Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on October 14, 2020 at 7:58am

Here’s some reading on the subject, there’s a few other articles on the how & why of piezo’s there too?

https://www.cigarboxguitar.com/knowledge-base/using-piezos-in-cigar...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on October 14, 2020 at 12:06pm

Hi, there are many builders that have experimented with piezo placement and each will have a position/location that worked best for them, in their instrument. Some use a piezo to improve the volume of their acoustic instrument, and others will also add a preamp to the system to tame and control the output.
Some use the piezo just as a pickup and not worrying about acoustic properties and play it through an overdriven amp. A cheap way to get an electric guitar.
Magnetic pickups convert the plucked moving string into sound. The piezo disc pickup/transducer converts the moving/vibrating top [or whatever its attached to] into sound. As a rule, the more intense the vibration the louder the output.
So really its up to your ears, I think, put it where it works best at reproducing the acoustic tones of your instrument.
The piezo transducers I use in my full-size guitars are of a professional quality, so the manufacturer has worked out where they perform best, directly under the bridge. There are three discs in all, and a kit and 23 pages of instructions are supplied to ensure it is done correctly.
However, in a CBG the range in tone is not as full, and each box is different, so experiment.
Taff

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on October 14, 2020 at 12:14pm

Hi again Ducati, I should have also said that your assumption is correct, in that having the neck connected/touching the top will limit the output of the tops vibrations. But it depends on how well the top vibrated in the first place.

Taff

• ▶ Reply