I want to put a homemeade Piezo Pickup in my strat using the piezo element from inside this:http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062402

I know how to wire it up, but I was wondering where I could put it on the guitar and pick up the necessary vibrations. I've heard that putting it on the trem block works. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Any other input is welcome.

Thats where pete townsend has his piezo. This is a truely fascinating idea. My rhythm guitarist will be most interested in this idea.
Please keep us updated.

I just found this by fishman. Looks a easy way to get the job done.
http://www.shopwiki.com/_Fishman+Powerbridge+TSV

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No no and no

I've seen those too, and I hear they work well. LR Baggs also makes one. I just want something that won't cost so much.

At the moment I'm planning on wiring it like this:

Piezo>On/Off Toggle>Volume Pot (converting neck tone to volume for Piezo)>Master Tone (Middle tone converted to master tone for Mag Pups and Piezo)>Output

This is really an experiment more than anything. I don't think I'd really use it much, but who knows.

Also, do you know any good ways for mounting the piezo? I've seen people glue it between felt and the surface, but I was wondering if any of you knew any better ways.

Is that right? That I did not know: I'd assumed he used piezo saddles.



To me that's the way to go - though of course much more expensive than the tiny jobbie mcphail is looking at.

Another version of the same thing is piezo saddles by GraphTech, for adding to most (not all) Fender type bridges:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics ... uitar.html

Whether using those GraphTech saddles or the gizmo in the top post, an onboard pre-amp is necessary. Here's one:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics ... uitar.html

Personally, I hate the idea of the Y cable stereo output:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics ... cable.html

Instead, I'd want to set the thing up so the piezo is blended to taste onboard and the resulting signal sent off down a regular cable. But a Y cable of course gives the option of sending the acoustic signal direct to the PA while the magnetic pickups feed the guitar amp as usual. So many would feel that was preferable.

Again, I don't know which option Townshend's Strat uses.

Good luck - C

I really should stop assuming. Not at all sure that townsend does use a complete bridge.

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No no and no

Would I be able to just wire the piezo element to an indepentant volume pot and then to the jack? Or would I need something more?

Hi mcphail: I'm pretty sure you'd want a pre-amp between the piezo and the output. Very tiny signal generated by that type of pickup, and you'd want to be able to tweak the gain, at the least.

You ain't going to add a piezo to your guitar for just $1.99 for that RadioShack widget, I'm afraid! We'd all be doing it if it was that easy...

However, hopefully someone such as Forum user Martian (who actually knows what he's talking about on this stuff) will be able to give more precise advice.

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Regarding Pete Townshend's Strat, I simply have no idea how it's set up, beyond what we all know which is that extra knob blends between the piezo and the magnetic pickups. Rats; now my curiosity is tickled and I have to go find more info on it...!

Cheers - C

Ok. I'll look into it more. If it looks like it will be too costly, I may just not do it. Like I said, this is mostly just an experiment.

Hi again mcphail: I have ideas along these lines myself for somewhere in the future, so I've just been looking around a little at the required hardware. The name of L R Baggs has already been mentioned. They have a nice pre-amp which is not too intrusive and would fit into the control cavity without routing - though you'd need to find somewhere for the 9v battery. Ask all those with the Clapton mid-boost circuit about that...:

http://www.lrbaggs.com/html/products/pr ... trlx.shtml

That's a neat device: have a read of what they say about it. Stew-Mac sell it for $89, which ain't bad.

I presume you could either attach the GraphTech piezo saddles I linked to above to that pre-amp, or use L R Baggs' own piezo bridge, which I must say looks very attractive. Alternative versions for two-point, six-screw or hardtail Strat bridges:

http://www.lrbaggs.com/html/products/pi ... idge.shtml

I'm finding prices around $118 for the bridge. Which I know is a whole lot more than you want to spend, but honestly pretty reasonable.

Plenty to think about - but I'm guessing the pricing will put you off.

As yet nobody's contradicted what I said about the RadioShack gizmo, so it's beginning to look like I was right on that, I'm afraid. Still, you could always use your acoustic guitar for acoustic sounds...

Good luck - C

If I ever find that I really need a piezo sound, I'll buy an X-Bridge. The radioshack idea was an experiment, so I'm definitely not too disappointed about it.

OK. Just to reiterate though, I have no experience of that little piezo thingy from RadioShack you linked to. Been waiting for someone more knowledgeable on that to contradict what I've said. That they haven't is suggestive - but not conclusive!

Only a couple of bucks, after all: don't be put of experimenting if you feel like it.

And if you manage to do something with it, which will prove me mistaken, you'll find me only too happy to congratulate you on it. Cos it'll be interesting news for lots of us here!

Cheers mcphail - C

I will definitely try it, and keep you guys posted.

have you played a deluxe power strat? it has the fishman power bridge .it may give you some ideas. it does require a preamp and Y cable and a battery. i have one ,good once its setup. also i'm installing the graph tech saddles on a strat now. does require some `mods to the bridge,guard and maybe the body .depends on the install.i modded mine . can't tell without a careful look. it also requires a preamp . I know this didn't answer your question but these are easy mods for a strat if the other doesn't work.

The idea of attaching a piezo directly to the sustain block is an interesting idea. I'd guess that it would be sonically inferior to a piezo bridge or piezo saddles, but could be worth a try.

I looked at the specs for the Shadio Rack peizo you provided the link to, and it refers to it as a "buzzer" with a frequency of 1500 to 3000 hz. Also said that it's "loud". I'm guessing it's not a pickup, but a buzzer.

Still, it might be interesting to attach a guitar piezo unit directly to the sustain block and see what happens. I'd wonder if there's enough vibration going on there for it to work. ?????

With regard to the Graph Tech saddles: BOO / imho
I tried their regular saddles on a GFS trem that sounded GREAT, but was snapping stings after only a day of playing. They kept my strings from snapping but KILLED my tone. I know some folks like 'em, but they drastically altered the tone of my Strat. Sounded like I'd radically rolled off the tone pot.