Do I need to add an on-board pre-amp, when using a rod piezo? If not, what potentiometer should I use?
thanks!
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Much debate about this topic, but if I were using a rod piezo, I would include a preamp.
I'm going to second Scott on this one.
I never have
I ALWAYS buy a pre-amp for my rod piezo setups on the ukes & mandolins. The amped sound is very real and the pre-amp gives me lots of control without having to reach down and change things on the amp. Never tried it with pots with no controls, so I am not sure that it wouldn't work just fine.
I do not use a pre-amp for my rod piezo builds when I am using a guitar amp ( Fender mustang ). Sounds fine to my untrained ear.
My Cigar Box amps have a pfet preamp in the circuit.
Wayfinder,
There are a few "cigar box amp" circuits available online, including the 2.5 watt unit from Gitty. If you want to make your own, a few options. Runoffgroove.com has schematics for the Ruby amp, and two versions of the Little Gem. Both use easy to find, inexpensive components, and are 1/2 watt circuits that use a 9 volt power supply with one 9v battery, or 6 AA batteries. I make my own (and use another online version). I set mine up as a combo, with one or two recycled stereo speakers, along with a line out switch and jack so I can connect to a larger external speaker cabinet...bigger sound.
The idea of using a pre amp with piezo is simply fof personal preference. Some use them, some do not. The ones you would find on an acoutic-electric guitar are standard, and are inexpensive. The circuit allows you to refine the tone by adjusting treble and bass responses.
I buy my passive pre-amps for my ukes from www.Suntekstore.com, search for pickup and on the 1st page you click on EG 2 Band....., and then you will see the Item# 15007359 at the top. They are $8.02 each with free shipping. They even work good with my cat bowl resonator ukes. Very good clear sound. I try to get a lot of pressure on the saddle by keeping a good string angle.
I put my 5-channel preamp (with 9V battery) EQ in a separate little cigar box with a 1/4" jack on the input side. It sits on the floor when I'm playing like a stomp box (but don't stomp on it!). I use it for a few guitars that have either disc or rod piezos, but sometimes with my mag pups too. I like to use it to boost my guitars that use Flatpups. My daughter and I also use it a lot for the electric upright we built to shape the tone. It uses a cable piezo.
Between rod and disc piezos, I find that the discs need more tone adjustment than the rods, at least in my experience. I can accept the tone from a rod piezo through my tube amp that has only volume control, but the discs sound worse, in my opinion.
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