation I use it all the time. It is the reason I don't own an HH Al and why I sold my 25th. It is the reason why I am getting the GC (basically a 25th from another universe with a piezo) If the LKIII comes HSS or with a GC and offers a piezo I am screwed.
 

Marcus2

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Sep 25, 2006
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+1,000

That piezo unit is excellent. It honestly puts my nice acoustic (when run through an amp) to shame. And I *love* my acoustic guitar. I have the piezo on my JPs. It's awesome.

Marc
 

Music Man

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Twin Falls, Idaho, United States
I am with you guys on this one. Two of my 3 SS have piezo. I remmember when we use to play Taking My Time by Boston, when it came time to the acoustic part I would always get "what the heck is he playing" look. Then afterwards the positive comments (about the sound anyway) and questions. One of the reasons I love MM they deliver what many companies claim "True Tools for Musicians":)
 

Mr.X

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I absolutely love the piezo on my Al.
Truthfully, lately I've been playing the piezo more than the regular pickups.
 

Spudmurphy

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To be honest I wish all my guitars had a piezo.

I forgot to say that another good thing was that the weather has really changed in the UK - consequently the high E was "sitaring" slightly and I tweaked the truss rod to compensate - all was good.

I swear all night I didn't need to tune. Just a quick check during the break.

If anybody doubts the stability of the MM trem - then "doubt no more!!"
 

joe web

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the piezo systems are great. i love them on the JPs, but i prefer playing the Y2Ds at the moment, so that´s the reason why i added a fishman piezo powerbridge to my tobacco burst Y2D. now it´s not only a perfect guitar, it´s even more a perfect guitar ;)
 

kimonostereo

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Was also trying live (for the first time), the trick of running a modded patch cable in the send/return of the F50 - running the amp hard but bringing the volume down using the send return potentiometer as a master volume. Well pleased - just need to tweek the settings and I'll probably end up running this way for a while - it's so much easier setting up and playing wise. I can get my lead tone switching the channel on the F50 via the Mesa footswitch.

Hey Spud, could you go into more detail on this trick?
 

SteveB

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Sep 3, 2004
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yeah, I love the piezo on my JP. When I switch to my Y2D I always wish it had piezo as well. I'm in favor of having it on all of my guitars!
 

Spudmurphy

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Sure thing KimonoS here's a picture courtesy of Hal on the HC forum - (he's also contributed on this forum )

9719be1c.jpg



The thread on that forum, primarily is here, but it is mentioned elsewhere on the forum too
The Boogie Board • View topic - Mesa F-50 "Mod" jumper for effects loop, Master/Volume thing

I play one number that requires a note picked not too aggressively, to sustain and I was getting that in the gig with this mod, whereas before it was back to the audience holding the guitar in "the flame" of the speaker cone to generate sustain.
I'm not saying that it was 100% perfect for me but I know the tweeks to make to get a good balance to my clean/dirty.

Edit.
Knucklehead Elif gave me great info on the boogie board.

I got a lot of info on the F50 from HC on this thread from Hal, including the best way to run a Pod into the F50
http://acapella.harmony-central.com...-on-in-and-share-your-secrets.&s=&perpage=100
 
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