Thanks for this video as piezo pickups seem to be a niche thing in electric guitars. Piezo pickups seem to be best used when blended with magnetic pickups on Musicman guitars, Stingray basses, old Steinberger guitars, old Parker guitars, and Willcox Lightwave guitars and basses. For guitars, piezos really help an electric sound more like an acoustic. Piezos seem far better than many of those semi hollow acoustic electric magnetic pickup only designs. Acoustic electrics seem to prioritize the electric aspect while the acoustic sound is less than ideal. I find it's just better to use a dedicated electric and acoustic on the same stand. Lightwave's acoustic guitars sound great for those who don't like how a direct and/or amped acoustic sounds but also struggle with optimal mic placement. The result of the Lightwave is a very natural in the room amplified sound without having to bother with mics. On basses, especially the Lightwave optical pickup bass, the piezo adds a little bit of high end to the bass that gives it a more hi fi sound without magnetic pickup drag on the strings. As a result, because of their optical and piezo pickups, Lightwave basses sound very clean. In my opinion, piezo pickups are ideal for things like flatwound fretless bass when a lot of sustain is needed during legato playing. As a Floyd Rose metal player, my only real option for piezo pickups seems to be Graphtech's Ghost system, which is a very intrusive and time consuming install. The Petrucci Musicman guitars incorporate piezos into their proprietary floating bridges but they are very expensive. As most people know, Stingrays, especially those 5 strings, multiple pickups, and upgraded electronics, can be very expensive. Old Steinberger and Parker guitars, also very expensive and with proprietary bridge designs, also used piezo and magnetic pickup combinations. It seems like a removable piezo system for a Floyd Rose bridge guitar doesn't really exist. Further, piezos aren't really worth it if you are modding a used guitar. You really need to know if you like the piezo sound enough to be willing to pay thousands for an expensive instrument with integrated piezo and magnetic electronics. A guitar or bass with active pickups/EQ with the treble and bass boosted might emulate a piezo pickup, but they might introduce noise and not be as clear as a true piezo. To me, the piezo sounds best when used with Willcox's Lightwave optical pickup system. Then you get the best of all worlds--maximum clarity, no magnetic drag on the strings, and no tone coloration that magnetic pickups often produce. Used Lightwave instruments are somewhat hard to find and are not cheap, but compared to new Musicman and old Steinberger and Parker instruments, Lightwave instruments are a good deal.
Great stuff. This is something I've struggled with forever, and you've given me a great starting point to tweak to preference, along with those great free IRs! Thanks, Zack!
SL thing worth trying as I went through a similar journey with piezo in my electric. Also use a WT acoustic IR. My preferred is their J45 but what I found was the thing that took it to the next level? Having both compressors on. Before and after the IR. What I found is that because my electric strings are so much smaller in gauge, it was a bit too dynamic, so having the front comp on help even out the response to get closer to playing the thicker gauge string response you get on acoustics. Then the post compression is more like a processing compression, like using one in a recording/mix chain.
Very interesting topic! With the AxeFx3 or FM9 you could set up two paths and use these acoustic guitar IR's in one path and use the other path for a electric/magnetic "normal" amp/cab rig. Expression pedal and vol/pan blocks to blend between the two paths.
@@ZackSeifMusic I do something similar (blend between piezo and magnetic) with my Petrucci guitars using a TRS/breakout cable with my FM3. Just can't use two cab blocks in the FM3. These acoustic guitar IR's really do sound awesome. If I do an acoustic-only preset, I will use these for sure!
Sounds great. I has some really good luck creating a couple tone matches of my Boss AC-3 with my standard magnetic pickups. I made 3, one focusing on the top end, one for mids, and one for lows. They actually came out considerably better sounding than the original pedal, and without the horrible noise that thing generates. Exported them to cab irs, blended them in a cab block, tweaked an eq,compressor, and tube pre amp type. Used some of your tips and Cooper Carters. No I need a piezo equipped guitar to see how much closer I can get. Haha
@@jimmynorris export as a PRESET + CAB bundle or something along those lines. I did that a few weeks back and it worked out. I just don’t have Axe Edit on me right now to remember the exact wording.
