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3 Stringer in Can, a small problem

Posted by Peter Hendley on December 12, 2024 at 1:05am in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

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.

  1. Hmmm, any constructive, (or funny comments) would be appreciated.13322481066?profile=RESIZE_710x

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Replies

  • Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear January 9, 2025 at 12:51am

    Hi Peter.

    There are a couple of really easy (and cheap) potential fixes that you could try.

    • Foam scourer (minus the scrubbing bit) between the neck and pickup.
    • Hot glue to encase the pickup (depending on the type of pickup used)
    • Foam between the pickup and "soundboard". You could also try insulation tape (electrical tape) on the underneath of your tin top.
    • Is the type of pickup used particularly known to be microphonic in nature? You could try Google-ing your pickup type/brand.

    Good luck!

    Bear.

    • Peter Hendley > Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear January 9, 2025 at 1:30am

      Hullo Bear. Your ideas are good, and thanks.   I did find a solution though.   The problem was caused by the metal of the can being too close to the pickup., just had to remove a bit more metal.

      Cheers

      • Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear > Peter Hendley January 9, 2025 at 2:03am

        Glad that you found a solution, Peter. 

        Stay awesome!  👌 

        • Peter Hendley > Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear January 9, 2025 at 2:28am

          Ta.  Always nice to solve a problem. Cheers.

  • Taffy Evans December 12, 2024 at 4:28am

    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

    • Peter Hendley > Taffy Evans December 12, 2024 at 6:38am

      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

      • BrianQ. > Peter Hendley December 12, 2024 at 1:52pm

        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?

  • BrianQ. December 12, 2024 at 2:30am

    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?

    • Peter Hendley > BrianQ. December 12, 2024 at 6:42am

      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

       

      • BrianQ. > Peter Hendley December 12, 2024 at 1:34pm

        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? 

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