Owen Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 I have a very long running project on. The build thread is here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/104007-5-string-bass-ukulele/page__st__30__p__2190563__hl__ukulele__fromsearch__1#entry2190563"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry2190563[/url] . I think that we have managed to break 2 undersaddle piezo pickups. The hole to put the pickup through the body into the bridge slot is at an angle of approx 75 degrees to the actual laying flat of the element under the saddle and this seems to snap the actual pickup giving me bucketloads of hum and a rubbish weedy output. The second pickup worked fine and dandy before installation but once the saddle was on and the angle created it all went pear shaped. Can anyone suggest a piezo element which would be super flexible? It is either that or I will have to get the angle changed on the mounting hole which is I guess do-able but will be royal pain to get done. I could take it back to the luthier to get done and it might come to that, but given the 3 year build time, I would like to keep it in my hands if at all possible. I don't want to get into the whole "it should be right before I get it" argument. I am aware of that but by now I just want to be able to use it and the luthier's time scale does not match mine. TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Looks like you're already using a Headway cable piezo (Snake?) which should be pretty flexible. Is it similar to this one from Artec (see PC85 at bottom of page) [url="http://artecsound.com/acou/piezo.htm"]http://artecsound.com/acou/piezo.htm[/url]. The installation diagram at the very bottom shows the cable entering via a 90 degree hole which I assume is at 75 degrees on yours. It's important that the entry hole allows for a smooth bend in the piezo cable where it bends to lay flat in the saddle. This 'corner' needs to be chamfered or rounded off (see middle diagram) or the hole needs to be slightly oversized to give the cable more room to flex where it bends. Sounds like the entry hole on yours may be a little too snug and/or the corner needs to be rounded off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 Thanks ikay. Chamfering the entry hole makes a lot of sense. There is a nasty edge on it at the moment. I have used a headway and another similar (which I cannot remember at the moment). which are both flexible but obviously not made for sharp edges. I shall get the corner rounded and take it from there. Are all flexible piezo strips much of a muchness or is Piezo XYZ significantly better than Piezo ABC? I understand about buffering them and it is going into an Fdeck preamp which is lovely, but is there a difference between the actual strip from different manufacturers? I love this place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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