Piezo PU + outboard pre??? Help please

antontanzil · #1 01-08-2009, 01:06 AM

So I don't know if this is the right thread to ask this or have this been asked before...

But anyway... I'm building (built by a friend of mine) an electric upright bass with just one Piezo PU under the bridge... I already had a OBP-1 ready to be installed, then just yesterday I've decided to have another custom made electric bass, passive...

And after seeing some classified here, I saw the outboard version of the OBP 1, and really interested in buying it (well I'm already talking serious with the seller), so now my plan change a little... Im planning to use this outboatd pre for both basses...

I know it will work perfect for the electric... How about for the upright? Coz I've heard about a Piezo PU must be buffered, etc... Will there be any problem coz although it will be buffered by the time the signal reaches the outboard pre, but does the long cable (longer than just from the PU to the onboard citcuit) from the Piezo PU to the outboard made some signal lost?

O yeah I'm planning to have a passive tone control (this one is on the bass of course)... So let me know what do you guys think...

Thanks

J.Wolf · #2 01-08-2009, 06:06 AM

In regards to running piezo pickups passive out of the bass into an external pre, I tried this in the past with an electric 5 and was underwhelmed. I was told this is because the passive output of piezos doesn't travel well through any length of instrument cable. Most people I spoke to about this HIGHLY SUGGESTED having an onboard pre for the piezos to minimize signal loss through cabling, and also for the buffering reasons you mentioned.

That said, the Aguilar preamp box is great, very fat sounding.

antontanzil · #3 01-09-2009, 03:02 PM

Well.. hearing it from someone with an experience is all I need to know... so thanks

J.Wolf · #4 01-09-2009, 03:05 PM

yeah, I'd highly suggest an onboard buffer/preamp. It may still sound OK with a long cable, I know plenty of people do it, but I just think you lose alot of the piezo's clarity and richness running through a full length instrument cable. This is IME and YMMV

antontanzil · #5 01-09-2009, 10:47 PM

Well since I already have the OBP-1 so... I'll go for it...

Thanks again