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Piezo Questions

I am working on finishing up my first build, and have a question regarding the piezo. I bought some that are encased in plastic. I tried to remove one from the plastic, and found that it isn't soldered to the wires inside. My questions are: 1) Is it necessary to remove the disk, or can I glue the whole thing to the lid? Also, how would this affect the tone, if at all? 2) If I need to remove the disk from the plastic casing, how do I connect the wiring?

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Wray on October 25, 2009 at 12:31pm

C.S. Check this out.I wouldn't leave the plastic, I don't think they pick up as well as bare. http://cigarboxguitars.com/workshops/Piezo_Transducer.php
This should help, Wray

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Permalink Reply by HENRY LOWMAN on October 25, 2009 at 1:39pm

Remove the disc. What I do is to solder the shielded center wire of an audio cable to the center of the disc, and I then solder the copper wiring surrounding the shielded part to the brass part of the disc (after twisting the copper wiring, of course). Then solder the other end of the audio cable to a 1/4" mono audio jack. I hope this helps. Ted Crocker posted some pictures of this on the photo sight that might make this clearer to you.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on October 25, 2009 at 2:01pm

I do the same thing as Henry. Some folks report using the skinny little wires that come attached with no problem, but I did read an article somewhere to the effect that actual audio cable works better.

I break away the plastic case by "nibbling" at it using a needle-nosed pliers. The Piezo itself is a very thin sheet of brass, it'll bend easily.

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Permalink Reply by HENRY LOWMAN on October 25, 2009 at 2:08pm

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/piezo-jack...Here it is. For more pics, go to the PICS page, type in Ted Crocker, then click page 14 at the bottom. Again, hope this helps, good luck building, can't wait to see and hear your build!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Doug on October 25, 2009 at 2:18pm

You mean:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/piezo-jack

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Permalink Reply by Converted Stratslinger on October 25, 2009 at 2:56pm

OK. Thanks, this is quite helpful...one more question, if I may, is whether to attach the piezo to to can that I am using for the resonator, or to the box. Any suggestions?

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Permalink Reply by Ronnie Retherford on October 25, 2009 at 3:28pm

I use my cut-off disc in my Dremel to cut the plastic off. The heat from the disk will melt the plastic (be careful as it will sling off the disc) and the plastic becomes very brittle and will break away easily. Cut around the edge (above the element of course) and break off the plastic. This is easier to me than breaking it away with pliers.

Mark Werner said:

I do the same thing as Henry. Some folks report using the skinny little wires that come attached with no problem, but I did read an article somewhere to the effect that actual audio cable works better.

I break away the plastic case by "nibbling" at it using a needle-nosed pliers. The Piezo itself is a very thin sheet of brass, it'll bend easily.