Running a piezo

[Charles]

This will be my first time running a piezo on a live gig.

Do I just plug it into my amp and through the clean channel? Will that make it sound like an acoustic? Or is there something else I have to do?

Secondly, my JP has two inputs, which one do I plug for the piezo and which one do I plug in for the regular clean, lead and rhythm electric guitar? Both of the inputs are listed as piezo options. I just got it and currently do not have access to amps.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I guess your piezo looks similar to the one on my Albert Lee?

You can't see it from the photos but the one on the right is labeled as "piezo/mono" and the one on the left is labeled "magnetic/ stereo".

You can run it through your amp/amps in a number of different ways:-

One mono lead plugged into both outputs thereby running the Mags to one amp and the piezo to a second.

One mono lead in the Piezo/mono output means that the mags and Piezo will share the same lead and you will have to turn off the Piezo via the controls on the JP- or blend the piezo and mags using the guitar controls.

My preferred option is to run a stereo lead into a splitter box. I then have the mags going to my tube amp and the Piezo going to my AER acoustic amp.
Some guys on the forum run their Piezo to the desk.

The piezo will sound ok through your tube amp but will sound gadzillion% better through an acoustic amp.

For more info on splitting the signal go to this thread
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/27209-alberts-w-piezos-3.html

Good luck with the gig
"Break a leg" !

 

[Charles]

I am really not a tech guy whatsoever so I apologise for any dunder head questions that may come out of me. Yes, your piezo outputs look just like mine.

1. Which one is the "regular" output? The one where it's just like a normal electric guitar into a regular tube amp?

2. What happens if I don't want to buy an acoustic amp? Is there something else I can do? Like go directly through the soundboard or something?

 

[Spudmurphy]

^
Don't apologise - I knew nothing about EB piezo systems 2 years ago.
Fire as many questions as you want.

The regular output will be the piezo/mono output.

If you want to completely spit the piezo and the mags,you would be advised to use a stereo cable through a splitter running the mags to your amp and the piezo to your soundboard.

Take a tip from me and NEVER EVER try your guitar through an AER acoustic amp.
Why? - because you will just have to go out and get one !!!

 

[Colin]

Take a tip from me and NEVER EVER try your guitar through an AER acoustic amp.

your not kidding they are that good

 

[robelinda2]

Man those AER amps are just magnificent.

 

[Sweat]

Man those AER amps are just magnificent.

Great yes and very pricey, out of my league right now, any one know anything about Laney acoustic amps?????????/

 

[Charles]

^
Don't apologise - I knew nothing about EB piezo systems 2 years ago.
Fire as many questions as you want.

The regular output will be the piezo/mono output.

If you want to completely spit the piezo and the mags,you would be advised to use a stereo cable through a splitter running the mags to your amp and the piezo to your soundboard.

Take a tip from me and NEVER EVER try your guitar through an AER acoustic amp.
Why? - because you will just have to go out and get one !!!

Are mags the standard pickups or piezos? Sorry I really am just....Confused.

Ok, let's look at it like this. I'm on a gig, I need both distorted electric and piezo. I own a Marshall tube amp but there's a PA system there. I don't want to buy an acoustic amp, but I will buy a small box or something if it enables me to run a very nice piezo.

What wll my setup look like on a gig like this? (Barring pedals and other stuff, assuming I just went straight to the amp, I assume it gets more complcated with pedals, and the thought of that is terrifying.)

 

[73h Nils]

Mags are Magnetic pickups. The ones you can see on your guitar, the 2 humbuckers.

If there is a PA at the gig, I suggest you pick up an EB splitter box and do as Spudmurphy suggested.

 

[beachjammer]

FYI:
Magnetic = electric
Piezo = acoustic


This is the way I run mine:

While my guitar is strapped on I use one mono cord and plug into the magnetic jack, which would be the one on the bottom when looking down at your guitar if it is strapped on, into my amp for distorted and other electric tones.

Next I plug a separate another mono cord into the piezo jack, which is the one on top if your guitar is strapped on, into a direct box. Next I plug a mic cable into the direct box and run it to the house mixer.

If I'm gonna be using the piezo alot then I'll use tie wraps and tie wrap the two cords together so they won't get tangled up. If I'm just going to be using it a little bit then I'll keep the cord for the piezo unplugged and that channel muted on the board until I need it. Then I'll plug it in and have the sound guy turn it on between songs.

You should have a diagram in your guitar case showing you what does what. If not then you can download one from Musicman's website.

Hope this helps some.

 

[Charles]

Yeah man that's awesome. Thank you very much.

 

[colinboy]

amen,this would kinda wreck your head at times but ye have explained it well.

 

[roburado]

Count me among the advocates of stereo cable from stereo output into splitter box. Then, from splitter box, magnetic output to my Mesa. Piezo output to DI Box with a ground lift to avoid ground loop hum. Then, unbalanced out to my bass amp, because I don't have an acoustic amp. If I get one, it'll probably be a used AER that I found or a Schertler.

 

[Warthog]

This weekend, I played my JP6 and sent the Piezo directly to the PA... WOW it does sound fantastic... much better than through my amp.

I am getting a splitter and am trying to understand what stereo chord I need. I am finding 2 on the market. One that has one stero plug on both ends and one that has a stereo plug on one end and 2 mono plugs on the other... What do I need?

I thought I would need a stereo chord (one stereo stereo plug on both ends) and plug it into the Piezo input on the guitar ---> Splitter --> amp and PA.

So confused. If anyone has a picture of what I need that'll be very helpful.

Thanks!

 

[daangroen]

isit possible actually to use one input of the guitar for amp 1, and an other 1 for amp B? like 1 for magnetic 1 for piezo, or doesnt it work that way?

 

[SteveB]

Warthog,

If you'll be using the Ernie Ball Splitter Box, you'll want a cable that has a stereo jack (tip/ring/sleeve or 'TRS') on BOTH ends. The input on the Splitter box expects a stereo jack. The outputs on the Splitter are each mono, so you'll use mono cables from the outputs to the other signal paths.

You COULD use a cable that's stereo on one end and then two monos on the other end, but you won't need the splitter box in that application.. the cable is doing the splitting for you.

 

[SteveB]

isit possible actually to use one input of the guitar for amp 1, and an other 1 for amp B? like 1 for magnetic 1 for piezo, or doesnt it work that way?

Yes, this is possible. You'd use two mono cables. One in each jack of the guitar.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Steve has nailed it for ya - big +1 on both the above.

 

[Warthog]

Thanks!!!!!!

 

[Astrofreq]

We're all winners!!