combining pickups

Doctor Steve November 4, 2010 at 5:40pm

Thanks Don. I've been thinking that a preamp is needed to get the piezo signal closer to the mag. But your suggestion is cheap and easy, I think I'll give it a try. Could always add a preamp later.

Don Thompson November 4, 2010 at 4:23pm

I have done this same thing and I perfer a balance control to blend the magnetic with the piezo. Wendler guitars uses such a system also. http://www.electrocoustic.com/magpi.html
It does require a blend pot.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Potentiometers/Ble...
wire it like so
http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Electronics/Pots/i-4137.html
Don

Ben November 4, 2010 at 1:24pm

In my experience wiring like a 2 pup guitar works but when the switch is in the middle there is some black magic that goes on with the piezo (it kind of works like a tone cap rather than two different sounding pups). As for strings, if you're looking for acoustic volume with electric response, you can always try Zebras. They are acoustic strings that are wrapped with bronze and nickel side by side so you still get the response of the nickel like an electric string with the mag pup. Be forwarned, they aren't the cheapest strings ever.

JUJU AKA SOUNDSSOGOOD said:

yep you will still hear the electric strings as you would with acoustic strings but if your using a magnetic pickup to get the most out of it you need to use steel wound electric strings - acoustic strings have a steel core same as electric strings but the acoustic strings are wound with Bronze which is non magnetic where a electric string has a steel core and steel wound which gives more bulk to the string and a better fuller sound when used with a magnetic pickup
if you are just going with a peizo pickup then Acoustic strings will be fine as the piezo picks up sound by vibration only
hope that helps

tal bluver said:
Ok
does the electric strings will be heard if I'll play unppluged?

JUJU November 4, 2010 at 9:33am

yep you will still hear the electric strings as you would with acoustic strings but if your using a magnetic pickup to get the most out of it you need to use steel wound electric strings - acoustic strings have a steel core same as electric strings but the acoustic strings are wound with Bronze which is non magnetic where a electric string has a steel core and steel wound which gives more bulk to the string and a better fuller sound when used with a magnetic pickup
if you are just going with a peizo pickup then Acoustic strings will be fine as the piezo picks up sound by vibration only
hope that helps

tal bluver said:

Ok
does the electric strings will be heard if I'll play unppluged?

tal bluver November 4, 2010 at 9:22am

Ok
does the electric strings will be heard if I'll play unppluged?

Roosterman November 4, 2010 at 4:34am

Yes its possible - just wire it the same as a 2 pickup guitar, but substitute one for the piezo. Youll be wanting to use electric strings though.

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combining pickups

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