I'm a dummy, let's state that up front. I have build two CBGs. In each I put a Piezo Transducer (Radio Shack) between the neck and the top of the guitar. I bought a "Mini-Deluxe" Fender MD-20 made in China Amp. I can get zero amplified sound. I have tried two Piezos. the one glued in and another I had I taped in. Two different amps (Ya I bought 2 of the Mini-Deluxe). Checked connections with an Ohm meter. Looks good to me. Yes I turned on the amps and turned up the volume. Nothing! Any suggestions, instructions, "good" advice would be greatly appreciated.

Views: 403

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

A few things I learned the hard way:

1. Keep your wires short
2. lightly scuff the metal connections on your jack to accept solder
3. tin the leads with solder before soldering.

These 3 steps will make your soldering job much easier. Good luck with your CBG.

Wade
HA! HA! I FINALLY GOT IT. It was the cable. I got a different on the other day and just tried it on my first build. IT WORKS!
great to hear you got some sound now. sometimes these kind of things can be a pain in the a%$.

Paul Doug said:
HA! HA! I FINALLY GOT IT. It was the cable. I got a different on the other day and just tried it on my first build. IT WORKS!
Wire up the electronics before installing in the box and glueing it shut. Plug it in and test it first by tapping the piezo. Piezo will still work in plastic housing, not as well.
Have you tried another piezo. You might have damaged the one you installed while removing the outer shell.
This looks like a good place to jump in with a question. I have just finished CBG#3 and I used an RS piezo transducer in all 3. Is there any way to keep the little sucker from picking up every little 'tap'?

Thanks!!

Darwin Gentry aka Ddad said:
Have you tried another piezo. You might have damaged the one you installed while removing the outer shell.
Found the answer to my questions elsewhere on this site!! Great resource for a new CBG guy.

Ronnie Retherford said:
This looks like a good place to jump in with a question. I have just finished CBG#3 and I used an RS piezo transducer in all 3. Is there any way to keep the little sucker from picking up every little 'tap'?

Thanks!!

Darwin Gentry aka Ddad said:
Have you tried another piezo. You might have damaged the one you installed while removing the outer shell.
Ronnie Retherford said:
Found the answer to my questions elsewhere on this site!! Great resource for a new CBG guy.

Ronnie Retherford said:
This looks like a good place to jump in with a question. I have just finished CBG#3 and I used an RS piezo transducer in all 3. Is there any way to keep the little sucker from picking up every little 'tap'?

Thanks!!

Darwin Gentry aka Ddad said:
Have you tried another piezo. You might have damaged the one you installed while removing the outer shell.

For the record, I'm assuming that the answer you found was to encase the piezo in something: either a medium like hot glue / silicone etc., or a "sandwich" between two slices of wood. I use the CB liner woods for the sandwich, myself.
GREAT tips from everyone - after reading this thread I should be able to jump into electrifying a CBG!!

Tres Seaver said:
Ronnie Retherford said:
Found the answer to my questions elsewhere on this site!! Great resource for a new CBG guy.

Ronnie Retherford said:
This looks like a good place to jump in with a question. I have just finished CBG#3 and I used an RS piezo transducer in all 3. Is there any way to keep the little sucker from picking up every little 'tap'?

Thanks!!

Darwin Gentry aka Ddad said:
Have you tried another piezo. You might have damaged the one you installed while removing the outer shell.

For the record, I'm assuming that the answer you found was to encase the piezo in something: either a medium like hot glue / silicone etc., or a "sandwich" between two slices of wood. I use the CB liner woods for the sandwich, myself.
I'm new to building Cigar Box guitars, just finished my first one today as a matter of fact and it sounds wicked good if I do say so myself.

I didn't like the thin wires that came attached to the Piezos that I got from Radio Shack so I removed those and soldered telephone cable to them,the four strand type but I only used the black and red wires, snipped off the green and yellow, that made the connection to the piezos some rugged yet still flexible.

I also rapped the piezos in wool cloth, one of which is taped to the underside of a simple resonator plate I made from sheet metal, the other is tucked into a slot between the lid of the box and the neck of the guitar.

It's got that great metal twang sound going on which is what I was hoping for.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2589/4079107930_37e90552c9_o.jpg

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

Nut

Started by Bill Andy in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Bill Andy yesterday. 5 Replies

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

Latest Activity

Daniel Ackermann liked King Harvest's photo
1 hour ago
Bill Andy replied to Bill Andy's discussion Copper Hardware
"No luck"
4 hours ago
A.D.EKER posted photos
5 hours ago
Korrigan replied to Bill Andy's discussion Copper Hardware
"Google it."
5 hours ago
AGP # liked Mick Tickner's photo
6 hours ago
AGP # liked Mick Tickner's photo
6 hours ago
AGP # liked Mick Tickner's photo
6 hours ago
AGP # liked Mick Tickner's photo
6 hours ago
AGP # liked Mick Tickner's photo
6 hours ago
AGP # liked Glenn Kaiser's photo
6 hours ago
AGP # commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

On Top of Spaghetti: 3D Printed Cigar Box Guitar

""LOL", had forgotten all about that "Littke Ditty" from days of Yore, as…"
6 hours ago
AGP # liked Doug Thorsvik's video
6 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->