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preamp requirements for piezo disc pickups

Posted by Rich Cope on July 15, 2017 at 10:50am in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts

Hello,

My daughter is in a School of Rock band with many other kids.  In a show in a few weeks she'd like to use a mandolin with a couple of piezo disc pickups I added inside it to do Maggie May.  It's quick change, she unplugs her electric guitar and plugs in the mandolin.  In the first rehearsal it didn't work, not sure if it was settings, volume or something else.  I may have to add a preamp and was wondering what the best route to take.  I'm not really interested in cutting the instrument any more than the hole I made for the plug. Most of the battery mini amps have the smaller jack outputs.  Any help would be appreciated.

PS I've started looking for parts for my first CBG

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Replies

  • John Sawyer July 16, 2017 at 3:22am
    Wire an acoustic preamp in a box like a pedal...

    Since the electric and piezos have very different output levels and impedance, swapping cords without amp fiddling won't work... with a preamp, you can adjust it to match the amp settings . . .

    These 7545r preamps are dirt cheap and work great...

    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/easy-diy-pre-amp-makes-p...
    • Rich Cope > John Sawyer July 25, 2017 at 9:09pm

      Thanks, I was barking up the same tree and had actually ordered the very same preamp before I had watched the video.  At rehearsal she has been using the PA.

      • John Sawyer > Rich Cope July 26, 2017 at 1:46am

        Should work just fine...

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