Guitar wiring question

[cephus]

Can anyone explain how to wire a les-paul type 3-position toggle switch so it works: pickup A/Pickups A and B/Pickup B ?

I bought a switch at the music store and I think it is a double pole double throw. It's a 3 position switch anyway, and has 6 contacts on the bottom and the side facing me says "on on on".

You can stop reading there if you know the answer already.


I want to hook up a piezo bridge to the output of my strat-ish guitar. Up to now, I just had it wired to a seperate 1/4" output. I am ready to start trying to use it live and I want to dip my foot in the pool by being able to add the piezo sound to my already kick ass electric setup. Kind of a blend knob but taking up less space.

Three Positions:

1) piezo all by itself "Gee that almost sounds like a bottom of the line ovation"

2) piezo and the electric sound mixed "He just flipped that switch and it started to snarl like a pit bull! BOO-YEAH!"

3) Just the way it used to be. "Piezo? What piezo?"

 

[ggunn]

The two connectors in the middle are the output to the jack. The two on one side are for one pickup, and the two on the other side are for the other pickup. The switch throws the opposite direction from the knob, i.e., if you throw the switch knob left, the right two connectors (only) are connected to the output.

 

[timboZ]

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Supplies:_Wiring_kits/1/Wiring_Kit_for_Les_Paul/Instructions/I-0133.html#details

 

[mshilarious]

I want to hook up a piezo bridge to the output of my strat-ish guitar. Up to now, I just had it wired to a seperate 1/4" output. I am ready to start trying to use it live and I want to dip my foot in the pool by being able to add the piezo sound to my already kick ass electric setup. Kind of a blend knob but taking up less space.

It's not going to be that easy, the piezo needs to see a much higher impedance than the pickup. You probably want to put a buffer circuit between the piezo and the switch.

A nice simple buffer circuit:

http://scotthelmke.com/Mint-box-buffer.html

 

[cephus]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I have fooled around with it through a little tube amp and it really has some kind of honk that I'd just love to pull out on a gig. I think this weekend I am gonna just swap output jacks between songs and see if it has any potential issues as far as gain.

I have one thing working for me. I have been using a wireless since I never walk more than 6 feet from my amp, never remember to bring fresh batteries and plus I love totin' extra shit to the gig. One nice thing about it, is that it seems to act as a compressor almost. Like it boosts the gain of the piezo as if to compensate for weak radio signal. I din't knwo. Maybe I have it set wrong, too. Anyway, the pieze does sound like a bag of asses using a guitar cord, but when I run it through the wireless it's got some stank to it.

I hope I'm not talking too technical for ya.

For Saturday, I'm just gonna physically swap output jacks between songs and try and get some stank through my rig rather than my little 20 watt tube amp.

I do like that altoids thing, too. I could put that thing together and stick it somewhere on this "guitar".

 

[mshilarious]

Anyway, the pieze does sound like a bag of asses using a guitar cord, but when I run it through the wireless it's got some stank to it.

Two possible reasons: the cable to the wireless is shorter, which can make a big difference with a piezo. Also, the wireless might have higher input impedance than the amp.

 

[cephus]

I took back the Boss AC2 (which sounded like caca) and got a fishman acoustic guitar preamp. It totally sounds like an acoustic guitar. Really neat.

 

[Light]

Can anyone explain how to wire a les-paul type 3-position toggle switch so it works: pickup A/Pickups A and B/Pickup B ?

I bought a switch at the music store and I think it is a double pole double throw. It's a 3 position switch anyway, and has 6 contacts on the bottom and the side facing me says "on on on".

You can stop reading there if you know the answer already.


I want to hook up a piezo bridge to the output of my strat-ish guitar. Up to now, I just had it wired to a seperate 1/4" output. I am ready to start trying to use it live and I want to dip my foot in the pool by being able to add the piezo sound to my already kick ass electric setup. Kind of a blend knob but taking up less space.

Three Positions:

1) piezo all by itself "Gee that almost sounds like a bottom of the line ovation"

2) piezo and the electric sound mixed "He just flipped that switch and it started to snarl like a pit bull! BOO-YEAH!"

3) Just the way it used to be. "Piezo? What piezo?"

Well, if you want it switched like that, then you would use the block at the end of this post. What you discribe is, of course, not a traditional Les Paul type switch, but then you probably know that, right? You could use either of the colums of three on their own, but I ususally end up using them all anyway.

That being said, if you really want your piezos to sound thier best, you need to get a buffer of some kind. I like the Fishman Powerchip more than the L.R. Baggs version, as the Fishman is simpler to use (it automatically senses when you plug in a stereo cable, and so does not need a separate stereo/mono switch, among other things). The Powerchip has a three possition switch included to give you exactly what you are looking for, and your piezos will sound much better. They still won't sound like an acoustic guitar, but they will sound a LOT better.


Light

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