#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!
Easy DIY Pre-Amp: Makes Piezo-Equipped Cigar Box Guitars Sound Better
Reduced feedback. Deeper bass response. And no more "quack!"
We were complaining about all the problems with piezo pickups when the idea for this standalone pre-amp came to me. It's deceptively simple... a $17 acoustic guitar pre-amp with a hacked input becomes a great EQ and signal boost. And it's all housed in a cigar box!
First of all, here's how it sounds...
I built this prototype in less than one hour. Here's how to do it:
PARTS NEEDED:
- C. B. Gitty Pre-Amp Unit Model EQ-7545R ($16.49)*
- 1/4" guitar jack ($6.49/3 pack)
- Empty cigar box that is deep enough to house the pre-amp. These boxes from Gitty are a good example.
- 9 volt battery
(*Note: a piezo rod pickup is included with the pre-amp. We'll need this!)
TOOLS NEEDED
- Wire stripper/cutter
- Soldering Iron and solder
- Coping saw, scroll saw or Dremel rotary tool.
- Small #1 Phillips head screwdriver
Here's a quick overview of the process. We'll get into detail with photos after the video:
STEP 1: Cut a 3.5" x 1.5" hole in the box to fit the pre-amp. You can use a coping saw, carpenters knife or a Dremel rotary tool with a cutting disk.
STEP 2: Drill two 3/8" holes in the box, one for each guitar jack needed.
STEP 3: Take the rod piezo out of the pre-amp packaging. Using wire cutters, cut off the rod piezo pickup from its wire. Cut closest to the pickup, leaving the longest length of wire possible.
STEP 4: Pull back the ground wire sheath to expose the lead wire. Strip off 1/4" of the lead wire's insulation.
STEP 5: Solder the ground sleeve wires to the ground prong (the inner, circular portion of the jack). Solder the lead wire to the other prong (the lead prong) of the jack. This is now our hacked pickup wire and will become the input jack.
STEP 6: Insert the 1/8" plug of the hacked pickup wire into the receptacle of the pre-amp unit.
STEP 7: Install both guitar jacks to the cigar box. I would recommend positioning the hacked wire (Input) on the right side of the layout and the the black plastic jack (Output) on the left side. Also insert the 9 volt battery at this time.
STEP 8: Mark your input and output jacks accordingly. I used a woodburning pen. You could use paint or any other method. (Remember, this pre-amp in the photos is a prototype. My next one will have a cooler layout, better graphics, a carrying handle and feet!)
OPTIONAL- ADD A HIDDEN GUITAR PICK CADDY: If there's extra room in the box, you can glue an Altoids tin to the bottom. I simply used a hot glue gun to attach the bottom of the tin to the inside bottom of the box.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- Unplug the guitar cables when not in use or it will drain your 9 volt battery.
- Dialing-in the right tones is an art. Each instrument is different. The pre-amp is there to sculpt the tones ... and to also give signal boost to low-output piezos.
- If the guitar sounds too distorted, try dialing back the volume on the pre-amp and increasing the volume on the amp/PA system.
- If you sell cigar box guitars with piezo pickups, these pre-amps could be a great way to make additional income. Get fancy with them and give them a product name.
Good luck!
-Shane Speal, 2016
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on
-
Good idea Shane.
-
-
It would be a good idea to have one in a pedal chain/pedal board too.
-
Permalink Reply by Mickey Ray Parker on
-
Very helpful. Thanks for posting this. I have been kicking around the idea of building a stand alone preamp, and this just cleared up any questions I had.
-
Permalink Reply by JL on
-
Is it a standard 1/8 (3.5mm) mono audio TS on the piezo? I'd almost rather get the solder yourself male connector and make up the 1/4 F to 1/8 M cable and use the piezo on the git...
-
Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Nation on
-
It's always better to install the pre-amp directly in the guitar...however, many of us have CBGs with plain pickups and no pre-amp. This stand-alone unit allows us to properly EQ and boost those older guitars.
