Skip navigation
Up to Discussions in Spider Valve
1275 Views 4 Replies Latest reply: Oct 10, 2011 10:24 AM by Line6Don RSS
grokker Just Startin'
grokker
22 posts since
Dec 3, 2010
Currently Being Moderated

Sep 27, 2011 10:29 PM

Graphtech Piezo Preamp Compatible With Spider Valve MKII?? 2nd try :)

 

      •  

        Anybody try using an "Acoustiphonic" pickup system with a MKII? There's a little battery operated preamp that routes both the magnetic pickups and the piezo bridge pickup out the TRS guitar output into the guitar input jack on the front of the MKII. After a bit I lost sound and had to turn the amp off and on a few times to regain it, but then the software settings became unreliable, display disagreeing with sound. The amplifier has since reset but I am now afraid to play the axe with the acoustiphonic through the MKII.

         

        I assume the preamp is sending too much signal to the MKII's preamp, but I would really like to use the guitar with the amp. Any solutions? Buffers, etc.? Thanks! geoff

         

        • The graph tech saddle specs are: Impedance of one piezo saddle = 200pF Impedance of six piezo saddles = 200pF x 6 = 1.2nF Output = 0.2V RMS and the Acousti-Phonic is unity gain so you can expect 0.2V RMS at its output too. Output impedance is about 2.5K-ohms.

           

Tags: head, spider, valve, mkii, mk, spider_valve_mk_ii
  • spaceatl Expert Line 6 User
    spaceatl
    4,456 posts since
    Jan 24, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Sep 27, 2011 10:48 PM (in response to grokker)
    Re: Graphtech Piezo Preamp Compatible With Spider Valve MKII?? 2nd try :)

    You could run through a Boss pedal...All Boss compact pedals are buffered even in bypass...An LS-2 would give you a trim for it...

     

    It doesn't seem like it would be too hot, But maybe so, that seems to be a bit low impedence...An EMG 81 is 4V...Impedance is 10K...maybe the tranisent voltage is too much for the JFET...pretty sure it would just cut out if you hit it too hard....I have a MK1 and a MK2 and I havenever gotten mine to do that...I have a Strymon OB.1 and that thing will layout some serious signal...makes me wonder if there is some DC on the signal...maybe it's freaking the JFET?

  • Line6Don Line 6 Support
    Line6Don
    5,274 posts since
    Mar 14, 2011
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 4, 2011 10:54 AM (in response to grokker)
    RE: Graphtech Piezo Preamp Compatible With Spider Valve MKII?? 2nd try :)

    Hey grokker,

       

      I agree with spaceatl suggestion to connect the guitar to some sort of pedal first to buffer the input to the Spider Vavle MKII.

       

      How does this amp perform when it is used with another guitar that has standard magnetic pickups?

    • grokker Just Startin'
      grokker
      22 posts since
      Dec 3, 2010
      Currently Being Moderated
      Oct 4, 2011 4:32 PM (in response to Line6Don)
      Re: RE: Graphtech Piezo Preamp Compatible With Spider Valve MKII?? 2nd try :)

      Gonna have to try that! Thanks to both of you for weighing in! I just bought a POD HD 500 and the DT50 head hoping to solve the problem that way, as well as experience the higher res models in the newer PODs with the amp voicings. Should I try the preamped guitar through the HD 500? I'm a little gun shy bnow about using the guitar with Line6 stuff now. But I had a POD HD bean and it seemed not to mind the preamped piezo output from the guitar using it for a recording interface. And to answer your question, Don, the other high output magnetics guitars without onboard preamps work fine with the MKII. I tried using the XLR out from the MKII into the mic XLR input of my X3 Live (blank preset, no models) and then into the computer recording software and the MK II didn't seem to like that, either, became unreliable shortly thereafter just like with the preamped guitar. What possible harm could THAT do? I would like to record off the MKII like that if possible. Thanks again! geoff

  • Line6Don Line 6 Support
    Line6Don
    5,274 posts since
    Mar 14, 2011
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 10, 2011 10:24 AM (in response to grokker)
    RE: Graphtech Piezo Preamp Compatible With Spider Valve MKII?? 2nd try :)

    Hey grokker,

       

      Give it a shot, if that is the guitar you play, then by all means try it out with your new gear.

       

      That recording setup should work just fine, although if the problem with the hot pickups pushing the front end of the Spider Valve is still going to happen. That signal will then be sent to the X3 and then recorded. So the problem is not with the way you set it up, just the pickups on the guitar over driving the front end of the amp.

More Like This

  • Retrieving data ...

Bookmarked By (0)

Legend

  • Correct Answers - 5 points
  • Helpful Answers - 3 points