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Electric basses with piezo/magnetic pickups?

I

ichadwick

Dec 31, 2010
32
0
Collingwood, ON, Canada
#1
Which manufacturers (not custom makers) have BGs with piezo pickups and magnetic combined? I've been trying to find a reasonably priced model.

The only one I've found is the Epiphone Zenith. Love the sound. Would like to consider other, similar options at the same (or better yet, lower) prices.

Aside from acoustic-electric, are there any BGs with just piezo pickups?

Any recommendations?
 
#9
Peavey B Quad's pop up occasionally on the used market. They have mag/piez pickups and the prices are usually in your range.



DSCN2951.jpg
 
#11
I have a Spector Spectorcore which fits your description.

Fishman piezo bridge and an EMG-HZ near the neck; the neck, by the way, is C-shaped, hand filling but comfortable. The body is chambered. Comes in 4- or 5-string versions, fretted or fretless. Quilt veneer in black, dark teal or amber.

They show up on eBay every few weeks in the $550-$650 range.

I've had mine (fretted 4) about 18 months, and use it with flats for some of the more acoustic or old-time things we do at church. It is really pretty flexible, but I have 5-ers I prefer to use for the more contemporary songs.

It is a good instrument at a good price.
 
#15
But it isn't a piezo as typically used. On the Lightwave (at least my old Zon Lightwave) it only is there for hi frequency information - a little salt on the potato as it were. The optical system does almost all the heavy lifting. Contrast that to a Rob Allen where the piezo is 100% of the sonic output.
 
#16
nostatic said:
But it isn't a piezo as typically used. On the Lightwave (at least my old Zon Lightwave) it only is there for hi frequency information - a little salt on the potato as it were. The optical system does almost all the heavy lifting. Contrast that to a Rob Allen where the piezo is 100% of the sonic output.
Click to expand...

Exactly. The "ice tone" helps shape the sound, but is not a true piezo, and cannot be used alone.
 
#17
I'm not uncomfortable with the idea of changing bridges, but the Epiphone Viola is a different type - tailpiece and compensated bridge as two pieces. Figure I'd have to run a block under the bridge to get the requisite height and that would look damned ugly.

Might be possible to remove the bridge, and put the second option under it, but would take some work to create a notch and drill into the body to create channels and space for the electronics - that is not in my comfort zone.

Second option might be to change the bridge on the Ibanez 6, which is of a similar structure as the one on Ebay, albeit for a 6-string. Might work, but would have to bypass the Ibanez's electronic EQ.

The Epi Zenith still looks like the best option.
 

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