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

Piezo Strip Mounting For Dummies...

Hey folks!

I'm about to embark on my first 1 gallon metal can guitar build. I'm also a bit stumped as to how I should mount my piezo strip with such a can build. I've never used piezo's before. I can put the strip on top of the bridge, sandwiched between the metal bridge saddles and the wooden bridge... below the bridge between the wooden bridge and the outside of the metal can... inside the can between the neck wood and the can...

What would be you folks best advice as to where I should locate my piezo, and why?

This is my can. It's 98 years old, soldered together and only 3" thick... if any of 'that' matters.

1 member likes this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jeff 'Bones' Reilly on November 20, 2017 at 1:22pm

Inside can option 3 is my 2 bits .

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Thomas Judd on November 20, 2017 at 1:42pm

Thanks Jeff.

If I go 'inside' the can, can I 'effectively' vary my desired tone by locating the piezo strip in places other than directly under the bridge, or do i need to keep it under the bridge location?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jeff 'Bones' Reilly on November 20, 2017 at 1:49pm

Keep it under the bridge area Tj Shane did a video on his he sets up the rod type I just the 30 mm disc and set it in the neck under the bridge works well but its all in what you like .keep us posted Cobba.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on November 20, 2017 at 3:12pm

Hi Thomas

In my experience piezo pickups fitted to a tin soundboard tend to sound too bright and " clunky" for my taste. Great for the banjo I built, but I like my guitars to sound more like guitars. So I would mount the pickup in a wooden bridge to try to soften the sound, a pre-amp/EQ would help this also, if using disc piezo's I mount them on timber first, then to the tin top.

Later today I will post my idea for better sound using a biscuit tin, keep an eye out for it.

Cheers Taff

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jeff 'Bones' Reilly on November 20, 2017 at 3:36pm

This is where I mount my piezo hot glue into wine bottle cap then hot glue under my through neck arpund the bridge area ,I agree with you I tried it in 4 spots till I found this was the best for my situation ,not to say its for everyone ,hope this helps .the use of some box off cut wedged under the piezo has given it a nice warm sound .

Attachments:

IMG_20171119_110955.jpg, 1.2 MB

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Richard Dean on November 20, 2017 at 4:15pm

Nice can, I just saw one of those exact cans for sale recently, I think on eBay, still had the original fluid in it.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Thomas Judd on November 21, 2017 at 11:40am

It's the same can that you saw on ebay. "I bought it!" I was looking for something old, with lots of character and good aging. This can fit the bill. I saw lots of other cans that also looked 'great', but didn't want to pay the high price for something that I was going to have to cut holes in.