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Attaching a piezo

Posted by Austin K on June 13, 2018 at 8:52am in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I'm currently building my first cigar box guitar, in fact it's pretty much finished . One of the last things I need to do is install the piezo. I've noticed that everyone seems to use a hot glue gun to mount it, but I don't have one. Is there any alternative? Can I use wood or super glue instead ?

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Replies

  • Taffy Evans June 16, 2018 at 5:24pm

    That bridge idea from Randys post is interesting, I'm gonna have to try that, I wonder if it gives the same/similar sound as a strip piezo as it appears to read strings vibration more than soundboard vibration, but possibly a bit of both. 

    Its a good way to mount the piezo discs outside the body (and still look good) that way possibly cutting back on the feedback from the body cavity.

    I have built a CBG just to test pickup placement, so far I have six variations/locations and now seven, damn.

    Taff

    • Austin K > Taffy Evans June 17, 2018 at 2:46pm
      Lol, as I'm starting to figure out from everyone's responses to this the possibilities seem to be nearly endless!
  • Randy S. Bretz June 16, 2018 at 6:23am

    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/the-floating-saddle-build?conte...

    • Austin K > Randy S. Bretz June 16, 2018 at 6:32am

      Wow man, I dig that idea . Thanks for showing it to me. I  like the pickguard as well .

  • Taffy Evans June 15, 2018 at 6:09pm

    Hi, I myself would be a bit suspect of ductape maintaining a good firm contact of the disc to timber, especially over a period of time, I'd hate to have to get back in the box at a later date due to the sound deteriating.

    you could use the double sided adhesive sheet used for applying pickgaurds, I do in my CBG's, you would fit dozens of discs from one sheet. 

    The manufacturer of the piezos I use recommend superglue gel to get the best response from their piezo pickups.  

    Taff

    • Austin K > Taffy Evans June 15, 2018 at 7:03pm

      Thanks. I had the same idea about the duct tape, definitely a temporary solution. I was considering using super glue in the first place so I'll probably end up going that route. The pickguard adhesive is an interesting idea though.

  • Jeff 'Bones' Reilly June 15, 2018 at 4:24pm
    For the best placement I put my bottle capped piezo unreel the through neck in bridge position I find this is the best for the sound and keeps the noise from out side sauces to a minimum I use hot glue or 5 minute Arildite incassing the piezo in a bottle cap is a great way to get the best out of the piezo some will say they don’t but I’ve been using this method for the last 25 builds never a problem with the issues raised before , hot glue guns are cheap I’d advise to buy one anyway just my 2 cents worth of info hope it helps .
    • Austin K > Jeff 'Bones' Reilly June 15, 2018 at 5:38pm

      Thank you,  I'm seeking all the advice I can get at this point. You encase the piezo in a metal bottlecap I take it? The piezo I have wouldn't fit inside a standard bottlecap.  When I built mine I followed Glenn Watt's advice and created about an 1/8 inch gap between the neck and the inside of the lid to allow the lid to vibrate. That's where I placed the piezo ,in that gap under the bridge more towards the bass side. Seems to sound pretty good but I'm no expert. I realize hot glue guns are cheap, but things are tight for me right now. I plan to pick one up asap.  If you saw the tools I used to build this one you would laugh. Luckily I'm pretty resourceful and had some stuff such as tuners already lying around. I have less than  $18 in this build and most of that was the box and poplar 1×2 for the neck.

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