Piezo questions

[Peaty]

I have a few Piezo related questions. I would like to use a piezo set up in my next home build so as a way of getting some experience with things piezo I am thinking of modifying one of my previous home builds to take a piezo transduced under the bridge. This is a 5 string two part bridge/end plate set up rather like the warwick bridges and is mounted on a solid bodied bass.

So does anyone know if it possible to get a piezo system under this type of bridge? Can it be made to work or does it need to be under a more acoustic friendly design of bridge. Is the bridge the best place to put a piezo sensor. What sort of circuit is requited to convert the output to something that can go to a standard base amp. What brands/manufactures are worth looking for this sort of application.

All help appreciated.
Peter

[MarkBassChat]

[quote name='Peaty' timestamp='1319206240' post='1411320']So does anyone know if it possible to get a piezo system under this type of bridge?[/quote]Yes, you can check it here: [url="http://www.warwick.de/modules/produkte/produkt.php?submenuID=14667&katID=00000014478&cl=EN"]http://www.warwick.d...000014478&cl=EN[/url]
You may also type in google: "bass bridge piezo", or "Warwick bass bridge piezo".
[quote name='Peaty' timestamp='1319206240' post='1411320']Can it be made to work or does it need to be under a more acoustic friendly design of bridge.[/quote]It will work with any solid body bass guitar.
[quote name='Peaty' timestamp='1319206240' post='1411320']Is the bridge the best place to put a piezo sensor.[/quote]Yes, it is.
[quote name='Peaty' timestamp='1319206240' post='1411320'] What sort of circuit is requited to convert the output to something that can go to a standard base amp.[/quote]You need a piezo buffer that converts high impedance of the piezo transducer to lower input impedance of a typical bass amp. You may also look for a preamp that mixes the piezo signal with standard magnetic pickups, like this one: [url="http://www.bestbassgear.com/bartolini-preamps-piezo-buffer.htm"]http://www.bestbassg...iezo-buffer.htm[/url]
[quote name='Peaty' timestamp='1319206240' post='1411320']What brands/manufactures are worth looking for this sort of application.[/quote]See google results.

Mark

[Peaty]

Thanks Mark

[ikay]

I have undersaddle transducers in two of my basses (Rob Allen/Fishman, Rick Turner/Timberline). Both of these have acoustic style wooden bridges with a captured saddle. There are loads of variations on this theme out there but in most cases USTs are installed in an acoustic type bridge/saddle. I can't see how you'd install a UST under a regular electric bass bridge as the saddle(s) need to rest directly against the transducer to get the optimum sound transfer and dynamics.

The other option is to use individual piezo saddles such as the Ghost saddles from Graphtech. You can buy the saddles separately or already installed in a Hipshot bridge. Only in a single piece bridge though as far as I'm aware - [url="http://www.graphtech.com/products.html?SubCategoryID=78"]http://www.graphtech.com/products.html?SubCategoryID=78[/url]. I have this setup in my ACG Recurve.

Both types deliver the characteristic piezo sound - extended frequency range, more three dimensional 'acoustic' sound etc. Both are also very different in terms of installing and setting up. The Hipshot/Ghost option is a simple drop in replacement for an existing bridge with an extra channel routed under the bridge for the piezo cables. The UST option is much more technical and requires a very precisely routed bridge piece with carefully designed geometry of the string anchor to provide the optimum break angle for each string over the saddle in order to get even volume and tone.

Both types need a piezo preamp of some sort to allow the high impedance piezo output to be suitable for input to an onboard eq or bass amp input.

Getting a good piezo sound can involve a lot of fiddling around and fine tuning but the results are definitely worth it. Opens up a whole new spectrum of bass sounds and playing styles.

Go for it and good luck!

[mart]

[quote name='MarkBassChat' timestamp='1319207891' post='1411348']
Yes, you can check it here: [url="http://www.warwick.de/modules/produkte/produkt.php?submenuID=14667&katID=00000014478&cl=EN"]http://www.warwick.d...000014478&cl=EN[/url]
...[/quote]
I'm a bit puzzled by this: I believe the Warwick piezo bridges aren't undersaddle at all: the piezo element is right on top of the saddle, immediately under the string. (Certainly the top of the saddles look very different on piezo-fitted basses to regular basses). You may be able to fit a piezo thing underneath a Warwick-type bridge, but I'm pretty sure that's not what they do.

[MarkBassChat]

Mart,

Of course you are right. This was a missunderstanding from my side. I wanted to show that there are piezo bridges for Warwick basses. But, as you mentioned, the piezo element is not under the saddle, it's immediatelly under the string. It was explained very well by Ikay. You can have either piezo transducer in acoustic style wooden bridge (this is used in some fretless basses), or separate piezo transducers for each string. I think that piezo film transducer will not work under the saddle because it's to delicate.
I also want to add a piezo trancducer but I have a different bridge. I'm working on a piezo buffer for the bridge.
Here: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/abm_3710g_p_single_bass_piezo_g.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/abm_3710g_p_single_bass_piezo_g.htm[/url] is another example of a piezo transducer but again this is a different type than required.

Mark