Great test! I personally prefer the direct tone of the piezo without IRs. It's so strong just with nothing! 🙂 That's why with my PRS custom 22 Piezo I just run it through comp, EQ and reverb and it really rock it!
I really don't like piezo tones myself, but I have to say, this one isn't bad! (Still not my favourite, but that's my preference, still, have to recognise that, unusually, this one doesn't sound bad!)
I was really impressed with the starting sound from the piezos on the Music Man. Technology has moved on as I have a 1997 Parker Fly, and the piezos don’t sound anywhere near as good on that. I’ll have to download the IRs and give this a try on my FM3. I don’t tend to use acoustic sounds live unless we have a specific first dance request, but it’s always worth setting up. Thanks for the insight.👍
I’ll be honest, I was impressed myself! Especially when listening back and doing the editing. I did not add any post-processing or “studio magic” either so I may experiment with this live as well.
This is an awesome video that I can use with my Acoustic and piezo equipped guitars. I have a question you may or may not be able to answer. I have a brother that plays the Electric Violin and I am looking to take what you have in this video to the Violin. Will these ir's work for other instruments, ie mandolin, violin, etc.
Thanks for the kind words! The IR is just an EQ at the end of the day so it will work as long as you have a device that can load an IR. I'm sure someone could even make you a violin IR!
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Zack this is really cool. Love the D35 ir. You have given me an idea to crate my own acoustic patch. Will try the IR thank you for sharing!
Glad to hear! Enjoy it.
Thanks for this video as piezo pickups seem to be a niche thing in electric guitars.
Piezo pickups seem to be best used when blended with magnetic pickups on Musicman guitars, Stingray basses, old Steinberger guitars, old Parker guitars, and Willcox Lightwave guitars and basses.
For guitars, piezos really help an electric sound more like an acoustic. Piezos seem far better than many of those semi hollow acoustic electric magnetic pickup only designs. Acoustic electrics seem to prioritize the electric aspect while the acoustic sound is less than ideal. I find it's just better to use a dedicated electric and acoustic on the same stand.
Lightwave's acoustic guitars sound great for those who don't like how a direct and/or amped acoustic sounds but also struggle with optimal mic placement. The result of the Lightwave is a very natural in the room amplified sound without having to bother with mics.
On basses, especially the Lightwave optical pickup bass, the piezo adds a little bit of high end to the bass that gives it a more hi fi sound without magnetic pickup drag on the strings. As a result, because of their optical and piezo pickups, Lightwave basses sound very clean. In my opinion, piezo pickups are ideal for things like flatwound fretless bass when a lot of sustain is needed during legato playing.
As a Floyd Rose metal player, my only real option for piezo pickups seems to be Graphtech's Ghost system, which is a very intrusive and time consuming install. The Petrucci Musicman guitars incorporate piezos into their proprietary floating bridges but they are very expensive. As most people know, Stingrays, especially those 5 strings, multiple pickups, and upgraded electronics, can be very expensive.
Old Steinberger and Parker guitars, also very expensive and with proprietary bridge designs, also used piezo and magnetic pickup combinations.
It seems like a removable piezo system for a Floyd Rose bridge guitar doesn't really exist. Further, piezos aren't really worth it if you are modding a used guitar.
You really need to know if you like the piezo sound enough to be willing to pay thousands for an expensive instrument with integrated piezo and magnetic electronics.
A guitar or bass with active pickups/EQ with the treble and bass boosted might emulate a piezo pickup, but they might introduce noise and not be as clear as a true piezo.
To me, the piezo sounds best when used with Willcox's Lightwave optical pickup system. Then you get the best of all worlds--maximum clarity, no magnetic drag on the strings, and no tone coloration that magnetic pickups often produce.
Used Lightwave instruments are somewhat hard to find and are not cheap, but compared to new Musicman and old Steinberger and Parker instruments, Lightwave instruments are a good deal.
Great stuff. This is something I've struggled with forever, and you've given me a great starting point to tweak to preference, along with those great free IRs! Thanks, Zack!
