Question "Normal" amp + acoustic amp for the JP model?

[PaoloGilberto]

Hi guys,

I am buying this week or next one a practice amp Laney VC 15 - 15 W full tube amp and I was thinking if there is such a big difference in sound of the JP piezo when running through a tube amp clean channel comparing to a dedicated acoustic solid state amp ?
if so, I could also buy an acoustic 12W or 20 W Laney amp at a decent price (around 75-85 Euro for a new 12 W amp).

thank you for your advice.

Paul

 

[bonez]

the piezo always sounds better through a fullrange speaker so yes it will sounds better through an acoustic amp or a pa system

 

[Spudmurphy]

There is a huge difference. I bought an AER acoustic amp to run my piezo systems (one on the AL and the other on the pet) and they sound awesome!! (so it should the damn cost of the things!!!!)
Spud

 

[colinboy]

i plugged my JP straight into a PA for the first time last week when rehearsing with my band and it sounded fantastic that way so it must sound amazing through an acoustic amp aswell.

 

[lonewolf74]

I agree with what others have posted. Whether running through my Behringer keyboard amp by itself, or through my Boss GT effects unit, the piezo on my JP6 has always sounded best (most like an acoustic) when I use a full-range setup (simulated amp or actual). Playing it through something like a Fender preamp will color the tone such that it sounds less like an acoustic guitar.

So - depending on your needs and your rig, you may either want two different types of amp, or an effects unit that can simulate multiple types of amps (which would ideally be run into a full-range flat response amplification system), or else some intricate cabling solution that could bypass a preamp and just use a power amp stage when using the piezo.

 

[bkrumme]

I agree with everyone here. You can hear the acoustic-y sound of the piezo with a regular amp a little bit, but it's nothing like using a dedicated acoustic amp or PA.

 

[colinboy]

Dont mean to hijack your thread mate.just wanted to know for guys playing live at them moment the best way to use the piezo.
as i said earlier i plugged the piezo output straight into the mixing desk in goin through the PA system.It sound great but i just wanted to know if this is the best way to to this as i will be gigging soon with my band so i want to know how other forumites use theres in a live situation.

 

[Jimmyb]

Well, I'm not playing live regularly (hear that? that's the sound of the people of the North West cheering!) but going straight into the PA is a pretty good way of doing it.

 

[bkrumme]

Dont mean to hijack your thread mate.just wanted to know for guys playing live at them moment the best way to use the piezo.
as i said earlier i plugged the piezo output straight into the mixing desk in goin through the PA system.It sound great but i just wanted to know if this is the best way to to this as i will be gigging soon with my band so i want to know how other forumites use theres in a live situation.

If you've ever seen Dream Theater and JP has used his piezo or double-neck, that was going straight to the board with a DI box. IMO, this is the best way for live situations.

 

[PaoloGilberto]

Thank you all so much for replies.
I did not think that acoustic amp makes such a difference comparing to a regular amp regarding the piezo , but if it is so I will buy an acoustic amp soon
for the moment I am just playing home, but it is worth to hear the true potential of a JP guitar

thank you all so much once again!

best regards,

Paul

 

[whitestrat]

Hi guys,

I am buying this week or next one a practice amp Laney VC 15 - 15 W full tube amp and I was thinking if there is such a big difference in sound of the JP piezo when running through a tube amp clean channel comparing to a dedicated acoustic solid state amp ?
if so, I could also buy an acoustic 12W or 20 W Laney amp at a decent price (around 75-85 Euro for a new 12 W amp).

thank you for your advice.

Paul

Yes, the differences are HUGE. The VC15 is a great amp. I used to have one. But no electric amp will give you the depth of an acoustic amp. If you can, get both. Then you could have the double switching with 2 separate cables.

 

[PaoloGilberto]

I bought the Laney VC 15 full tubes...feels very loud for those 15 W
it says that is a vintage amp on the Laney website, and so I think it is because the distorsion is not very powerfull - more to a vintage kind of rock sound, of course the blues tones are great.
But the piezo does not sound good at all on the clean channel, it sounds way better on my Vox Valvetronix AD 30.
do all tube amps not sound good with piezo?
I don't have now money to buy the acoustic amp but for sure I'll do it asap.

Oh...and other thing, I use my Laney tube amp with my JP 6 and a rocktron metal planet pedal (or just JP through the amp ) .
It feels that is to much bass even with bass on zero, can it be this the characteristic of the amp or is the JP sound - wood, pick-up that have a lot of bass?

sorry for the long post.

thanks a lot ,

Paul

 

[marduke]

i used my piezo through my Mesa Mark V and it sounds great, not as good as an acoustic amp or a PA, but it still sounded very nice.
Maybe you need to play with the bass and treble pots on the back of the guitar.

 

[Voo]

A few years ago Trace Elliot made some acoustic amps that were just over the top amazing I know they are supposed to be bringing them back if you can get your hands on one you should, just amazing tone. I use one with my JP7 and the tone is just amazing

 

[PaoloGilberto]

thank all of you for replies : Matt, marduke, Voo

The bass is on pick-ups not piezo, the piezo sounds to bright and to much sustain ))), if I raise the clean vol let's say to level 3-4 from 10 , the sound goes to a bluesy sound, even with no reverb selected, with not to much treble and tone added from the amp knobs.
as far as I've read this is particular to tube amps - as you raise the vol the sound get's a litlle bit naturally distorted, even on clean.
that is maybe the cause for the bad sound I have on piezo.
the bass with pick-up I think is the amp, even with bass level to 0 there is to much bass at vol level of 4-to 10 from 10 maximum.
maybe it was not the best choice this Laney amp.
Whiestrat , you said you own one Laney VC 15, din you faced the same problems? I would appreciate a lot your feedback

Paul

My Mark IV also sounds terrific with my piezo. I think all Boogie amps sound great with them. The only amp that sounded better with my piezo (than a boogie I mean), was an old 1970's HiWatt that was actually a bass amp (but is coveted by guitarists for it's "guitar tone"). With that amp it ALMOST sounded like a PA.

But yeah, I think I mentioned above that all amps sound different with the piezo. I'm not sure if it has to do with the dynamic range of the amp, or whether it's just as simple as the fact that some amps don't colour your tone as much. In any case, an acoustic amp will make it sound much better, and you get varying results with other guitar amps.

As far as the bass problem goes, are you having trouble with the pickups or the piezo? If it's the piezo, you can adjust the bass and treble on the back of the guitar (like Marduke said). If it's the pickups, than it must be the amp (or you have your tone rolled off). Neither of my JP's are particularly bassey, but I've never played them through a Laney either.

But always remember, if you have any serious questions (particularly ones about guitar maintenance), CALL CS!