Hi guys

I've ordered one of these: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/141013304676?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&am...

My question is....how (if I can) would I add a volume pot to this?

Views: 492

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Looks like a rod piezo and jack, but no preamp. Looks to me like you have to run it to a preamp or preamp/amp combo to get some gain before using a volume control. Disk piezos are really hot in that they send out a strong signal so you can have a volume pot right off the bat. My understanding is that the signal from a rod piezo is much weaker and has to be boosted.

That being said, lots of people do stuff on this list, and most of the time it works. So someone may have a better idea.

Thanks for your input David....certainly food for thought.

Thanks Wayfinder - will keep all that in mind.

I'm in the very early stages of my CBG building journey having just completed my very first. I would like to experiment with many options before settling down to a set or preferred materials as it were. I'll see how this rod piezo goes and if I'm unhappy with it just put it down to experience.

You can certainly add a passive volume control tho...

Rather than copy paste you one of Mr Ted's famous diagrams and that's it (as is the standard response here to this question) let's talk basics, how a volume control works..

There are two basic ways to use / view a potentiometer..
1 as a voltage divider
Or
2 as a variable resistor

Approach 1.. A voltage divider..
There are three lugs to solder a wire to on your potentiometer..
Imagine some current entering thru the centre lug..
If the pot is turned fully to one end, the current all leaves thru one of the side lugs. If the pot is fully turned the other way the current all leaves thru the other outside lug. If the pot is somewhere between the two extremes then the current is divided between the two outside lugs accordingly.

To make a volume control using this approach we can solder one of the outer lugs to ground, and the other to the hot output from the pickup/pickup selector... And we can connect the centre lug to the hot side of the output jack.
This is the more common approach to a passive volume control.

Approach 2, variable resistor.
Use only two of the lugs, the centre and one of the outer ones. The third lug is unused. This is like a water faucet. We use this approach when there is more than one volume control, like on a Gibson guitar type circuit because otherwise turning one pickup down can turn both of then down as signal is sent to ground.

Great explanation!...as always. Thank you so much. Really appreciate it.

My only add would be:  Since piezo's have a high impedance, you should use a high-value pot... Like 1MOhm, or 500kOhm, and "audio taper"...

There's an article here somewhere on using vol. controls with piezos, and the recommendation was to use a very small capacitor or you roll off the high frequencies with the volume control... I'll go see if I can find it...  I would assume it applies to Rod piezos, but I dunno...

Thanks John - any help is all appreciated!

That's great - thanks again John

Though all the above works, personally, I've found that adjusting my amp makes it easy...  I don't bother with vol/tone knobs unless it's on a coil pickup...  

...and, do you know John, that's crossed my mind too.....

Ok, so the rod piezo/jack assembly finally arrived.
I assumed it was as simple as locate the jack, cut the prize rod into the bridge and away you go. However.....it doesn't appear to be working...have I missed something? Does it need to be grounded perhaps. If so, how would I go about doing that?

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


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
Thumbnail

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

"i See Your ready to Blow away the GRAND STADIUM ! tree strings more of DAR DELIGHT !! Shine Girl !…"
3 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

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

"Thank you for the kind comments Doug! Glad you liked the Picture !"
4 hours ago
BrianQ. commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
8 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Dar Stellabotta's video
8 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Project Punch!

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

Punch Project!

" Thank Ya Keith!"
10 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…"
12 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!!!"
12 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...
13 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…"
14 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 !"
14 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
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 -->