I have an old tambourine I'm using to build a 3 or 4 stringer out of. I would like to install a pickup on it but am afraid to cut a hole in the top. Is this possible? Any
suggestions? I don't want to use a piezo but may have to.
Oops. I remember a similar, open discussion in the FB Group where I suggested a small light piece of steel or iron wire on the underside of a wood box or skin when someone didn't want to cut the surface. Pretty sure it was a box. And an Aussie named Jef mentioned a guitar string as fitting the trick.
I have used the iron wire since I got a spool of it around and I like the way it works. It also surprises me how very little movement is needed to produce a clean tone from a mag pup. We see the huge vibration from the strings on a typical electric guitar and think it must be necessary in order to get any sound. But I built a tin banjo with the bridge sandwiching the lid and the pup together firmly. Still get good volume and almost no feedback unless the gain is way too high. Point is that it doesn't take a lot to distort the magnetic field enough for the pup to work well.
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http://nechville.com/acousticharness.php
I`d go with a rod piezo bridge like this one..just notch out the one bottom feet and run the rod wire along one of the outer strings to strap jack.
Stick an electric guitar string on the underside of the skin then a magnetic pickup under that. Don't cut the skin. It'll work.
Nice tip!
As a side note, I have also seen a banjo with a single coil from a strat under the head.
It can be seen in this video (she is also a very interesting performer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NhsVwWQp2M
Where'd you pick up that little gem??
As far as I knew only old Lowe, Jim & I shared that little 'state secret'
Great stuff, yep do that
Ps only needs to be a tiny clipping off a string ;)
Oops. I remember a similar, open discussion in the FB Group where I suggested a small light piece of steel or iron wire on the underside of a wood box or skin when someone didn't want to cut the surface. Pretty sure it was a box. And an Aussie named Jef mentioned a guitar string as fitting the trick.
I have used the iron wire since I got a spool of it around and I like the way it works. It also surprises me how very little movement is needed to produce a clean tone from a mag pup. We see the huge vibration from the strings on a typical electric guitar and think it must be necessary in order to get any sound. But I built a tin banjo with the bridge sandwiching the lid and the pup together firmly. Still get good volume and almost no feedback unless the gain is way too high. Point is that it doesn't take a lot to distort the magnetic field enough for the pup to work well.