Double Bass Piezo materials

[ctregan]

Does anyone know what the differences are, between piezo film, and piezo ceramic chips?

The chips are the white ceramic looking blocks, sometimes found in "under the saddle" pups for guitars.
The film type is used in the Gage Realist pick up.

Is there any difference in sound quality? Also is there any bass pups using the ceramic chips or wafers?

Thanks

 

[Ric Vice]

Does anyone know what the differences are, between piezo film, and piezo ceramic chips?

The chips are the white ceramic looking blocks, sometimes found in "under the saddle" pups for guitars.
The film type is used in the Gage Realist pick up.

Is there any difference in sound quality? Also is there any bass pups using the ceramic chips or wafers?

Thanks

C Tregan,
I think one of the primary differences is that the chips are more rigid than the film. The Realist works so well because it can "flex" so that it conforms to the curvature of the top of the instrument. By doing this, I believe it gets more vibrations because of better contact between the pickup and the instrument.

Ric

 

[drurb]

C Tregan,
I think one of the primary differences is that the chips are more rigid than the film. The Realist works so well because it can "flex" so that it conforms to the curvature of the top of the instrument. By doing this, I believe it gets more vibrations because of better contact between the pickup and the instrument.

Ric

Not sure the contact is functionally "better" than other approaches that use the disks. Well designed bridge wing pickups provide for quite secure and direct transmission of vibration.

 

[ctregan]

Does the Fishman Full Circle use the ceramic chips or does it employ the film method?

I am thinking of making a pick up for my bass and would like to try the ceramic chips instead of the film. Just wondering, if there would be any difference.