Using Piezo/Mag pickups on Dream Theater's Spirit Carries On

[frankiman]

Hello again everyone

Not to long ago I bought the Pod X3 Live and it is just great to use it with my EBMM JP. I can take full advantage of my Piezo/Mag pickups by using the expression pedal. The piezo switch is set in the middle so both pickups are always active.

YouTube - Dream Theater - The Spirit Carries On (Cover)

YouTube - Dream Theater - The Spirit Carries On (Cover)

I also use it on Megadeth's Holy Wars:

YouTube - Megadeth - Holy Wars (Cover)

YouTube - Megadeth - Holy Wars (Cover)

Cheers

Frank
youtube.com/franciscomeza11

[DaPatrooch]

That's pretty cool! Great playing too! That JP sounds AMAZING!!!!!!!

[candid_x]

Very nice job, man. Are you using a stereo vol. pedal to switch back and forth to the piezo?

[frankiman]

Originally Posted by candid_x

Very nice job, man. Are you using a stereo vol. pedal to switch back and forth to the piezo?

Thanks man, I'm just using the expression pedal of the POD x3 Live.

The Pod has a guitar input and also an aux input, what I do is I send 2 cables from the guitar (piezo and mag) to the two inputs of the Pod, I assing the toe position of the expression pedal to the magnetic input and the heel position is assigned to the piezo input, therefore I don't need to touch the piezo switch on the guitar, I always leave it in the middle, controlling the two tones with the expression pedal only.

[Multiversal]

It's weird seeing Holy Wars being played on anything besides a Jackson King V or Kelly.. LOL..

Sounds great, though man.

[leftyguitarblue]

great stuff Frank. That JP sounds phenomenal. Keep it up. I subscribed to your videos on youtube.

[brasco68]

Awesome....very nice playing Frank!!

I just got an X3 Live as well...it's a pretty cool unit.

[Slingy]

I saw this at the Pod forum too, nice JP and awesome job!

[candid_x]

Originally Posted by frankiman

Thanks man, I'm just using the expression pedal of the POD x3 Live.

The Pod has a guitar input and also an aux input, what I do is I send 2 cables from the guitar (piezo and mag) to the two inputs of the Pod, I assing the toe position of the expression pedal to the magnetic input and the heel position is assigned to the piezo input, therefore I don't need to touch the piezo switch on the guitar, I always leave it in the middle, controlling the two tones with the expression pedal only.

Sounds good... as much as my old analog ass hates to admit it.

[frankiman]

Originally Posted by leftyguitarblue

great stuff Frank. That JP sounds phenomenal. Keep it up. I subscribed to your videos on youtube.

Thanks man, cheers

[colinboy]

impressive job mate,i love the spirit carries on.

[lonewolf74]

WOW! Very impressive playing, and excellent reproduction of JP's sound... which amp models are you using in the X3 to get his Mesa sounds, and which model are you using to pass the piezo signal through? Both of them sound beautiful... I have a 2003 JP6 and can't even get close to John's sounds with my GT-8...

Good technique on your playing too - if only I could play that well. How often do you practice, and what has been the best way that you have found to learn DT material? (JP is one of my main influences as well...)

Keep up the EXCELLENT work!

[V_S]

hey frankiman, nice playing. never was a DT fan, but your megadeth cover rocks.

[frankiman]

Originally Posted by V_S

hey frankiman, nice playing. never was a DT fan, but your megadeth cover rocks.

Thanks man, I have plenty more Mega covers on my channel,

Cheers

[frankiman]

Originally Posted by lonewolf74

WOW! Very impressive playing, and excellent reproduction of JP's sound... which amp models are you using in the X3 to get his Mesa sounds, and which model are you using to pass the piezo signal through? Both of them sound beautiful... I have a 2003 JP6 and can't even get close to John's sounds with my GT-8...

Good technique on your playing too - if only I could play that well. How often do you practice, and what has been the best way that you have found to learn DT material? (JP is one of my main influences as well...)

Keep up the EXCELLENT work!

Hey Thanks for your comment . On the pod I use the spinal puppet amp model and but I cant remember which cab model I use though. I have the screamer stomp box on too and a bit of chorus, enough delay and reverb as it is used throughout the song but with more intensity on the solo section.

For the piezo signal I use no cab or amp model, so it is going direct to line, I do use a bit of chorus reverb and delay to color the sound.

Regarding my practice, I've been playing now for 17 years. Nowadays I try to fit at least 30 minutes of practice everyday, mostly by doing scales and stuff and practicing tough songs or learning new ones.

For me the best way to tackle any song is by slowing it down with Windows Media Player, all the way down, and figure it out note by note, not worrying on how it is played, only what note to play.

Then, once you know what to play, bringing gradually up to speed and pay more attention to the phrasing. Eventually you will find yourself playing it up to regular speed with the right phrasing. Obviously it is boring, takes time and it is tiring, but for me it is the best way to get better.

Cheers man