wiring Custom build guitar 3 pickup wiring

[kostas]

Hi there !

I've built a custom guitar and I've put 3 magnets.
1 single on the neck, 1 hum backer on the bridge and 1 piezoelectric.
I use only 3 volumes (1 for each magnet) and a general volume. No switches for choosing a magnet.
I must have done something wrong because the piezo does not work so good. I can barely hear it.
Could someone please make a correct wiring diagram ?

Thanks so much for your effort !

[curtisa]

What kind of preamp are you using for the piezo?

[kostas]

None at the moment...

[curtisa]

Probably the reason why it's so quiet. It's unlikely that you'll be able to mix magnetic and piezo pickups and expect the output levels to be equal without some kind of buffer/preamp for the piezo's. 

[kostas]

I understand...

Is there any schematic for the proper wiring of my setup ?
I have 3 magnets, 3 volume controls and 1 master volume control (no pickup selector switch).

Thanks !!!

[curtisa]

Something like this would be a start:

http://www.irongear.co.uk/3_x_humbuckers__3_vol__1_tone_no_splits__watermarked.gif

Substitute your piezo for one of the three pickups shown. Where the two yellow wires and blue wires meet at the selector switch, just join them together and delete the switch.

Your preamp for the piezo would need to go in between the output lead of the piezo (red) and the piezo volume pot.

[kostas]

Thanks a LOT !!!

[Norris]

And of course fitting a pre-amp/buffer will mean you'll need somewhere to put a battery as well