Question Modifying a Morse for piezo

[sbrett]

I'm trying to decide between a couple of different guitars: the Luke with piezo, the JPX, and the original Morse. I've been using guitars with piezo for a long time, and it's a big help in many of the songs that my band does--don't think I can do without it anymore. So my question...

How is the body routed under the pickguard of the original Morse? What I'm thinking of doing is getting an LR Baggs T-bridge or Graphtech ghost system to replace the tune-o-matic bridge on the Morse, but I'm wondering if there's enough room under the pickguard for the extra circuit board, battery, etc.

I'd love to have the JPX, but I'd be using it for tunings from standard to Drop D to 1/2 step down, and the floating trem might be a pain for so many frequent changes. I guess I could always block the trem. I also like having a nice single coil bridge sound for some songs (tele-ish), and I think that extra bridge single coil in the Morse would cover those sounds better than the JPX.

Anybody have any gutshots under the morse pickguard? Also, can the pickguard come off without taking off the bridge? It might be a pain to have to take everything apart when it comes time to change out the battery.



decisions, decisions

 

[fbecir]

Hello

I hope those pics can help you :

 

[sbrett]

Wow, that's perfect! Do you know what the grounding wires are going to? Is there a hole in the control cavity that goes to the bridge? If not it looks like I might be able to drill a hole from the bridge to the bridge pickup area and run the piezo wires that way...hard to tell if there's room for a battery and circuit board though. Looks like a pretty deep control cavity.

Thanks!

 

[fbecir]

Wow, that's perfect! Do you know what the grounding wires are going to? Is there a hole in the control cavity that goes to the bridge?

I think so but I am not sure.
Some other forumites will surely share their experience. Guys like beej have made quite a lot on their guitars (If I remember well, beej made some modifications on one of his Morse).
Besides, on this forum, we have Tommy ... who is Steve Morse guitar tech. He knows what he is talking about

 

[threeminutesboy]

check that link http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/10767-i-piezoed-my-morse.html

 

[Sweat]

Yep been done, Beej did it to his and has now changed back to no peizo if I remeber right, can be done but is it worth the cost, and from my view factory install is always better. But thats just my 2 cents

 

[sbrett]

Ya, after doing a search (I should have known better and searched first) I found beej's project. Not sure what I want to do...

but if I end up with a new ball it can't be all that bad.

 

[Sweat]

Ya, after doing a search (I should have known better and searched first) I found beej's project. Not sure what I want to do...

but if I end up with a new ball it can't be all that bad.

Yea daunting task but your last statement is so true nothing ever wrong with a new EBMM!!

 

[beej]

Yep, I did it it with the Graph Tech bridge (with piezo saddles) & Graph Tech preamp.

Preamp fits just fine in the cavity. You'll need to drill a small hole to let the piezo wires run, or you can tuck them under the p/g.

For convenience, I routed a 9V battery box on the back, but you could also fit that under the guard.

Couple of things I changed from the stock Ghost install (after having changed the whole switching scheme up several times). First, I didn't like the output jack scheme- it never shut off the battery correctly. So I wired it for mono output but using a stereo jack and used it to switch the battery on/off.

Other thing I did was to use a 4PDT toggle for the mag/both/piezo switch. In "mag only" mode I had it fully disconnect the preamp from input/output, so it was fully passive. I found there was a bit of hiss with the preamp I couldn't dial out, so this solved that. Plus, if the battery died I could still use the guitar just fine.

I've since disconnected everything since I don't use it anymore (the parts are sitting on a shelf here somewhere). Piezo sounded really great when I used it. But I didn't like the tone of the stock saddles. (I understand they're a different material now and sound better.)

Fwiw, I did look at RMC, Baggs and Fishman. I liked the Graph Tech electronics better from a wiring perspective. But if I were to do it again, I'd probably go with the RMC solution.

So there ya go. A fun project.

 

[kbaim]

Or if you go with the Luke Piezo, you can opt for an emg89 in the bridge for single coil tones...then you have a factory piezo with an aftermarket bridge pickup.

 

[sbrett]

Or if you go with the Luke Piezo, you can opt for an emg89 in the bridge for single coil tones...then you have a factory piezo with an aftermarket bridge pickup.

Definitely still a consideration. I've got a line on a Luke with piezo...the Luke still has a floating bridge no? Maybe easier to tame with just spring tension (compared to the JPX)?

 

[kbaim]

Definitely still a consideration. I've got a line on a Luke with piezo...the Luke still has a floating bridge no? Maybe easier to tame with just spring tension (compared to the JPX)?

Yes. It floats. I've had them either blocked or use all 5 springs instead of 3.
Better suited for different tunings that way. But theres something to be said if you can use a trem the way jeff beck or luke does...I can't. But sure would like to.

Good Luck.

 

[sbrett]

Actually since posting this I've had two good deals come up...one on a Luke with Piezo and one on an Albert Lee MM90 with piezo.

They both look awesome. Keep in mind I've been using a nashville tele to cover some harder rock stuff (Foo Fighters, Breaking Benjamin, Muse, etc.). That Albert Lee might be just the ticket...then again so might the luke.

 

[BrosphsMystic80]

I know his is somewhat off the topic but it's still piezo related:

Could someone tell me the brand of piezo used in the JP6? Is it Baggs, Fishman, RMC, or is it manufactured by EBMM? I couldnt find any info about it on the website. This is only just to satisfy my curiosity. Thanks.