#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Piezo disc installation

In most videos the piezo disc is sandwiched between the soundboard and the neck running through the box with help of hot glue. This means it is sandwiched between something stable (the neck) and something vibrating (the soundboard).

My question is, would a piezo disc work if it is just glued to the soundboard instead of being sandwiched? Would it not be the same as trying to knock on a door, but you can't because the door moves exactly like your hand? What is the real world experience of this?

1 member likes this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on April 20, 2023 at 8:59am

Piezos are all about vibration, so the more you can get the better? One of the most common placement for disc piezos is under the soundboard a little away from the bass end of the bridge, or sometimes on both sides of the bridge in either series or parallel? There is a fair amount of piezo info at cigarboxguitar.com, one would benefit from it if they were trying to learn about piezos? https://www.cigarboxguitar.com/knowledge-base/using-piezos-in-cigar...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Engblom on April 20, 2023 at 6:40pm

Thank you, I have looked at this guide.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on April 20, 2023 at 9:21am

Hi, Piezo pickups work [a simple explanation] by reacting to vibration and converting it into electrical energy. The better the vibrating source the better the response from the pickup. Dense timber vibrates less responsively than thinner timber.

So placing the pickup on a thin top is what guitar pickups are designed for, as it's the best sound producer. Also important is the quality of the piezo and its positioning.

Piezo works when experiencing pressure, this pressure is exerted by the vibrations of the source/top, or whatever.

Disc piezo picks up the sound produced by the vibrating top, whereas USP or under-saddle pickups sense the vibrations of the strings. The sounds produced are slightly different.

In my experience, a top that is dampened by anything, like a neck stick, would be less responsive.
Bit wordy hope it makes sense
Taff
use HTML for comments...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Engblom on April 20, 2023 at 6:39pm

Thank you for your response. I am considering to add a piezo disc to both my acoustic guitar and my future CBG. It is exactly because of what you wrote, that a top that is dampened by anything would be less responsive, that I am looking for another method of installing the piezo disc.

If I add a piezo disc to my current acoustic guitar, would it be OK to glue it directly under the bridge? I mean, that is the most stiff section with 3 layers of wood. Or would it be better to glue it somewhere where there is just the soundboard?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on April 20, 2023 at 7:13pm

For acoustic guitars, I think the internal microphone style is the best, they come with a built-in preamp in the end-pin jack? And they capture the acoustics of the guitar based off the sound that’s actually coming out of the whole guitar instead of the vibrations of a single contact point? Soundhole pickups are great too? A disc piezo will make your acoustic sound like it’s coming out of a tin can, especially if the quality is low & the impedance of the piezo is super high?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Engblom on April 20, 2023 at 8:45pm

This is definitely an option! Thank you!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on April 20, 2023 at 9:41pm

I would suggest you visit the K&K web sight for good info. Their instructions for fitting are a good guide.
I use these systems in the acoustic guitars I build, and I see they are the choice of many players. They do produce a better amplified acoustic sound and do not give the “quacky” sound that is associated with cheap discs.

They are a bit of an overkill for a cbg though.
Taff.

Use HTML for comments…

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Engblom on April 20, 2023 at 11:39pm

Looking at the K&K prices, they are definitely over my price range regardless if it is about a CBG or a normal acoustic guitar.

I am looking for a pickup that I could use just in case I would ever end up needing to plug in. 99.9% of cases I would never use a pickup as most of the time I am playing at home for own fun.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by t-belly johnson on April 21, 2023 at 2:53am

Even if you only play with an amplifier 00.1% of the time I`m sure you want it to sound good!
I learned years ago that no matter how you place them, disc piezos are really poor and feedback can never be rid of completely.
I do use under saddle rod piezos which tend to be far better but, to be honest, you are better using an EQ and rod piezo set up.
Yes, you have to pay more but you can find Chinese made EQ/ rod piezos that are decent for just a few pounds/dollars/euros on Ebay.
You can also find soundhole pickups if you don`t want a permanent solution but decent ones will cost more.