I followed several threads here recently and thought I might enjoy some of the building going on here.

I have been interested in making a solid body electric lap dulcimer and found a thread here on using piezo electric rod pickups that seem to go with what I've been learning about,

I'd like to find out if there is a preference between the Humbucker magnetic pickups and the piezo electric rod pickups. is the sound about the same? Can a piezo even be used in a solid body design?

I realize this is a forum primarily about using Cigar Boxes but I hope some here might have an idea on this idea. There is very little info on this in other forums.

I read that the piezo  embedded in different bridge woods or materials would give a different quality or type of sound but if there's a way of comparison, is it just ease of install or personal pref.or limitation I'm not aware of.

My goal is to make an instrument that allows me to learn "Tapping" as well as strum & finger picking

here is a link to tapping on a Chapman stick. I just was to learn a simpler dulcimer version of this method.

Chapman Stick

 

I'm very excited at the possibilities of the different builds but I also need to know how the Piezo rod is kept in place. If a bridge is made from a dense hardwood(I would think necessary for good sound transmission to the rod) and drilled for the rod( like the threaded eye bolt in another thread), would a spot of epoxy at the two ends be enough to keep it inplace or would a some epoxy putty all alone the  bottom of the channel be better..

I'm looking at making a floating bridge.

Now all this is just in my head right now, I haven't started getting materials yet, maybe in a few weeks

.I'm hoping to learn from others here to get a better understanding of the build.

Thanks a lot for any help Wyndham

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If you are going solid, I would go Magnetic pickup BUT that isn't a law. Piezo pickups work on vibration (not changes in magnetic flux as a mag pup would). If the body is solid, you can get vibrations (try a piezo on a neck...) but might not be what you want. I have seen many here who have done a piezo on solid guitars tho. The results will be quite different.

 

Bridge material can and will give different results as does the design, but then again, its experimentation.

 

Since you mention tapping, I would go magnetic. If I understand, what you mean, that would probably get you more results (Yep Chapman Stick).

 

Good luck

 

-WY

Thanks fellers I had started out with the idea of using the  mags but ran into the drilled eye bolt here and that got me thinking dangerous thoughts. You see I'm also a potter and working with clay gives one ideas like making a clay bridge with a hole thru it to insert the rod. That might be on build 2. I have a feeling this can turn into an obsession, quick. Wyndham

Obsession?!? Really? [big grin]

 

Welcome to Cigar Box Guitars.

 

-WY

Wes, I have a friend here in NC that builds strats from kits , plays in a metal band, has a computer repair shop, his name...Tim Yates.

"solid body electric lap dulcimer"

What an interesting concept, I am eager to see this!

As far as the pickup choice goes, I would consider the decision based on what sound you are going for. Either could be very interesting given the unusual nature of the instrument.

If you are going for an unusual maybe "Hotter" "fusion" kind of thing, then the mag pickup and steel string route would be an interesting way to go.

The piezo rod route would work fine otherwise in my opinion. In brief, it works well with the PRESSURE of the strings on it, so the most common traditional installation would be under a saddle, in a grooved bridge. Alternative installations that use the same pressure concept can work well, I have heard of other installation methods but havent had much luck with alternatives myself. I would build it with a sloted bridge and under saddle installation, and I would consider a basic pre amp installation a good option unless you use an external preamp for piezos, if you want a more natural sound and want to amplify at higher than practice amp volumes. JMO.

Some tips: It is very important to distribute the pressure load of the strings consistently across the pickup or you will get uneven output. You want a FLAT groove and if you put a saddle in the groove over the rod, you want to make sure the bottom of the saddle is very flat as well. And make sure the saddle fit is snug enough for no play or slop, but not so tight as to cause to much reduction in the transfer of pressure to the rod. Most people shoot for a fit where the saddle has no detectable play in the slot, but will easily pull out, or even just fall out with a little tap if you turn the bridge upside down.

Here is a brief video on the subject, using an acoustic guitar that is cut open to outline the basics of the installation:

No foolin? Where is he at? I'm originally from NC (winston salem. family is from Raleigh area). He might be related.

-WY



Wyndham Dennison said:
Wes, I have a friend here in NC that builds strats from kits , plays in a metal band, has a computer repair shop, his name...Tim Yates.

I prefer magnetics, however I don't care for his use of six string pickups, they look out of place. Other than that......nice.

http://www.tomyocky.com/electric_intro.html

Thanks for that Don, very interesting. Its a new one on me! Now I have to find a recording of someone playing one!

Hey Wes

Tim is in Asheboro, his shop is just south about 4 miles in Ulah on old hiway 220. His biz is "Affordable Computing". I'll be down that way sometime this coming week and I'll mention your name and family. I'll also give him this forum if he wants to post  a message or PM.


Wyndham
Wes "Moanin' Mule" Yates said:

No foolin? Where is he at? I'm originally from NC (winston salem. family is from Raleigh area). He might be related.

-WY



Wyndham Dennison said:
Wes, I have a friend here in NC that builds strats from kits , plays in a metal band, has a computer repair shop, his name...Tim Yates.

Thanks for the video and help, I may try several ways and see what works better.

 

Don, Is there such a thing as a 4 post mag pickup

Wyndham

Oh yeah, several people here offer custom wound with any number of poles and spacings. There are plenty of options. Commercially there are fours as well. Ck out the ads on the home page, and there are plenty of discussions on it here as well.

I am not going to recommend any specific ones as I dont want to forget or offend anyone. But research it a bit and you will find plenty of options. And one or two of them are likely to speak up any moment here.......

Thanks Mark, I'll be sure to check them out.

Wyndham

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