Electric guitars equipped with piezo pickups offer a tempting proposition: the ability to switch from electric tones to acoustic-like sounds without swapping instruments. This versatility is particularly appealing for guitarists seeking convenience and sonic breadth on a budget. But when it comes to the cheapest electric guitar options featuring piezo systems, are you truly getting the best of both worlds, or are you setting yourself up for disappointment? Let’s delve into the realities of budget-friendly piezo-equipped guitars.
The Compromises of Cheap Piezo Systems
The allure of a cheap electric guitar with a built-in piezo pickup is understandable. However, it’s crucial to recognize that affordability often comes with compromises, especially in the realm of guitar electronics. When considering the cheapest electric guitar with piezo capabilities, several factors can impact your experience negatively:
Quality of Components
One of the primary areas where cost-cutting measures are evident in cheapest electric guitars is the quality of the components. A reliable and good-sounding piezo system involves significant manufacturing costs, both for the piezo element itself and its integration into the guitar. Consequently, budget guitars frequently utilize lower-grade piezo pickups, often from lesser-known or generic brands. Similarly, the guitars themselves might be constructed with cheaper materials and less refined craftsmanship to meet a lower price point. This combination can lead to several issues:
- Inferior Piezo Sound: Cheap piezo pickups can sound thin, brittle, and lack the warmth and natural resonance associated with acoustic guitars. They may also be prone to unwanted noise or feedback.
- Unreliable Performance: Lower quality piezo systems are more likely to suffer from performance issues, including inconsistent output, premature failure, or susceptibility to damage.
- Poor Guitar Construction: Coupled with a low-quality guitar, the overall instrument might suffer from playability problems, tuning instability, and a lack of resonant acoustic properties that would complement the piezo system.
Reputable Brands and Piezo Excellence
In contrast to budget options, certain established guitar manufacturers have successfully integrated piezo systems into their instruments, achieving excellent results. Brands like PRS, Godin, Ernie Ball, and even ESP (surprisingly for some) have invested in research and development to create hybrid guitars that deliver both quality electric and convincing acoustic tones. These companies often utilize high-quality piezo systems from reputable brands or develop their own sophisticated implementations.
The Fishman Advantage
Fishman stands out as a leading name in piezo pickup technology. They specialize in crafting high-quality acoustic amplification and offer a wide range of aftermarket piezo bridge systems designed as upgrades for existing electric guitars. Fishman’s expertise in piezo technology makes their systems a benchmark for quality and reliability, far exceeding the performance of generic, unbranded piezos often found in cheapest electric guitars.
A Better Path: Upgrading for Quality Acoustic Tones
Instead of relying on a cheapest electric guitar with an integrated piezo, a more effective and ultimately satisfying approach is to consider upgrading a guitar you already own and enjoy, or investing in a quality electric guitar and adding an aftermarket piezo system.
The Upgrade Solution
Installing a Fishman piezo bridge on a guitar you already love offers several advantages:
- Maintain Guitar Quality: You retain the playability, feel, and electric guitar tone you are already comfortable with. You are not compromising on the core electric guitar aspects to get a piezo feature.
- Superior Piezo Performance: By choosing a Fishman system, you ensure you are getting a high-quality piezo pickup that will deliver a much more authentic and usable acoustic sound.
- Long-Term Investment: Upgrading a quality guitar with a good piezo system is a more sound long-term investment than purchasing a cheapest electric guitar that may have limitations in both electric and acoustic performance.
Professional Installation and Reversibility
A skilled guitar technician can expertly install a piezo bridge system, often with minimal modification to your guitar. In some cases, as illustrated by the example of a Les Paul modification, a tech can even install a system in a way that is largely reversible, preserving the guitar’s original condition should you ever decide to remove the piezo.
Conclusion: Invest in Quality over Cheap Hybrids
While the idea of a cheapest electric guitar with a piezo pickup is appealing, the reality is that these instruments often compromise on both electric guitar quality and piezo performance. For guitarists seeking genuinely useful acoustic tones alongside their electric sounds, the wiser path is to invest in a quality electric guitar and consider upgrading it with a reputable aftermarket piezo system like Fishman. This approach ensures you get the best of both worlds without sacrificing tone, playability, or long-term satisfaction.
