Question JP BFR Piezo - distored sound?

[fjk1138]

Hi,

I am using a JP BFR through a Mesa Mark V, and the piezo pickup seems to distort on the clean channel if I pick too hard. I've put in a new battery, tried lowering the gain on the clean channel, and even tried lowering the volume and mix on the BFR.

Is that just the nature of the beast, or should I be trying something else?


Thanks Guys.

 

[Lou]

Piezo signal will generally sound bad through any standard guitar amp. Your best bet is sending it to an acoustic amp, PA, or keyboard amp.

 

[fjk1138]

OK, thanks for responding.

 

[dhalif]

yeah im currently experiencing distortion on the 6th string piezo.. the rest sounds fine..

 

[jmmp]

Does your amp have an effects loop? If so, try plugging the piezo signal stright into the return signal. This uses just the power amp, at least in most amps, and will be more like a PA. The signal will be loud, as the piezo volume control becomes your master volume. I recently had to get work done on my JP6 as the low E piezo signal was thin and distorted. VERY thin. When I run my piezo into my mesa roadster it does distort a little. Try turning the piezo signal down some, or look at the mix pots on the back and adjust that eq some. If the low E is distorting, maybe backing down the "bass" on the piezo module will help out the issue too.

Edit: I just realized I am trying to post back to two different people. OP, the eq on the piezo module may help you as well.

 

[pearlredburst]

I also own a mark V and this happens to me. The Mark V just isn't setup to run a piezo, however, if you buy a splitter box and run a stereo cable out of your guitar, and then the magnetic to the mark v and the piezo to either A: a PA system, or B: an acoustic amp, this remedies this. It stinks, but the Mark V just can't do the piezo sound!

 

[fjk1138]

I It stinks, but the Mark V just can't do the piezo sound!

I had a feeling you would tell me that, but I am glad that I am not imagining it all the same. Any idea how Petrucci handles this live? Or is he spllitting the signal? It's not absolutely critical to me that I be able to use the piezo through the Mark V, but I am just curious as it's a pretty sound.