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Cutting a piezo. How small can you go?

Posted by Bluesheart on July 24, 2011 at 10:57pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I was wondering how much you can trim off of a piezo disc and still have it work? I'd like to build them into the bridge/saddle but want to keep the bridge/saddle small, hard and un-obtrusive to box graphics. They are so sensitive to touch when just mounted to inside of box. I'm thinking that if the string vibration is the main thing the piezo is receiving that box microphonics would be reduced?

I know I can just cut some down till they stop working but figure someone has already done that and the rod type piezos are a bit pricey.

Thanks for any help you can render.

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Replies

Bluesheart July 28, 2011 at 6:18pm

Thanks Sheesix for the courage to cut!
Bluesheart July 28, 2011 at 5:38pm

Thanks for all the help, I went ahead and cut one :) and it still seems to work just fine. This is good to know cause now I plan to imbed it into the bridge to isolate it from the box top. I'll let ya know how it goes.
MichaelS Country Boy Guitars July 27, 2011 at 7:18am

I have cut into the ceramic and they still work, sometimes the ceramic can chip off while cutting though and if the side you want chips off it wont work.
Skeesix July 26, 2011 at 1:48pm

I have cut them 1/4" wide and they still work. I cut right through the ceramic and left the wires on one end.
Bluesheart July 25, 2011 at 9:48am

Great, thanks for the good tips!
David L. July 25, 2011 at 9:24am

The rod type ones are fairly cheap if you are happy to buy from China/Hong Kong and wait a couple of weeks for delivery.

This is a big company that sells good stuff at a small price $2.83 http://www.suntekstore.com/-bendable-piezo-cable-pickup-for-acousti... or a more flexible/thinner one $3.99 http://www.suntekstore.com/bendable-piezo-cable-undersaddle-pickup-...

or if you plan to use a lot $15.66 for ten http://cgi.ebay.com/10-NEW-Acoustic-Guitar-Saddle-Piezo-Bridge-Pick...
brent hale July 25, 2011 at 2:50am

I've cut the brass looking part with no problems, never cut into the ceramic part. I don't know if it would hurt to cut the ceramic, just never needed to make it that small.

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