What is so special about the Piezo models?

[azzy_wazzy]

Hi everyone.

I'm an improving bass player (read crap! ) and am looking into buying a new bass at some point. I'll probably go for the SUB, as it's a choice between that and a MIM J bass, and I think the SUB would win hands down from what I've read from everyone on here.

But I was hoping that someone could answer a question for me that I've not been able to find an answer to anywhere for if I decide to be really brave and buy a Sterling/Stingray instead, or for when I upgrade to one in the future.

I know what the difference between the 2eq and 3eq basses is - you get a knob to control the mid on the bass that isn't on the 2eq version. However, what exactly does the piezo bridge do, and what are it's benefits? It adds about £300 to the price of a bass in the UK, and for that amount of money, I'd like to know what it actually does! I've not seen this answered anywhere, at least not in terms that I recognise.

Could anyone please explain to me how it enhances the tone etc? I want to be able to set myself a target to aim for, and whether I really need to set aside that extra cash - once I find a shop here that sells them that is!

Thanks everyone - though the pics of all your guitars do make me green with envy

 

[bongo man]

Hi everyone.

I'm an improving bass player (read crap! ) and am looking into buying a new bass at some point. I'll probably go for the SUB, as it's a choice between that and a MIM J bass, and I think the SUB would win hands down from what I've read from everyone on here.

But I was hoping that someone could answer a question for me that I've not been able to find an answer to anywhere for if I decide to be really brave and buy a Sterling/Stingray instead, or for when I upgrade to one in the future.

I know what the difference between the 2eq and 3eq basses is - you get a knob to control the mid on the bass that isn't on the 2eq version. However, what exactly does the piezo bridge do, and what are it's benefits? It adds about £300 to the price of a bass in the UK, and for that amount of money, I'd like to know what it actually does! I've not seen this answered anywhere, at least not in terms that I recognise.

Could anyone please explain to me how it enhances the tone etc? I want to be able to set myself a target to aim for, and whether I really need to set aside that extra cash - once I find a shop here that sells them that is!

Thanks everyone - though the pics of all your guitars do make me green with envy

hey man-

I would go for the Sterling or the StingRay-
The piezo tone is generated from a piezo unit in the saddle as where the pickup generates tone through the magnetic field produced by the pickup.
The piezo is a beautiful sound (more acoustic sounding ). It's a matter of personal preference.
My preference is the non-piezo but I have piezo basses and use them from time to time.
The saddles of a regular pickup model and the piezo and different.
no matter which bass you get-- I know you will dig it;-)
cliff

 

[Alvabass]

Hi.

Some weeks ago, after getting my new EBMM Bongo with two humbuckers, 4-band EQ and piezo pickups, I recorded some examples to show the awesome versatility of this great instrument. To me, piezo pickups have been one of the best discoveries I've made. They don't impress me for regular basslines, but for solo works and slap stuff are great. I put all of those examples in a zip file, which you can download from the link below. Please read the included text (.pdf) file first. There's a very noticeable fret buzz because I hadn't setup my bass at the moment. Hope this helps.

Link:

http://s49.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2A5MD00TDP3BG0W5Z2W45OOEFF

 

[Urwordsbreakmed]

Well the question of what the piezo does has been answer. I'd just like to say that you should get the piezo. If worst comes to worst just done use it. But it gives your more control with the sound your trying to have.

 

[MingusBASS]

I have piezos on both my fretted and fretless Bongos. To me, the extra $$$ is worth it but more so on the fretless model.

Andrew

 

[azzy_wazzy]

I knew you'd all say the piezo would be worth it!

I hate decisions like this... I am not much of a solo player now, but may be one day so it would be worth it, but I could get the bass sooner if I didn't get piezo! But I definately agree that it's better to have than to regret not having. As much as I want one right now, I do worry that I wouldn't do it justice... white, with white pickguard, maple neck... and matching headstock hanging proudly on my wall... mmmm

I think I will definately go for it... it's now just the decision of either getting one now or later, and whether it should be a Sterling or Stingray! I read such differing opinions on them, about tone etc, that it's hard to choose, and each would look just as gorgeous hanging on a wall next to hubby's Les Paul!