-
-
What I meant was, instead of cutting the piezo wire, will the pre-amp accept a 1/8" (3.5mm) male end plug?
I have a few ideas rattling around the empty corners of my noggin about saving the piezo intact for something else.
-
Permalink Reply by Titch the Clown on
-
All the ones I had were 2mm not 1/8 inch. They are available from many hobby electric shops. YMMV
-
Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on
-
Neato and uber sound too. Looks like an awesome bit of kit to confound the muggles even more and enrage purists of the sacred, store-bought axe. I must give this a go. Thanks Shane, and all the best with your online concert too.
-
Permalink Reply by David Comtois on
-
Brilliant!
-
Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on
-
Dang it Shane! How am I supposed to get any of my projects done if you keep posting these DIY hacks???
-
-
Wait'll you see what I did with a beer can...
The Essential Pages
Recommended Links & Resources
- CigarBoxGuitar.com - the knowledgebase of the homemade music movement.
- Cigar Box Music - How-to-Build CBGs DVDs, How to Play CBG and more!
- 3-String-Guitar.com - John "Red Dog" McNair's unique take on cigar box guitars and their history - lots of historic photos!
- The Cigar Box Guitar Manifesto - the mission statement and rallying cry for the Cigar Box Guitar Revolution.
Forum
Copper Hardware
Started by Bill Andy in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Carl Floyd 3 hours ago. 3 Replies 0 Likes
Nut
Started by Bill Andy in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Bill Andy yesterday. 5 Replies 0 Likes
You like Train songs on Handmade instruments as much as I do? Meet Eastwood station…
Started by BrianQ. in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts on Tuesday. 0 Replies 2 Likes
Are metal frets necessary?
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 26. 8 Replies 1 Like
AI Search Query - Curious Answer
Started by Southern Ray in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 26. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Song lyrics for Steve's new song
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by BrianQ. Apr 25. 4 Replies 0 Likes
UK - Best Place to Buy Cigar Box's
Started by Rich Butters in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Crazed Fandango Apr 22. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Busking Songs...
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods Apr 17. 7 Replies 2 Likes
Joseph J. Rogowski about Current Based Pickup Design
Started by Moritz Voegeli in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 14. 6 Replies 2 Likes
crossover guitar.
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies 3 Likes
Flat bucker under box top. Any Success?
Started by Tom T in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 9. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Has anyone tried this? Thoughts?
Started by Southern Ray in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 4. 7 Replies 1 Like
just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 27. 1 Reply 2 Likes
VIDEO: Building a CBG with limited resources.
Started by Taffy Evans in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 10. 1 Reply 3 Likes
Free PDF Download: Vintage Guitar Effects Plans - 1967 Fuzzbox and 1969 Treble Boost
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes
Tune up songs
Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies 1 Like
Duel output jacks
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies 0 Likes
No Harmonics
Started by Ken I in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Brian partington Mar 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Camera suggestions?
Started by Southern Ray in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 6. 5 Replies 0 Likes
CBG site issues, continued.
Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 Likes
Blog Posts
I'll be fashionable this summer =)
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Everyone can make CBG. And I did it =)
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
.✨. Cover Me ..♪♫•*¨*•. ~ the Delta Blues Outlaws
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Q&A with Arkansas-based talented blues musician Billy Jones, one of the very best authentic modern artists
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Big Power Bank for Small CBG =)
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
Latest Activity
Rainbow Stew (low budget cover on cigar box guitar) | Merle Haggard
AGP #533 - ''Beware of Wife''
Rainbow Stew (low budget cover on cigar box guitar) | Merle Haggard
On Top of Spaghetti: 3D Printed Cigar Box Guitar
CigarBoxGuitar.com Knowledgebase Articles
Events
-
Republic of Texas CBG Festival (8th Annual)
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 Likes
-
20th Annual Cigar Box Guitar Festival (Day 1)
May 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
0 Comments 0 Likes
Music
© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.
Powered by
