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Piezo underneath neck instead of on top

The groove cut out that spans the box is already pretty thin. I don't want to shave anymore so I guess I'm going to place the piezo.. underneath the neck.. under the bridge. Before I glue it on anyone have any comments on how placing the piezo under instead of on top of neck affects the sound? Thank you
Oh and should the crystals face up or down to the neck if placed underneath the neck?

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Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on August 31, 2014 at 8:20pm

best thing is to tape it on and test it first, though most have the piezo on top of the neck under the lid - no need to glue it, and sandwich the piezo face up between two pieces of soft Velcro, this will help reduce that sharp microphonic sound. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Seth Kent on September 2, 2014 at 9:14am

I have done below the neck. Still sounds just fine. The neck will have a large portion of the string vibration in it but in my thinking, is less susceptible to feedback.

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Permalink Reply by Jon Leslie/Runaway Veal Music on September 2, 2014 at 9:18am

Cool cause that part of the neck is fairly thin already. Making space for the piezo on top should have been better planned. I really have no choice on this one...piezo discs are not the greatest sound I heard anyway and it's not worth risking the neck breaking or bowing etc.

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Permalink Reply by Seth Kent on September 2, 2014 at 9:21am

I got a tip from a guy a while back to attach the disc with silicone calking. Seems to help with the sound a lot. They are cheap so it is worth messing with.

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Permalink Reply by Jon Leslie/Runaway Veal Music on September 2, 2014 at 10:11am

Usually cushion the piezo ...hot glue , a cap , material that absorbs some thin tininess...coming from underneath not sure ...I'll try some tape and mess with positioning

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Permalink Reply by Marc Brode on September 3, 2014 at 4:08am

I've only made three, so I'm no expert. On mine, I glued the pickup to the underside of the top — right next to the bridge area — on the side with the lowest pitched string. This will pick up all the vibrations of the top and avoid some of the tinnyness of the treble string.

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Permalink Reply by Jon Leslie/Runaway Veal Music on September 3, 2014 at 4:14am

Good plan. I've often though about that (leaving out th treble string and keeping the piezo closer to the bass side. Then there's some loss of volume but less shrill