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Opinion: Does a piezo replace an acoustic guitar?

fogman

fogman

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Dec 27, 2004
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Location
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I've had the opportunity to try a piezo but unfortunately there wasn't the proper amp to let it shine.
So those of you that have piezo, would you still have an acoustic guitar as well? Or does the piezo do it all for you?
 
For gigs where I need an acoustic-like sound, the piezo bridge on my JP means I can leave my acoustic guitar at home and play an entire function gig with just the JP and a backup guitar, but IMO, it won't ever replace a proper acoustic guitar. You don't get the same resonance and richness with an electric.
 
IMNSHO
I wouldn't even dream of taking an acoustic to a show anymore. The piezo is all that. Before Dream Theater took the stage I said to my friend, "That's Pettrucci's guitar you hear." The response was "No Way!" that's an acoustic guitar. I just smiled. If you even think you might want a piezo then do it. The money you spend on a peizo is way less than you would spend on an acoustic guitar that plays even half as well as your Music Man.
I love that Steve Morse plays one guitar all night long. There's a brand new EBMMSM hanging off his amp that never gets touched. Let the roadie do something other than fingerprint your guitars. (Less Risk)
Save Up!​
 
As much as I really want it to, no, it doesn't replace it. But, I'm not done looking at DI boxes & the like so maybe someday I'll find a nice fit.

On a similar note - I played a Taylor T5 the other day and was very impressed. Now, if you take a T5, put on an EBMM neck and shake some Dudley mojo in there, hmmm...
 
For live performance... the piezo replaces the acoustic for me.

For recording, sometimes it's all about spaces, like the space inside an acoustic. So it does not replace the acoustic for recording for me, all of the time. Maybe for some applications, but not always.

It's going to be a personal decision based on how & why you use an acoustic.
Trust your own ears.
 
I personally think a decent acoustic amp is a big factor here.

I play my Axis Super Sport with MM90s into a Cornford Harlequin for mag sounds and an AER Domino for acoustic stuff. To me the piezo sounds are stunning - probably not quite as "airy" as my Taylor with Expression system but in a band situation its impossible to tell the difference IMHO. Try an AER though - even the 40W version is magnificent.

HTH

Dave
 
As others have stated, for live performances, or switching between electric/acoustic sounds, the piezo is the way to go.

The piezo in my JP sounds quite a bit better than the one in my PRS Archtop for some reason.

But for recording, no. Nothing replaces my custom shop Taylor 810C. :)
 
NorM said:
IMNSHO
I wouldn't even dream of taking an acoustic to a show anymore. The piezo is all that. Before Dream Theater took the stage I said to my friend, "That's Pettrucci's guitar you hear." The response was "No Way!" that's an acoustic guitar. I just smiled. If you even think you might want a piezo then do it. The money you spend on a peizo is way less than you would spend on an acoustic guitar that plays even half as well as your Music Man.
I love that Steve Morse plays one guitar all night long. There's a brand new EBMMSM hanging off his amp that never gets touched. Let the roadie do something other than fingerprint your guitars. (Less Risk)
Save Up!​
Click to expand...

Oh this thread is not about wether or not to get one! I'll be getting one without a doubt.
I'm just curious if people (for whatever) reason would still purchase or crave the need to have a real acoustic!
I would gather the answer to be yes! But just wanted to see what type of response I would get.
 
The piezo is a great live tool and is a lot easier than carrying around a separate acoustic guitar - easily sounds as good live as a good quality acoustic. Personally, I enjoy jamming on acoustic with my brother and the last thing I want to bother with is cables and amps etc, so I'll be keeping my Ovation for the forseeable future. However, everyone should get the piezo if offered as an option - great fun and well worth the extra money,
dave
 
I just can't picture myself lying in a hammock near the ocean with a 800ft extension cord running from my guitar to the hotel!!!! :D
 
fogman said:
I just can't picture myself lying in a hammock near the ocean with a 800ft extension cord running from my guitar to the hotel!!!! :D
Click to expand...
True Dat

An acoustic does have it's time and place. In this time and place a piezo would not replace an acoustic guitar.
 
fogman said:
I just can't picture myself lying in a hammock near the ocean with a 800ft extension cord running from my guitar to the hotel!!!! :D
Click to expand...

SOLUTION

A Roland microcube. :D
$100, 7 lb's several amp modeling choices...and can run on 6 AA batteries.

Now I just bring a EB camping
 
Let me put it this way... if you want a real acoustic sound, use a real acoustic guitar. Personally I'd prefer a Taylor with a mic/piezo blender system.

That being said... the JP's piezo system and other similar systems I've seen in Custom Strats sound VERY cool. In fact, if I ever get a piezo-equipped electric I'm going to buy a Setmour Duncan/DTAR Mama Bear preamp for it. I tried one when I visited the Duncan factory back in April... it was a little get-together they had for the forumites over there (I'm a longtime regular over there) and they let us try out a whole buncha cool stuff that had yet to be released. Oneof the things I tried was a Mama Bear acoustic guitar preamp that was designed for Piezo systems to make them sound more realistic... I tried it with a Piexo-loaded Strat. It sounded so much like an actual acoustic it was SCARY. They had different presets for different acoustic flavors, too, and adjustments for each. This was WAY far away from anything Line 6 had to offer in their Variax guitars. Try one out if you come across it. It will not diappoint.
 
I've been doing a bit of shopping around for acoustic amps while I wait patiently for my JP7 to ship :) Has anyone tried the piezo with the Roland AC-60 acoustic amp?

The AER looks very cool but it's way out of my price range.
 
Devnor said:
I've been doing a bit of shopping around for acoustic amps while I wait patiently for my JP7 to ship :) Has anyone tried the piezo with the Roland AC-60 acoustic amp?

The AER looks very cool but it's way out of my price range.
Click to expand...

ac60 is a GREAT amp for the money !!!!! reasonably loud & full...w/ really good effects....
( & light !!!!)
 
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