Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Suspect Device on May 10, 2012 at 5:04am

Its probably more important for the piezo to contact the lid (resonator) than the neck. I'm sure there are countless ways of doing this, but what I do is cut a groove in the top of the bridge about an 1/8th-inch wide and deep enough that only about 1/16th-inch (or thereabouts) remains where the bridge contacts the lid. I just widen the groove a bit on top, insert the rod piezo and stack a saddle (bolt, bone, whatever) on top of the piezo, as long as it's a tight fit, you don't even need to glue it. Just make sure the saddle is making contact with the little bumpy elements on the rod. Like I said, this is just one way to do it, but it works well for me.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Suspect Device on May 10, 2012 at 5:26am

As far as mounting inside the box.. those piezo rods need to be pressed pretty tightly against something in order to pick up the vibration, so I wouldn't recommend encapsulating it in silicone or glue. You might try attaching it (clamping, really) between the box top and a strip of wood from the underside, you'll want a tight fit, with the elements pressed evenly against the underside of the box top.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Turkeychicken on May 10, 2012 at 8:53am

I have used this method one time. No complaints as of yet.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Greg Potts on March 23, 2013 at 5:48pm

I used this method on my Chateau Real CBG, it worked quite nicely.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ron carlson on May 10, 2012 at 5:59am

Hey, thanks for that info. It makes sense to me and I'm tracking now on how this pickup works or how it best wants to work.

I'm trying to make this function like a magnetic pickup and it sounds like that's not going to happen. Very well anyway ;)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Adam McClendon on May 29, 2012 at 8:09am

I too will be mounting a rod piezo for my brothers Bday gift.  It has 6 of those square things on it, but am I supposed to cut off three of them for the CBG?  I plan on sandwiching it between the box and the neck board on the inside of the CB with gorilla glue.  Suggestions?  kind of confused about the 6 versus 3 thing.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ron carlson on May 29, 2012 at 9:28am

The three raised flats on the rod correspond with the three strings on the guitar. If you were to build a 4 string, I assume that you would cut accordingly just beyond the 4th at the dip.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on May 29, 2012 at 8:22am

Don't use gorilla glue Adam!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Adam McClendon on October 3, 2012 at 12:31pm

Thanks, I didn't use gorilla glue.  I ended up making a custom bridge with a brass tube that I slid the rod into then made a wooden mount and screwed it into the box.  My brother and a friend of his took it to a guitar store in Eugene OR and when they tuned it and plugged it in started to jam.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on October 3, 2012 at 8:55pm

They only work from down pressure from the strings, thats why their used in a slot under the saddle in a bridge.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ron Page on March 3, 2013 at 6:39pm

I just ordered a couple of rod piezos to use with my 6-string build.  I notice there is a white dot on the end away from the wire lead.  This makes me wonder if there is a proper direction to place the piezo - does it matter if the end with the electrical lead is under the low E string or the high E?

thanks, 

ron

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 4, 2013 at 7:48am

If memory serves from the last time I installed one of these in my classical git ( a good 20 years ago!), it shouldn't matter. However, the printed material that came with the rod may say different, maybe having to do with the spacing of the piezo bumps from the lead end.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page