Hi,
Sorry of this has been covered before but I have looked and can't find it.
I am looking to make two Diddley Bpws - one 2 string and the other 4 string and want to make it electric - can anyone tell me what I need in order to make it electric - do I need switches, wire, pots etc etc.
Thanks in advance
Alan
Replies
Diddley bows only have one string. Multiple strings on the same type of "slide only" instruments are really more like a Lap Steel guitar. And yep a piezo disc and a jack will make it wail like crazy!
Second that...I've experimented with volume and tone pots, but my favorite sounding gits are just a piezo and a jack. Need some kind of adhesive to attach the piezo and encase it to prevent feedback and to mellow the tone a little (icepick tones are cool, but thermonuclear-mega-icepick tones not so much). Simpler is better, especially starting out. Then you can gradually go insane in several directions...extremes of woodworking, super-fancy wiring, various styles of playing, etc.
Thank you for the reply - that helps a lot. I feel very excited about getting into this. Thanks to the other two replies too. I shall look at the plans on the website
all you really need , to make it electric is a piezo and a jack .
or a pickup and a jack .
you should be able to find a piezo in any musical xmas card ,, or almost any think that beeps .. and old head phone jack may work to plug into .
or you can buy pre-wired units , piezo and/or pickup from gitty here , he even has some with volume and tone controls. (if in stock)
This would be the first place i would suggest visiting is here.. http://www.cigarboxnation.com/page/free-plans also I would do searches on the instrument your thinking on building...you can find the search engine on the main page top right corner.
Welcome, and happy building.