Piezo pickup
- Thread starter Heft
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mayfly
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Anything is possible. I don't know of any electronics out there that is ready made for that, but it would not be much work to put together a PCB with a FET style preamp for that Piezo with a sub-mini toggle to activate it. Should be able to fit it on a standard telecaster control plate with the extra knob / switch in the middle between the original volume and tone. To make sure the new piezo volume control would not interfere with the original tone/vol I would use one of those 9mm pots that just have a black plastic shaft and use that as is.
Would have to find a different place for the battery mind you...
Would have to find a different place for the battery mind you...
Heft
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Was looking at this pre amp, https://www.emgpickups.com/guitar/pa2.html is there anything special for a wiring diagram? I don't know what it would look like.
mayfly
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Well that thing is cute! A couple of issues that I see off the bat:
1 - piezo pickups require a high impedance load, like 1M plus. Not sure what the input impedance is on that little guy, but might be higher than you expect.
2 - are you planning on running the piezo directly into that guy then into the pickup selector switch? That might work well (at least the low impedance of the volume / tone of the telecaster won't cause tone suck), and I see it's got a little trim-pot for adjusting the level. Might work out....
1 - piezo pickups require a high impedance load, like 1M plus. Not sure what the input impedance is on that little guy, but might be higher than you expect.
2 - are you planning on running the piezo directly into that guy then into the pickup selector switch? That might work well (at least the low impedance of the volume / tone of the telecaster won't cause tone suck), and I see it's got a little trim-pot for adjusting the level. Might work out....
Heft
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They do. I have one of their piezos on my other tele. I don't want to use that one again because they require a specific pre amp and have really complicated wiring. I would stay away from the Graphtec ghost system. IMO it sounds great but is a hassle to get working, I also want to use the pre amp by itself to drive an amp. The Graphtec doesn't do that.
TBurst Std
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Before you start thinking preamps, think about your signal downstream. Are you planning on separate mag and piezo sends, some switch into a single send, or a pot to dial in the sends.
I have 2 piezo guitars, had a 3rd I traded.
First consider your amplifier streams, that will narrow down you pre amp selection.
I have 2 piezo guitars, had a 3rd I traded.
First consider your amplifier streams, that will narrow down you pre amp selection.
mayfly
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So a blend between the Piezo and the magnetic pickups? That's disabled (back to stock) when you flick the switch?
That's doable, we'd have to design and make it ourselves I think. BTW, I have done a PCB that fits under a tele control plate to do a switchable boost with a third knob to control the amount. This is not the same thing, but it's in the same wheelhouse...
Heft
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No. I'd like a blend when I turn up the dial. When I dial back to 0 its back to stock.
When I hit the switch it kicks in the preamp to boost the signal. The preamp could function independently I think. I really just want the diagram to dial in a pickup. I checked and the preamp has 500k input impedance and 2k output. So it may not work.
stratamania
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I don't think the EMG PA2 would be suitable for Piezos as it is designed as a boost for Active or Passive mag pickups.
Perhaps something like a a Fishman Powerchip may be closer to, or what you are looking for.
www.fishman.com
Perhaps something like a a Fishman Powerchip may be closer to, or what you are looking for.
Fishman | Powerchip
www.fishman.com
TBurst Std
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Still thing about your outs. Also a piezo without a preamp is pretty meaningless. Also think about onboard EQ for the piezo as it will want something different than the mags.
stratamania
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It is designed for use with the Fishman Powerbridges (which have Piezo in them). It may work with others but I cannot say for sure.
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