Piezzos problem

[Klimax]

John Petrucci 7-Strings w/piezzos pearl redburst

2 problems

1:
After 1 month, there's a distortion with the piezzo of the A string. When I move the string over the piezzo I hear some electrical noise and for a minute the sound is ok. After a couple of bend the problem return.

2:
I use a stereo cable in magnetic pickup to have only one wire but with 2 different output.

1 wire in guitar amp
1 wire in mixer (I will mute this one)

When I use a combination of the magnetic and the piezzo with the mode switch, the piezzo go in the mixer and in the guitar amp.

I use different wire and test them with a multimeter and the problem seem to be the electronnic of the guitar. (or it's normal) it seem to be an interference.

Thanks

Maxime Beaulieu

 

[OrangeChannel]

You could have an issue with a ground loop. You might want to make sure the the ground is lifted on one of the amps. Maybe try pluggin them into an isolated source of clean power like a Furman Power Conditioner.

 

[NorM]

Way good call OC. I power my amp and the PA with the same power conditioner and a lot of electrical problems vanished. Piezo to the PA and Mags to the amp is the way to go.

 

[Klimax]

Thanks to you. (I will check my problem #2)

My problem number 1 is gone. It was a lower tension on the A string that cause this piezzo to work partialy. Only move the saddle and it's done.

I forgot to say that I use standard tuning except that I tune the 7th in A (not B). With this I create a problem #3, pass the 15th fret every note are lower than the open pitch.

Wich screw I sould turn?

Thanks again

Except these little problems, I have to say that it's the best instrument that I ever touch.

Maxime Beaulieu
French Canadien
Music Teacher at elementary school
(Yes children can play dream theater)