Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 1, 2018 at 1:11pm

Hi Steve, yes I have done it. My method was used on this solid body fiddle I built some years ago.

It is the same as fitting the pickup strip into a normal bridge. I routed the slot into the body of the fiddle at the correct position in the scale length, with a fretted guitar you would have to be pretty close with the setting out of the intonation, I put the pickup in the slot with a timber filler strip on top of it and flush with the guitar top. The bridge sat on this strip. You would need a brace under the bridge position so as to route the slot through the top and into the brace to hold the pickup.

Another way is to put a slot in the underside of the bridge fit the pickup so that it is sandwiched between bridge and top of guitar. The pickup will need the pressure from the strings on it to work efficiently, so that will need some fine tuning. This way I have not tried but I feel it should work.

Good luck Taff

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Permalink Reply by David McQueen on February 1, 2018 at 3:17pm

I did this type of pickup install  using a slot on the underside of he bridge. It worked sort of. It lacked elegance, which is a nice way of saying in the end it was a kludge.

I think a better way would be using a floating bridge with an actual saddle.then you could do a proper mount between the saddle and the bridge.you would still be left with a wire showing perhaps, but the pickup would be well and properly seated.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Dean on February 1, 2018 at 4:57pm

I've done 2 in the past, it will be a lengthy explanation, so, let me type it out and paste it here sometime tomorrow rather than sit here and type it in this little box, it will be easier for me to proof read my comment.

It's doable, a little tricky, but will work, beware, you won't be customizing an existing one, you'll have to make the bridge from scratch, and I'll give you details.

Rich

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 1, 2018 at 5:46pm

What David said is a better option I think. Here are two of my floating bridges with pickup installed in the normal fashion. No need to have wire showing as it exits through the bottom of the bridge and through the top.

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Richard Dean on February 1, 2018 at 6:07pm

those are better options unless a flying kay bridge is a must

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Permalink Reply by Steve on February 1, 2018 at 8:50pm

Thank you for the input everyone. The flying kay isn't a must, just something I already have. I don't really care if the wire shows. Top priority is getting the best sound I can out of a piezo. I think I'll try coming up with something like what you suggested David . Although, Richard, I would still like to hear the details of how you built your bridge from scratch. Wouldn't be a bad thing to know how to do, in case I ever needed to .Thank you again!

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Permalink Reply by Richard Dean on February 2, 2018 at 3:16am

Several here have built them, just a matter of tools and patience, mostly sanding. Rather than the lengthy explanation, in a nutshell, I made it just like a normal one except the top was shaped more like a classical acoustic bridge, rounded with a slot, drilled for the rod piezo, used a round classical saddle. I'll see if I can dig up the pics for it.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Dean on February 2, 2018 at 10:16am

can't find the pics, I might make one for my reso build when I get back to it just because...I'll do a full write up with pics when I do

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Permalink Reply by Alan Dillard on February 2, 2018 at 5:24am

Hi, Steve.  I have done two or three by using a dremel with a narrow grinder wheel to hollow out the bottom of the floating bridge.  More hidden and the only issue is to make sure the piezo still has contact with the top of the box.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 2, 2018 at 2:18pm

Hi Steve, if you are looking for the best sound from a piezo then you need to install a pre amp/EQ system into the loop. There has been info posted on such a system in these pages.

You can see a Pre Amp fitted to the  side of my guitar in the second photo above. They will work without one, but you did say "best sound".

Cheers Taff

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