Hi all:  This was my 11th CBG and most of them have been mag p/u guitars just because I've had no luck what so ever with piezos. On this one I thought I'd give piezos another shot. I've tried all kinds of configuations...double taping them to the box...moving them all around to different places on the box lid...encasing them in wood....foam...silicone....I'm about done with ever considering them again.

As a last resort, I thought I'd check with the experts on this forum. On this build I used two Radio Shack buzzer piezos encased them in wood and added a little silicone to brass side and felt to the ceramic side. I wired them paralell and added a volume pot. The treble high end is obnoxious. Does anyone have any ideas on how I could get a little more bottom end?

I always use those standard radio shack piezos that everyone seems to use. Would it make a difference to use larger ones like the one Gitty has?   I'm about ready to rip it out if I can't make it happen.

Thanks loads for your expert advice.

Tim

 

Views: 553

Replies to This Discussion

Tim,

Size isn't generally the issue, when it comes to piezos. Are you busting the piezo disks out of the plastic casing the Radio Shack ones come in? That is critical.

We use disk piezos in the shop primarily by encasing them in a big glob of hot glue on the underside of the sound board, on the bass side of the bridge. The results are uniform and quite good. I have found hot glue to be an excellent medium for encasing and cushioning the sensitive disk, which trims off some of the obnoxious highs and seems to help with lows too. Others have various other methods, but we've found this one to work and we are sticking with it. Now I must admit, we haven't done a lot with multiple piezo circuits because frankly I haven't seen/heard any clear reason for doing so. My personal theory is that mounting location and method is the true key to making good use of piezos, and everything else (size, how many you use, how you wire them, etc) all has pretty small impact.

Good luck!

Ben/CBGItty

I've used them on over 50 builds. I mount them in a silicon bed just forward of the bridge. I'm no expert but they sound pretty good through my amps. I think as long as they have a bit of bedding they have always worked fine for me.

I use a slice of plastic waste pipe,half fill with hot glue,sit the piezo in,fill to the top with more glue.

The original piezo leads are replaced with twin core screened audio cable

Thanks you all for the info. CB....yeh I do take them out of the plastic cases. one question for all of you...what side of the piezo do you put against the wood...or does it really matter? Michael...does the sheilded cable help with the ground hum?

I put the brass side to the wood and yes I think using the shielded cable does help.I also ground the strings.

The one in the photo was filled in situ' on the box lid so I didn't have to think about glueing it on afterwards.

Where I have used struts on the top the pipe is notched first to sit over the strut then filled.

Howdy Michael,

You mentioned that you 'ground' the strings.

How exactly do you do that?

thanks,

kieta

Get them out of the box and into a wood bridge base with a suitable bridge saddle

hi michael...did the drain pipe thing and results were much better than Ive had in the past. It definitely took out much of the harshness. 

thanks to all of you for the info.

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Discussion Forum

Piezo location

Started by Jack Noller. Last reply by CJWilky Mar 29, 2016. 9 Replies

Preamp for rod piezo?

Started by Mark Reaney. Last reply by Bruce Trappes Sep 27, 2015. 2 Replies

Tuneable water bottle bongo

Started by C Cook. Last reply by C Cook Jan 18, 2015. 4 Replies

Bass Uke set up?

Started by Tom Lauten. Last reply by Tom Lauten Jan 2, 2015. 2 Replies

Cable Piezo

Started by Seasick Mick Feb 10, 2014. 0 Replies

Piezo rezo

Started by Bert the Welder. Last reply by nailtown slim Dec 16, 2013. 7 Replies

Compressor for piezo

Started by Wade Aug 2, 2013. 0 Replies

Piezo forms and size

Started by Kevin M. Kraft. Last reply by HarleyTodd Jun 27, 2013. 5 Replies

PIEZOs - To Glue, or not to Glue....

Started by Keith Stanford. Last reply by Eric Johnson Mar 18, 2013. 1 Reply

Piezo for a wash tub bass?

Started by Tony. Last reply by Tony Feb 15, 2013. 6 Replies

Multiple Piezo Installation

Started by Redbelly. Last reply by Alan Bluesboxguitars Jan 18, 2013. 9 Replies

Hoboking Standard

Started by Alan Bluesboxguitars Jan 18, 2013. 0 Replies

Rod PiezoInside the Bridge

Started by Redbelly. Last reply by Redbelly Dec 19, 2012. 24 Replies

piezo between box and neck?

Started by matthew. Last reply by Mark Dec 12, 2012. 4 Replies

Piezos...extreme frustration

Started by Tim Fleischer. Last reply by Keith Stanford Dec 5, 2012. 9 Replies

Which kind of piezo to choose?

Started by Alan Bluesboxguitars. Last reply by Alan Bluesboxguitars Nov 6, 2012. 8 Replies

Sources for PVDF sensor cable

Started by Flatfish. Last reply by Randy S. Bretz Oct 6, 2012. 3 Replies

piezo on concrete block guitar

Started by Wade. Last reply by rusty case Oct 5, 2012. 2 Replies

Latest Activity

BrianQ. commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
4 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Dar Stellabotta's video
4 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Project Punch!

" Thank ya again Keith!"
6 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Punch Project!

" Thank Ya Keith!"
6 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #527 - ''Led-Zep 2''

"This build really strung you along Alan! Reminded me of all my fishing line experiments; a lot of…"
8 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Diggin’ the slow blues. I like that last pic Andries! Look at all those cool guitars. Yeah!!!"
8 hours ago
Dar Stellabotta posted a video

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

This video is the unboxing and the demonstration of a beautiful, six stringer built by Louie Lamanna. Join Louie and I June 15 at the second annual Pittsburg...
9 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter to you too Andries! The passion is definitely in full swing. Turns out I’m…"
10 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter Doug ! the Passion is in full swing !"
10 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
10 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
10 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Doug Thorsvik's video
14 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->