This is my first post on this site. Please excuse me for beating a dead horse, I know my question has been asked multiple times and I've searched and read multiple threads on this topic. This is my second build, this time I have included a volume pot (I know some say it's better without one) and a piezo encased in a wood block. Pretty standard stuff, I flip the amp on and it hums like a beast untill I touch the cable. From researching here I understand that I need to ground something. I am embarassed to admit how little I know about electric current and wiring but it's pretty minimal. I have attached a pic of the setup and a pic of my planned ground runs. I plan on running a wire from the housing of the volume pot to the big hook thingy (pretty sure that's the technical term) on the input jack and then another wire from that same hook to the underside of one of my metal soundhole screen. I see a lot of people run it to the bridge and I assume most use some sort of metal bridge, my bridge is bone inlayed in a chunk of cedar thats why I chose the metal screen. Does this sound/look right? Any other suggestions reccomendations? Thanks,
Windy City Blues Boxes and Klangbox pickups are all I use now.
You don't need to ground anything. I just glue my WCB pickup in place with a little epoxy and away I go. They come pre assembled and, they work out cheaper to buy than to buy and spend the time soldering (for me anyway). You need nothing directly to the hook thingy, That is picked up from one of the tabs. Looking at the bottom of the pot from left to right is red, red, black just like Dan's image, as long as the centre tab from the pot goes to the tab on the thingy with a hole on the plug, all should be OK.
Start at the piezo end, with the wires connected to it. Check all your connections / solder joints, with a multimeter if you have one, starting from there and working forward to the pot, then the jack, then the guitar cable (maybe this is bad? Mine frequently go wonky just after they've been working perfectly), and then the amp (it is plugged in, ain't it? Don't laugh, I do this on a routine basis, leaving the amp unplugged and then wondering why no sound comes out). Looks like you're about to enter the fun-but-frustrating world of DIY electronics. I understand your frustration Make yourself a checklist. Check everything at least twice.
If nothing works, then start over with a new piezo. They can be temperamental beasties.
ARGH...I really screwed the pooch somewhere, I got everything in place, put a string on it, plugged it in, now nothing from the amp..grrrrrr. I took the string off, opened it up, now the piezo isn't transmitting at all. Damn guess I have to troubleshoot and I have no idea where to start. BTW...thanks for all the help guys!!
Tape the piezo to the lid, string 'er up, plug it in, and see if it works. If it does, then you've solved yer problem. Apparently, your piezo will transmit vibration. If the hum has gone, but you can't transmit any sound from the strings, then try mounting the piezo directly beneath your bone string saddle (assuming it's removable from your cedar bridge).
Ok, so I rewired today same as the diagram above and no hum. I'm worried though because when I tap the piezo I hear it through the amp but when its attached to the inside of the lid (right now it's just taped in place) i cant hear any tapping I do on the outside of the box. I'm afraid I'll get the strings on and not hear anything
I hear ya but I really want to play this out, on the fly amp adjustments wouldn't be practical for me and I don't currently run a volume pedal on my board. This is my second build and other than the electronics I am very pleased though I think I'm ready on the next to graduate to pups.
I skip the volume with my piezo's. The amp has one and I bet you use full volume on the box most of the time and tone and volume on the amp. Simplify for less chance of troubles.
ha no, I had about 8" from the jack to the pot which was about an inch short from where I wanted to place the pot, so I spliced it. I looked at the diagram again after reading your second question, there is no wire going from the tab of the pot to the case, I was a little confused by that part of the diagram. Ok, I am going to try and fix this.
Artist Formerly Known as Matt said:
You bought with all those taped splices?
1- You know why regular electric gits have all the knobs in one place? Less wire = less trouble
2-make sure the pot itself has a ground wire going from the ground tab to the case
If you can get a piece of wire with an alligator clip on both ends, you can try clipping it in place of one of the ground wires just to see if the solder connection is bad or not.
Replies
Hi
Windy City Blues Boxes and Klangbox pickups are all I use now.
You don't need to ground anything. I just glue my WCB pickup in place with a little epoxy and away I go. They come pre assembled and, they work out cheaper to buy than to buy and spend the time soldering (for me anyway). You need nothing directly to the hook thingy, That is picked up from one of the tabs. Looking at the bottom of the pot from left to right is red, red, black just like Dan's image, as long as the centre tab from the pot goes to the tab on the thingy with a hole on the plug, all should be OK.
Jason,
Start at the piezo end, with the wires connected to it. Check all your connections / solder joints, with a multimeter if you have one, starting from there and working forward to the pot, then the jack, then the guitar cable (maybe this is bad? Mine frequently go wonky just after they've been working perfectly), and then the amp (it is plugged in, ain't it? Don't laugh, I do this on a routine basis, leaving the amp unplugged and then wondering why no sound comes out). Looks like you're about to enter the fun-but-frustrating world of DIY electronics. I understand your frustration Make yourself a checklist. Check everything at least twice.
If nothing works, then start over with a new piezo. They can be temperamental beasties.
Tape the piezo to the lid, string 'er up, plug it in, and see if it works. If it does, then you've solved yer problem. Apparently, your piezo will transmit vibration. If the hum has gone, but you can't transmit any sound from the strings, then try mounting the piezo directly beneath your bone string saddle (assuming it's removable from your cedar bridge).
Ok, so I rewired today same as the diagram above and no hum. I'm worried though because when I tap the piezo I hear it through the amp but when its attached to the inside of the lid (right now it's just taped in place) i cant hear any tapping I do on the outside of the box. I'm afraid I'll get the strings on and not hear anything
Artist Formerly Known as Matt said:
You bought with all those taped splices?
1- You know why regular electric gits have all the knobs in one place? Less wire = less trouble
2-make sure the pot itself has a ground wire going from the ground tab to the case
3- ground the jack here also
AFKAM
If you can get a piece of wire with an alligator clip on both ends, you can try clipping it in place of one of the ground wires just to see if the solder connection is bad or not.
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