Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Roger Morin on April 19, 2010 at 4:26pm

Piezo should be on under lid of the cigar box as close as you can get to the bridge.

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Permalink Reply by Brian " BigB " Saunders on April 19, 2010 at 4:29pm

Is that what's causing the feedback?

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on April 19, 2010 at 4:41pm

Stereo Jack might be a problem. Use a mono jack. Second, I hot glue the piezo down with a 1/2" glob that has been left to cool for ~10-15 seconds. Then the piezo is pressed into the glue until there is about 1/16" glue gap. I mount the piezo on the lid near the bridge.

The sound will amaze you.

-WY
Remember: Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on April 19, 2010 at 4:42pm

Oh this also cuts down on some feedback.

-WY

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on April 19, 2010 at 10:12pm

Piezos are notoriously fickle and very prone to feedback...their frequency response is very important if they are to be the least bit useable (I always go for the ones with the lowest frequency response on the specifications). Mono or stereo jack should make no difference to tone or gain..if you are getting a signal from the piezo then it's wired OK. Set the amp tone controls flat and start from there.

You may be able to tame it a bit by putting on a volume control - I use a regular 250K pot wired in the normal way and it works, but trying to put a tone control is another game that I haven't won yet.

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Permalink Reply by Crow on May 19, 2010 at 2:19am

i never use gain.

it almost always results in a feedback issue with my piezo pickups.

these pickups are GREAT for a completely acoustic sound, just picking up the vibrations from the surface it's mounted on. but they don't do distortion, overdrive, or gain very well.

just the nature of the beast.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on May 19, 2010 at 2:35am

Piezos certainly can do gain/distortion/OD if you mount them right. Done it many times. It all depends on how you mount them and where. Its not the gain that affects the pickup, its the volume, proximity and mounting that is key.

What they do best is pick up vibes like you said. Like I said earlier, I mount them under the lid near the bridge. I'm even experimenting with in/under the bridge like many others do.

-WY

Crow said:

i never use gain.
it almost always results in a feedback issue with my piezo pickups.
these pickups are GREAT for a completely acoustic sound, just picking up the vibrations from the surface it's mounted on. but they don't do distortion, overdrive, or gain very well.

just the nature of the beast.

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Permalink Reply by Crow on May 19, 2010 at 2:43am

hmm.

i'll need to re-visit this idea, wes. i'm sure you know what you're talking about. i'll have to examine my pickup mounting...

i've been sandwiching them about halfway between my body block and the box, on the inside. maybe i should try a surface-glued approach, on the face of the guitar...

Wes Yates said:

Piezos certainly can do gain/distortion/OD if you mount them right. Done it many times. It all depends on how you mount them and where. Its not the gain that affects the pickup, its the volume, proximity and mounting that is key.

What they do best is pick up vibes like you said. Like I said earlier, I mount them under the lid near the bridge. I'm even experimenting with in/under the bridge like many others do.

-WY

Crow said:

i never use gain.
it almost always results in a feedback issue with my piezo pickups.
these pickups are GREAT for a completely acoustic sound, just picking up the vibrations from the surface it's mounted on. but they don't do distortion, overdrive, or gain very well.

just the nature of the beast.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on May 19, 2010 at 2:51am

Ding ding ding we have a winner. Body block is going to make that piezo pickup more body/handling noise for sure. I used to do that. Not any more!

Surface glue on the outside might damage the piezo or might pickup more feedback. The in-bridge design is supposed to eliminate most handling and feedback issues.

Even how i do it, the lid acts like a big eardrum. Hot glue dampens that and I don;t do but one side. I don't encase the piezo.

-WY

Crow said:

hmm.

i'll need to re-visit this idea, wes. i'm sure you know what you're talking about. i'll have to examine my pickup mounting...

i've been sandwiching them about halfway between my body block and the box, on the inside. maybe i should try a surface-glued approach, on the face of the guitar...

Wes Yates said:

Piezos certainly can do gain/distortion/OD if you mount them right. Done it many times. It all depends on how you mount them and where. Its not the gain that affects the pickup, its the volume, proximity and mounting that is key.

What they do best is pick up vibes like you said. Like I said earlier, I mount them under the lid near the bridge. I'm even experimenting with in/under the bridge like many others do.

-WY

Crow said:

i never use gain.
it almost always results in a feedback issue with my piezo pickups.
these pickups are GREAT for a completely acoustic sound, just picking up the vibrations from the surface it's mounted on. but they don't do distortion, overdrive, or gain very well.

just the nature of the beast.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on May 19, 2010 at 2:53am

I'll see if I can get a pic of my latest bridge/piezo. Mind you, its not tested yet so I don't know how it will respond.

-WY

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Permalink Reply by Crow on May 19, 2010 at 2:54am

lol
no i said face, but i meant the front panel. of course inside the guitar.

no really i'm going home tonight and moving the pickup from the body block to the inside face surface. i'll be sure to post my results. thanks!!!

wes you may have just freed me to the land of distortion

YAY!!! :D

Wes Yates said:

Ding ding ding we have a winner. Body block is going to make that piezo pickup more body/handling noise for sure. I used to do that. Not any more!

Surface glue on the outside might damage the piezo or might pickup more feedback. The in-bridge design is supposed to eliminate most handling and feedback issues.

Even how i do it, the lid acts like a big eardrum. Hot glue dampens that and I don;t do but one side. I don't encase the piezo.

-WY

Crow said:

hmm.

i'll need to re-visit this idea, wes. i'm sure you know what you're talking about. i'll have to examine my pickup mounting...

i've been sandwiching them about halfway between my body block and the box, on the inside. maybe i should try a surface-glued approach, on the face of the guitar...

Wes Yates said:

Piezos certainly can do gain/distortion/OD if you mount them right. Done it many times. It all depends on how you mount them and where. Its not the gain that affects the pickup, its the volume, proximity and mounting that is key.

What they do best is pick up vibes like you said. Like I said earlier, I mount them under the lid near the bridge. I'm even experimenting with in/under the bridge like many others do.

-WY

Crow said:

i never use gain.
it almost always results in a feedback issue with my piezo pickups.
these pickups are GREAT for a completely acoustic sound, just picking up the vibrations from the surface it's mounted on. but they don't do distortion, overdrive, or gain very well.

just the nature of the beast.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on May 19, 2010 at 3:12am

Crow,

Remember, your results may vary. You may have to x'perment a little. Keep in mind that the lid is a big sound receiver too, so. I found that using hot glue allows me to remove and reposition easily. Oh and I also use the clear hot glue, not the white/cloudy hot glue.

-WY

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