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Piezo Rod pickup used other than under bridge??

Posted by ron carlson on May 10, 2012 at 11:35am in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I'm in the planning stages of my next build and was thinking about trying a Piezo Rod for a pickup.

After reading here and else where, it seems like most people using them are locating them under the bridge itself. I was wondering if anyone has had any luck sealing them (encapsulating in silicone or hot glue)  in a metal enclosure and locating it in the box ahead of the bridge? 

The enclosure would sit down into a hole cut into the box and make solid contact with the thru neck below. I have a small tin metal enclosure that I think would work well for this but not sure if it would be an exercise in futility or not.  

Anyone with past experience trying something like this or even opinions on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Ron

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Replies

  • Ron Page March 4, 2013 at 12:39am

    I just ordered a couple of rod piezos to use with my 6-string build.  I notice there is a white dot on the end away from the wire lead.  This makes me wonder if there is a proper direction to place the piezo - does it matter if the end with the electrical lead is under the low E string or the high E?

    thanks, 

    ron

    • Ron Page > Ron Page March 6, 2013 at 9:45pm

      I inquired of C.B. Gitty and was told that the end of the piezo rod with the electrical lead goes under the low-E string, regardless of where the white dot is.

    • Ron "Oily" Sprague > Ron Page March 4, 2013 at 1:48pm
      If memory serves from the last time I installed one of these in my classical git ( a good 20 years ago!), it shouldn't matter. However, the printed material that came with the rod may say different, maybe having to do with the spacing of the piezo bumps from the lead end.
  • Randy S. Bretz October 4, 2012 at 3:55am

    305905656?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024They only work from down pressure from the strings, thats why their used in a slot under the saddle in a bridge.

  • Bluesheart May 29, 2012 at 3:22pm

    Don't use gorilla glue Adam!

    • Adam McClendon > Bluesheart October 3, 2012 at 7:31pm

      Thanks, I didn't use gorilla glue.  I ended up making a custom bridge with a brass tube that I slid the rod into then made a wooden mount and screwed it into the box.  My brother and a friend of his took it to a guitar store in Eugene OR and when they tuned it and plugged it in started to jam.

  • Adam McClendon May 29, 2012 at 3:09pm

    I too will be mounting a rod piezo for my brothers Bday gift.  It has 6 of those square things on it, but am I supposed to cut off three of them for the CBG?  I plan on sandwiching it between the box and the neck board on the inside of the CB with gorilla glue.  Suggestions?  kind of confused about the 6 versus 3 thing.

    • ron carlson > Adam McClendon May 29, 2012 at 4:28pm

      The three raised flats on the rod correspond with the three strings on the guitar. If you were to build a 4 string, I assume that you would cut accordingly just beyond the 4th at the dip.

  • ron carlson May 10, 2012 at 12:59pm

    Hey, thanks for that info. It makes sense to me and I'm tracking now on how this pickup works or how it best wants to work.

    I'm trying to make this function like a magnetic pickup and it sounds like that's not going to happen. Very well anyway ;)

  • Suspect Device May 10, 2012 at 12:26pm

    As far as mounting inside the box.. those piezo rods need to be pressed pretty tightly against something in order to pick up the vibration, so I wouldn't recommend encapsulating it in silicone or glue. You might try attaching it (clamping, really) between the box top and a strip of wood from the underside, you'll want a tight fit, with the elements pressed evenly against the underside of the box top.

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