Well. It has been a while since I built a CBG But on request I have almost finished the recent project.
I built a timber skeleton basically and fitted the fret board and magnetic pick up, and slit it into the can. The output jack is earthed (grounded) to bottom of the can.
My problem is that the instrument sounds lile it has a piezo pickip. In that bumps and scrapes on any part of the CBG are amplified.
- Hmmm, any constructive, (or funny comments) would be appreciated.
Replies
Hi Peter, I would, and have done it in the past, mounted pickups free of the soundboard/top. Attach a wooden fixture to the wooden end or the neck, and mount the pickup to that.
Cheers Taff
Thanks Taff. Actually, it is hard to see. but I have almost done that. They pickup is mounted on the continuation of the fretboard that runs through the body. I did drill holes to expose the 3 poles of the magnetic pickup, hard to see in the pic but it is just below EXTRA VIRGIN. However I think it is too close to the poles, and I reckon I will remove some of the metal of the soundboard, so that it is further away from the pickup.
Cheers back mate, Peter
I thought the can was your problem at first too, but then I saw that the magnets weren't covered by the can. As long as the magnets aren't covered or touching the can it won't affect the sound nor output?
Are those electric or acoustic strings, hard to tell in the pic? If they're acoustic phosphor/bronze, then they will sound thin because of the lack of steel in the string?
Thanks for your advice. The strings are phosphor/bronze but they do sound ok to me as they are. However, I do appreciate that if they were electric guitar strings they would be much better. I think your point is not well known.
regards
Peter
Nickel/steel wound electric strings are optimal for magnetic pickups, what you are hearing through the pickup is the steel core, but not the windings since the are not magnetic?
It seems like there might be some contact between the metal soundboard and the pickup (or just too close)
I think that I will clear the metal from the soundboard away from the poles of the pickup, in small increments, and see what effect that has. I sat a small carbon steel blade over the pole of the pickup when it was plugged inro an amp. It is definately magnetic.
Cheers
What I'm saying is, only the steel core of the strings are magnetic and are being amplified, the phosphor/bronze windings of the string, however are not being amplified since bronze is not magnetic? With that said, acoustic strings and magnetic pickups aren't the best match? I know that it's our best interest to preserve the artwork on the vessels that we use for the bodies of instruments, but sometimes we have to cut our losses and cut into or cover parts when it's not possible to get the best sound. This is one of those times where you'll have to cut into the tin, magnetic pickups don't do well under metal tins most of the time because they hinder the magnetic flow between the pickup and the vibrating strings? Are the pole pieces magnets or is the magnet glued to the bottom of the pickup? If the magnet is glued to the bottom of the pickup, then you'll have to cut around the entire pickup for sure to get the best sound. 🍻
I do like all this information. I have just removed in one piece the contents of the tin. That allowed me to cut around where the pick up would otherwise have been. Luckiky I able to keep the appearance pretty intact..
Regsrds
Peter
It now work just fine. One 9f those learning experiences.