Glad to have helped!!!
Sounds killer man, I definitely dig the Martin D35 IR the most.
I’ve been touring with that one for a couple weeks and love it
SL thing worth trying as I went through a similar journey with piezo in my electric. Also use a WT acoustic IR. My preferred is their J45 but what I found was the thing that took it to the next level? Having both compressors on. Before and after the IR. What I found is that because my electric strings are so much smaller in gauge, it was a bit too dynamic, so having the front comp on help even out the response to get closer to playing the thicker gauge string response you get on acoustics. Then the post compression is more like a processing compression, like using one in a recording/mix chain.
So many options out there! It's so much fun to experiment and see what you can achieve with the tools you have. Great points!
Very interesting topic! With the AxeFx3 or FM9 you could set up two paths and use these acoustic guitar IR's in one path and use the other path for a electric/magnetic "normal" amp/cab rig. Expression pedal and vol/pan blocks to blend between the two paths.
You’re absolutely right! I run a mono wireless signal when I’m on stage, but using a breakout cable would work as well in order to split the signal.
@@ZackSeifMusic I do something similar (blend between piezo and magnetic) with my Petrucci guitars using a TRS/breakout cable with my FM3. Just can't use two cab blocks in the FM3. These acoustic guitar IR's really do sound awesome. If I do an acoustic-only preset, I will use these for sure!
Sounds great. I has some really good luck creating a couple tone matches of my Boss AC-3 with my standard magnetic pickups. I made 3, one focusing on the top end, one for mids, and one for lows. They actually came out considerably better sounding than the original pedal, and without the horrible noise that thing generates. Exported them to cab irs, blended them in a cab block, tweaked an eq,compressor, and tube pre amp type. Used some of your tips and Cooper Carters. No I need a piezo equipped guitar to see how much closer I can get. Haha
Wow that’s actually a great idea!! Very similar to crafting a tone in the studio. Would love to hear it!
I will try to upload a preset to axechange in a bit. Have to figure out how to get the IRs included …
@@jimmynorris export as a PRESET + CAB bundle or something along those lines. I did that a few weeks back and it worked out. I just don’t have Axe Edit on me right now to remember the exact wording.
@@ZackSeifMusic Axechange will only allow syx files, not fasbundles. If you shoot me an email I can send it.
Great test!
I personally prefer the direct tone of the piezo without IRs. It's so strong just with nothing! 🙂 That's why with my PRS custom 22 Piezo I just run it through comp, EQ and reverb and it really rock it!
You know what? I was amazed at how good that sounded during playback as well. I may try it live and see what happens.
@@ZackSeifMusic so I'm looking forward for your feedback about it ;-)
I really don't like piezo tones myself, but I have to say, this one isn't bad!
(Still not my favourite, but that's my preference, still, have to recognise that, unusually, this one doesn't sound bad!)
I was really impressed with the starting sound from the piezos on the Music Man. Technology has moved on as I have a 1997 Parker Fly, and the piezos don’t sound anywhere near as good on that. I’ll have to download the IRs and give this a try on my FM3. I don’t tend to use acoustic sounds live unless we have a specific first dance request, but it’s always worth setting up. Thanks for the insight.👍
I’ll be honest, I was impressed myself! Especially when listening back and doing the editing. I did not add any post-processing or “studio magic” either so I may experiment with this live as well.
That is pretty cool what app is this called
Great job!
Thank you my friend!!!
Excellent presentation!
Thank you Joe!!
What strap is that? I want that looks amazing
I REALLY wish I could help, but I got it in a trade for a PRS and I cannot find it myself 😭
This is an awesome video that I can use with my Acoustic and piezo equipped guitars. I have a question you may or may not be able to answer.
I have a brother that plays the Electric Violin and I am looking to take what you have in this video to the Violin. Will these ir's work for other instruments, ie mandolin, violin, etc.
Thanks for the kind words! The IR is just an EQ at the end of the day so it will work as long as you have a device that can load an IR. I'm sure someone could even make you a violin IR!