I trust you lot to guide me in the right direction - but does anyone know of a decent place in the UK to try one out? I am willing to travel, but am resigned to the fact that I would probably have to get a Sterling/SR ordered from scratch and wait about 4 months for it unless it's in stock! But nowhere around here stocks SUBs either, so I can't even try out one of those!

 

[LowDownDave]

Hey Azzy_Wazzy. I'm sure if you looked around you could find a guitar shop that stocks Rays/Sterlings in your area. Maybe you should phone a few places to find out before you travel. My Stingray (and I) live in Birmingham and before I bought her from fellow forumite Davtran (who lives in Nottingham) via "the bay" (helps in decreasing the waiting time, and he is constantly auctioning mint condition Rays/Sterlings/occasional Bongos he imports from the USA if you check out ebay) I was able to try out a S.U.B. and Stingray at a guitar shop in Derby (where I lived at the time). They are great basses so any "decent" UK guitar shop with this in mind should be stocking them (though I know this is not always the case). Good luck with your saving up/search, it will be worth it. I used to think I'd never have the extra cash required to be able to buy a Ray of my own (especially at UK prices), but thankfully it happened eventually, and hopefully it will for you too.

 

[JohnElevator]

Hey

I got my stingray in house of guitars in London, the guy there was real helpful and had quite a few stingrays and sterlings on the wall at the time, but he doesn't stock too much cause most people want a particular colour anyway. Some of the shops on Denmark Street in London might be helpful too.

 

[stretch80]

I like the piezos myself, but if its out of your cash range now, get yourself a SUB or look for a used Stingray or Sterling, and trade up to piezo later.

 

[mike not fat]

Welcome to our new member.

I have tried a bass with piezos and the difference that I felt being the most noticeable is that it allows you to get "upright wise" tones and more accoustic. If you're beginning to learn bass and are not very sure of the kind of music or band you'll play with, buy a non piezo bass with good tone (SUB or used SR or Sterling) and use the price difference to get a good bass amp with an EQ (or EQ pedal). The amp is really important to your sound. That will give you a wide range of tones to fit with the kind of music you want to play.
The day you'll feel you have found your style, you'll still be able to get a bass with piezos if you need them. I play on a bongo 2H without piezo since 9 month, in various kind of music style, and i'm still trying new sound combination with bass and amp EQ every time !

MNF

 

[Rhythmbug]

I have an SR5 with piezo and personally I dont find much use for it.
I feel it would work well with a fretless.

HOWEVER I usually have my tone set quite midrangy and plenty of character to it.
If you use the piezo you have to pull back your treble & midrange somewhat otherwise it sounds overly bright / rather yukky.

If I had the choice again I would probably not choose piezo for my stingray, but I hear it works well with bongos.

 

[Father Gino]

I have an SR5 with piezo and personally I dont find much use for it.
I feel it would work well with a fretless.

I have a fretless SR5 with piezo and don't have much use for it there either. I found plenty of tonal variation with just the regular pickup & EQ. Of course I really don't have too much use for the SR5 either. Too many strings

I want to trade it in for a 2 pupper Sterling. mmmmmmmmmm, oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmm. Ohm, Ohm on the Range... Sorry, maybe I'm just trying to compeat with Urwordsbreakmed for incomprehensibility.

No one can really answer this question but the end user. If you never have one, you'll never really know if you like it or not. If you have the piezo option, you can always not use it. So make BP happier and get the piezo

 

[azzy_wazzy]

I want to trade it in for a 2 pupper Sterling. mmmmmmmmmm, oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmm. Ohm, Ohm on the Range... Sorry, maybe I'm just trying to compeat with Urwordsbreakmed for incomprehensibility.

Is that possible? Urwords, I'm only messing!