Un even volumes with piezo under saddle?

[eli]

I like to take some self hardening clay (Walmart or craft store) form a thin rolled length and sandwich it between the saddle and pickup. Press the saddle in and restring. Let set overnight. This was a trick written about concerning B band pickup problems, called "Is clay the answer." It has worked for me well for tough string balance problems. If needed, the clay comes out with a toothpick. It has worked well for me with both B band and piezo rope pickups.

Mu piezo is a braided-looking affair. How would I get the clay out of it if it turns out not to work?

 

[Steve Dallman]

The clay comes off easily. The braided covered flexible pickups are "piezo rope" and I've used them a lot. They are my favorite piezo pickups. The clay doesn't really "stick" but rather just fills voids. It's not a adhesive. I get a fuller, more even response when using the clay. I've removed the clay if not successful, or if I change pickups later.

If you buy a package of self hardening modeling clay, you will use very little, and no matter how well you seal up what you have left over, it will likely be hard the next time you need it. I've taken an old, hard package, and cut some clay off, wetted it, and reconstituted it. I had a three year old previously opened package that I was able to still use.

 

[Steve Dallman]

I've used a variety of utencils to remove the clay, from round toothpicks to tips of Xacto knife blades and even large sewing needles. Once enough is out (and it comes out easily...some may even stick to the saddle) the pickup can be lifted out and wiped off, and the rest cleaned from the bridge slot. It comes out easily and a slightly damp cloth wil take off whatever might be left on the pickup.

Here's a google search with some relevant articles.

is clay the way - Google Search

 

[Steve Dallman]

Basic piezo installation info. With a piezo pickup (undersaddle) the bottom of the slot has to be absolutely flat, the bottom of the saddle has to be absolutely flat, AND the saddle cannot bind at all and has to be able to slip into the slot easily. (That is easily, not sloppily.) The saddle should not tilt in the saddle slot.

Tighten strings sort of gradually, and it often helps to tighten the two E strings first.

Even with flat, properly fitting saddle and flat bottom, unevenness can occur. Sometimes loosening the strings and tightening again can help. Different gauges of strings and different tensions can cause unevenness. I have a 32" scale ABG and the low B is weak, not because of problems with the pickup, saddle or slot, but because the B string tension is just much lower than the other strings.

I've not. had luck with shimming. I'll shim a string or couple strings, and others will go weak. I've had better luck with clay evening out response.

It's easy to spend a lot of time working on piezo undersaddle pickup balance. And it's frustrating.

 

[eli]

I've not. had luck with shimming. I'll shim a string or couple strings, and others will go weak. I've had better luck with clay evening out response.

It's easy to spend a lot of time working on piezo undersaddle pickup balance. And it's frustrating.

You got THAT right. Thanks, I'll try the clay.

 

[fretlessman71]

I decided that the piezo ultimately wasn't worth futzing with once I got a better look. It was a little on the fried side (damage was apparent). I went ahead and had a K&K Transducer installed instead... WOW.... and they managed to do it on a Tacoma with the soundhole by the shoulder! Impressed on many levels.