How long do piezo's live?

Julian Perry September 30, 2009 at 3:36am

No worries David, it's all very interesting to me, if a little advanced for the stage I'm at! I'm stock-piling all the info for future builds! There will be more....oh yes!
Cheers

David Lloyd said:

Hi,
Please call me David - firstly I would like to apologise to Mr Perry for changing the direction of the topic - not intentional but due to over enthusiasm on my part.
In answer to your question the cone is a 7inch resonator cone I obtained from an ebay seller he has one listed at the moment
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2303821044...
the seller is full of excellent information and a pleasure to deal with.
Regards,
David

Weizel said:
Mr. Lloyd,
I know this is quite off topic, but what are you using for the cone?

Weizel September 29, 2009 at 4:46pm

Thanks, I'm trying to plan out a resonator for a future build.

David L. September 29, 2009 at 4:37pm

Hi,
Please call me David - firstly I would like to apologise to Mr Perry for changing the direction of the topic - not intentional but due to over enthusiasm on my part.
In answer to your question the cone is a 7inch resonator cone I obtained from an ebay seller he has one listed at the moment
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2303821044...
the seller is full of excellent information and a pleasure to deal with.
Regards,
David

Weizel said:

Mr. Lloyd,
I know this is quite off topic, but what are you using for the cone?

Erik Ryman September 29, 2009 at 10:56am

Yeah, sorry Julian - I got it all a bit sidetracked..

Nice to meet you and all that ;)

Julian Perry said:

Cheers mate, and thanks to all the advice from everyone. I got so caught up in the notion that I had to seal the lid, that I missed the obvious! I think I will simply screw it shut for now and see how it goes. Besides everyone I show it to, wants a peek inside anyway!
Must be the most resourceful and recyclingest bunch on the web! Thanks guys!!

Paul Doug said:
Welcome to the forum, Julian. Back to you original question, I think piezos last a long time, but there is no reason to seal you box. Screws or a latch works well.

Julian Perry September 29, 2009 at 10:11am

Cheers mate, and thanks to all the advice from everyone. I got so caught up in the notion that I had to seal the lid, that I missed the obvious! I think I will simply screw it shut for now and see how it goes. Besides everyone I show it to, wants a peek inside anyway!
Must be the most resourceful and recyclingest bunch on the web! Thanks guys!!

Paul Doug said:

Welcome to the forum, Julian. Back to you original question, I think piezos last a long time, but there is no reason to seal you box. Screws or a latch works well.

Weizel September 29, 2009 at 9:58am

Mr. Lloyd,
I know this is quite off topic, but what are you using for the cone?

Paul Doug September 29, 2009 at 9:33am

Welcome to the forum, Julian. Back to you original question, I think piezos last a long time, but there is no reason to seal you box. Screws or a latch works well.

Erik Ryman September 29, 2009 at 9:21am

Yes David (sorry missed your post) I've been putting them in series with a small tone pot (10K), which oddly seems to clear things quite a bit. I'll have a try with them in parallel then, thanks for that..

cheers
Erik

David Lloyd said:

I would be gratful if you could let me know if this is the case - it means I could play around with the wiring on my next build so I can alter the piezo disc tone by changing the circuit between series and parallel.
Regards,

HENRY LOWMAN September 29, 2009 at 8:29am

Like Ben just said, and to put a Janice Joplin spin on it, "Freedom is just another word for nothin' left to lose...!" Leave the top free, or use small screws, as mentioned before. I build my own boxes, and it DOES make it easier to get back in and rework things, if one feels the need. CHEERS!

Erik Ryman September 29, 2009 at 6:15am

Hi David

Thanks for that...and I'm the same, I'm afraid - try it and see - seems to be my main approach.

I've been playing with 10K & 25K pot as tone knobs, which is more a little amp thing really, but seems to work OK on a piezo guitar. I must admit I'm thinking more of using the amps controls too as it is easier that way.

Its good to know that the piezos in series work well though, I guess its down to something I'm doing then..

cheers
Erik

David Lloyd said:

Hi Erik,

Yes in this case I used a standard telecaster wiring diagram wiring the 3 way switch to the magnetic pickup in the neck position and all 4 piezos (35mm discs) as one in the bridge position. Output then goes to a 500k pot for volume with another 500k pot with a 0.047mF cap as a tone control. Output then to the jack socket. The sound is quite bright but after reading your posting I had a play with this and the other CBGs I have made with 3 piezos and all sound fine but although the tone pot on each works with the magnetic pickups the tone pot has little effect on the piezo sound. I hadn't noticed before as I have found the sound to be what I wanted - also I tend to use the amp settings to alter tone rather than the guitar. Having had a quick play I have noticed even the amp controls have less effect on the tone of the piezos compared to the magnetic pickups. Not sure why - I guess it is linked to the impedance difference, but all the electrical theory goes over my head.
Regards,
David

Erik Ryman said:
David - do you use a tone control with that many piezos in series? I've been playing around with the same, but more than a couple starts to get muddy unless I add something to vary the tone..

That's going to be a beautiful guitar - love the look of the neck

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How long do piezo's live?

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