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Cutting a piezo. How small can you go?

I was wondering how much you can trim off of a piezo disc and still have it work? I'd like to build them into the bridge/saddle but want to keep the bridge/saddle small, hard and un-obtrusive to box graphics. They are so sensitive to touch when just mounted to inside of box. I'm thinking that if the string vibration is the main thing the piezo is receiving that box microphonics would be reduced?

I know I can just cut some down till they stop working but figure someone has already done that and the rod type piezos are a bit pricey.

Thanks for any help you can render.

Tags: Piezo

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Permalink Reply by brent hale on July 25, 2011 at 2:50am

I've cut the brass looking part with no problems, never cut into the ceramic part. I don't know if it would hurt to cut the ceramic, just never needed to make it that small.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin O'Connor on July 25, 2011 at 6:40am

I have cut into the ceramic before, they stop working. Cut all the brass you want. The last CBG I built, which I kept as my player, has 2 cut discs under the bridge, and one inside the box on the soundboard under the bridge. They are switched so that I can use the double or the single, or both. The piezo's are sensitive, not sure if placement under the bridge makes them "less" to touch or not, maybe a little? I have pictures posted, #8 is the one I'm referring to, but the single piezo came after the pictures.

Kevin

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Permalink Reply by David L. on July 25, 2011 at 9:24am

The rod type ones are fairly cheap if you are happy to buy from China/Hong Kong and wait a couple of weeks for delivery.

This is a big company that sells good stuff at a small price $2.83 http://www.suntekstore.com/-bendable-piezo-cable-pickup-for-acousti... or a more flexible/thinner one $3.99 http://www.suntekstore.com/bendable-piezo-cable-undersaddle-pickup-...

or if you plan to use a lot $15.66 for ten http://cgi.ebay.com/10-NEW-Acoustic-Guitar-Saddle-Piezo-Bridge-Pick...

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on July 25, 2011 at 9:48am

Great, thanks for the good tips!

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Permalink Reply by Skeesix on July 26, 2011 at 1:48pm

I have cut them 1/4" wide and they still work. I cut right through the ceramic and left the wires on one end.

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Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on July 27, 2011 at 7:18am

I have cut into the ceramic and they still work, sometimes the ceramic can chip off while cutting though and if the side you want chips off it wont work.

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on July 28, 2011 at 5:38pm

Thanks for all the help, I went ahead and cut one :) and it still seems to work just fine. This is good to know cause now I plan to imbed it into the bridge to isolate it from the box top. I'll let ya know how it goes.