I am adding a piezo pickup from CB Gitty to a new build. I understand they can be hot sounding when not shielded, which brings me to my question. If I were to make my own disc-o-tone, are both sides of the piezo covered in wood? If not, should the brass disc or the ceramic disc face the soundboard?

Many thanks!

Views: 666

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Oh, I should have included a link to what I am thinking about making:
https://www.cbgitty.com/cubecart/c-b-gitty-disc-o-tone-piezo-pickup...

Both sides are embeeded in wood, although the wire side appears to be cork on the Amazon.com pictures.  I don't think it will matter much which faces the soundboard, but you might experiment both ways.  It will be more important that you have the disc tightly and evenly laminated within the wood case, which I suppose is one of the reasons why there's cork on the back side.

Of course, CB Gitty has done a bunch of the trial and error for you already. Might be worth just paying the few extra bucks for the prewired set up with volume control.

I probably would have just picked one up from CBGitty had I realized, but I am new to CBGs and new to pickups. Cork and craft foam happen to be both on hand, so I will do a little fiddling around. Thanks for the help!

There are a bunch of ways that piezos are used.  Some just embed them in a gob of hot glue, some potted in bottle caps with silicone, some just foam double side tape to the soundboard (I've done this one).  I remember someone just wrapping the disc in tissue or cotton rag and leaving it loose in the box.

if the piezo is sandwiched in wood, it probably doesn't make any difference it's orientation vis-a-vis the soundboard.  If it is embedded in wood with only one side exposed, I would definitely orient the the brass toward the wood (away from the soundboard).  I've build plenty of "martin style" bridges, with piezo embedded brass side toward the void on the underside of the bridge.  before gluing the bridge in place, I cover the ceramic side with silicone caulk.  the arrangement cuts out feedback and lessen top noise.

The disco-tone from CB gitty is embedded in a hardwood that looks like oak, but Bad Finger is right that the wire side is cork.  From what I can see on the one that I have, there is some sort of silicone or hot glue buffer between the actual piezo and the cork and I would imagine it's is covering the entire piezo.  The instructions tell you to put the hardwood surface on the underside of the sound board near the bass side of the bridge (so corkside down).  The hardwood has double sided tape already attatched to it to affix to the sound board. 

 

As mentioned below, CB Gitty has probably done a lot of experimenting and the time attempting to replicate this will likely not be worth the extra few dollars.  

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I agree about CBGitty having done trouble-shooting. However, I had already purchased from them a piezo pickup kit, then discovered they should be shielded to dampen the treble tones.

I will post the results later. Thanks again!
The piezo is shielded with hardwood, foam, and foam mounting tape. It sounds great, except I am having a bit of a problem with a volume control. I am happy with the pickup arrangement, though.
Attachments:

Piezo elements have a really high impedance, like near 1M ohm.  Using a small pot won't work, you need to use one that is at least 250k, if I recall... it's around here somewhere.  

Your best bet is to use a buffer/booster and set the volume there.  You could install a 9V buffer IN your CBG, if you know a little electronics.  Google Jfet preamp.

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
Thumbnail

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

"i See Your ready to Blow away the GRAND STADIUM ! tree strings more of DAR DELIGHT !! Shine Girl !…"
4 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you for the kind comments Doug! Glad you liked the Picture !"
5 hours ago
BrianQ. commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
9 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Dar Stellabotta's video
9 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Project Punch!

" Thank ya again Keith!"
11 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Punch Project!

" Thank Ya Keith!"
11 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #527 - ''Led-Zep 2''

"This build really strung you along Alan! Reminded me of all my fishing line experiments; a lot of…"
13 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Diggin’ the slow blues. I like that last pic Andries! Look at all those cool guitars. Yeah!!!"
13 hours ago
Dar Stellabotta posted a video

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

This video is the unboxing and the demonstration of a beautiful, six stringer built by Louie Lamanna. Join Louie and I June 15 at the second annual Pittsburg...
14 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter to you too Andries! The passion is definitely in full swing. Turns out I’m…"
15 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter Doug ! the Passion is in full swing !"
15 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
15 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->