What switch do I want?

[Iggy]

I am building a CBG for a guy, and he thought he might like to have a mag pickup and a piezo both installed. I assume that would require a switch for A-AB-B, right?  What kind of switch do I need to set this up?

Also, is having a mag pup and a piezo a good idea?  Is it going to sound like crap?

[Ted Crocker]

I use this Gibson type switch.

I've done several builds combining mag and piezo using that type switch. I use a volume and tone control on the Stonehenge and just volume on the Tesla. I may have already posted a wiring diagram in the Mad Scientist Lab but if not let me know when you're ready and I will.

[Iggy]

Got the diagram...thanks!!

[Iggy]

Like so??

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Components:_Switch...

[Ted Crocker]

That's the one!

[Iggy]

Thanks.

[Wichita Sam]

sound will be different.... depending on set up the piezo can sound very nice, just don't over drive the gain.

Together, the mag pup will probably over whelm the piezo.... maybe volume/tone for each pup that feeds the output and forget the switch.... only one more thing (lose the switch and add 2 extra pots... Oh, tone control on a single piezo is a waste... you can get some tone shaping if you mount two piezos in series....

good luck, let us know what you do and how it works out.
the best,

Wichita Sam

[Iggy]

I actually have another pot I could use, so maybe doing this would work better. Maybe just a volume on the piezo and volume and tone on the pup. We shall see...

Wichita Sam said:

sound will be different.... depending on set up the piezo can sound very nice, just don't over drive the gain.

Together, the mag pup will probably over whelm the piezo.... maybe volume/tone for each pup that feeds the output and forget the switch.... only one more thing (lose the switch and add 2 extra pots... Oh, tone control on a single piezo is a waste... you can get some tone shaping if you mount two piezos in series....

good luck, let us know what you do and how it works out.
the best,

Wichita Sam

[Ted Crocker]

[Eric Wallace a.k.a. Godzilla]

Thanks Ted, I've been wanting to ask the same question for a while now. Do you suggest a pre-amp for piezo only type guitars? I've been thinking of putting a piezo under my Lowe's cone and a humbucker topside to grab as much sound as possible, in your opinion do you think this is overkill.
Ted Crocker said:

[Wichita Sam]

Iggy,

The combination sounds fine..... If you want any tone shaping out of the piezo side of the setup (is he asking to vol/tone knobs?), I would suggest 2 piezos wired in series.

I like using a "Gibson" style switch unless the customer's looking for a fender strat/tele style set up.... A single Gibson swith can be up practally anywhere on the box... gives you a lot of design room.

the best,

Wichita Sam