Question Live Piezo Users: Your Thoughts?

[mb99zz]

I have a few questions for those of you use their Piezo bridge pickup in a live setting -- either on stage or even when practicing with your band.

1). What has worked best for you – running the Piezo through the house PA (if available) or an acoustic amp? If you’ve had good results using a standard guitar amp, can you share your thoughts on that too?

2). How do prefer to handle cabling and why? For example, do you use a single TRS cable from the stereo jack into a splitter box -- splitting the magnetic signal to your amp and the Piezo signal to a desired source? Do you use both jacks on the guitar routing the regular pickups through the magnetic/stereo jack and the Piezo through the Piezo/Mono jack? Do you do something different?

3). For those of you with a separate Piezo switch (e.g. Petrucci’s, Axis, 20th Silos), does that switch work regardless of how you’re using the two jacks? In other words, can I still use that switch to control the mode (Magentic, Both, or Piezo) if I’m using the Mag/Stereo jack, the Peizo/Mono jack, or a combination of both jacks?

4). Last question – again for those of you with a separate Piezo switch on your MM – do you tend to use the Piezo switch in a live setting or is it just easier to turn down the Piezo volume with the mix pot? I think that pot only works when you’re using the Piezo/Mono jack. So, it would only be applicable in that scenario.

Thanks in advance for replying with your experience. I greatly appreciate it!!!

 

[Astrofreq]

I used the EB splitter box and only used a TRS coming out of the guitar. Seemed easiest to me. ALWAYS went into the PA. There's no way I'm taking a second amp to a show. I rarely take one in this city. I did use the switch on the guitar so I could pretty much leave the volume all the way up on the piezo.

I used my piezo only a few times, but had great results. I had better ideas for it than ever got written into songs. I had some song ideas where the piezo signal was super clean, but the magnetic had tons of delay and swirly sounds. When those were mixed together it was really stellar.

But nothing beats an axis hardtail.

 

[Astrofreq]

Oh yeah, the standard guitar amp works, but doesn't give the full picture of the piezo because of the lack of a tweeter (I believe). Maybe use that as a last resort.

 

[Purple ASS]

I use it into a Marshall AS50 Di'd straight into the PA desk. Amp is then my on stage monitor, and I can have some up the floors too if required.

 

[beej]

I have an aftermarket piezo on my Morse (fun project). Originally I expected that I'd use it a lot live in a stereo config. However I've found that's not practical most of the time.

When I use the piezo these days it tends to be for acoustic gigs. Then it's piezo->DI->board.

 

[matty]

I have a Silo Special with factory piezo. I use two cords - one from the magnetics to an amp and one from the piezo and go straight to FOH using floor wedges as monitors. I use two cables because that's the way I have done it from the start.

With enough experience, I have gotten pretty good at rolling the volume up & down between the two pickup configurations. It's almost second nature now. I just tell the FOH guy to keep the acoustic channel open all the time and I'll roll it in when needed.

The EBMM piezo really sounds good.

Hope this helps

matt

 

[threeminutesboy]

I use 2 cables as well and use the switch of my Axii (I got 2) with Piezo.

Electric is going into effects then to amp
Piezo is going to Chorus then to PA

on Georgy Porgy tune I use both at the same time sound just amazing !!

But the switch is a must for me I can switch from Electric to acoustic with a flick of a switch

 

[mb99zz]

Thanks for all the input guys. I appreciate it.

 

[mr.b]

i use the EB splitter then run the signal to an LR Baggs para DI the DI out into the front of house and the seperate output signal into my AER acoustic amp. great tone!

 

[Spudmurphy]

I use the Piezo on my AL by running a stereo lead into an EB 6165 Volume/pan pedal.
This splits the Mags to run via my tube amp and the Piezo runs through my AER.
Depending on the venue I would consider DI'ing the AER into the desk. In all honesty the AER is a fantastic amp but does not have the headroom to cut it above "Band Volume".

 

[marduke]

i use mine live every weekend.. only run the piezo to the PA.. i run 2 seperate cables as thats all i have for the moment.. might make a splitter box soon. i use the switch to change between mag, piezo or both.. no worries.

 

[Lou]

I used mine with a TRS cable out into a Startouch stereo A/B/Y pedal from A/B Box and ABY Box Guitar Foot Pedal Systems For Musicians by Startouch Pedals. I then ran the piezo into a direct box then into the PA. Usually added some chorus and delay to the piezo as well as reverb. I would leave the piezo/mags swich in the center position and use the A/B/Y pedal to switch between/combine sounds. Easier than fumbling with the switch.

 

[Jeb]

I have a silo spec with a graptech ghost system...

I run one stero cable from the output jack of the guitar.. at the other side... one jack to my rig and to other jack to an acoustic Xciter pedal to the PA... sounds awsome!!!