DIY Piezo Pickup (Radio Shack)

[Matt Till]

The main thing that's throwing me off about this:

http://www.instructables.com/id/EJ135J8TZAEP286NK8/

and everything I've read about this process is "carefully break open the piezo buzzer"... HOW?! I can't get this thing open without destroying it! What's the MOST careful way to break open a piezo buzzer... they are built solid.

[Matt Till]

Also, where is a good place to buy multiple 1/4 hookups?

[vindy500]

small bear electronics if you want quality switchcraft.

[stephenrheard]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

The main thing that's throwing me off about this:

http://www.instructables.com/id/EJ135J8TZAEP286NK8/

and everything I've read about this process is "carefully break open the piezo buzzer"... HOW?! I can't get this thing open without destroying it! What's the MOST careful way to break open a piezo buzzer... they are built solid.

When I made a pickup like this for my guitard, I used a pin knife to pry the back off the piezo (you're right, it's really hard). Just take it easy and try to saw at it instead of cracking the case. I still bent the ends of the element a little, but it didn't seem to affect the sound.

[WalterBush]

I just crack them with my wire strippers, and peel and gnaw them away until I can pry the element off its plastic backing with my xacto. Check to be sure which side the piezo is mounted on, and start by breaking open the opposite end.

[Verne Andru]

I bought a package of 10 piezo's for $4 at my local electronics store. Exactly the same thing as you get from RS - actually they have a selection of sizes - and they are not encased in anything. Shop around and save yourself some aggravation, they're pretty common these days.

[Zodd42]

It just takes a little time. It's not like a microwave boritto, you can't sit down for two minutes and make this. It takes time and patients.
Here's the current link: http://www.instructables.com/id/Acoustic-Guitar-Pickup/

Looking for a suitable DIY preamp . . . .

Oh yeah, by the way, I'm the necromaster. Sorry.

[jpeaslee]

So has anyone installed these in their basses? If so, where'd you install it?

[Selta]

I have some Piezo's I got from mouser that I've installed on a Squire P (playing around with them as I'll be putting them in an electric, solid body guitar soon). The "best" place for the ones I have seems to be on top of the bridge saddles, in direct contact with the strings.

[Orangeclawhamme]

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