EUB - Piezo advice needed

[Jack.Straw]

Hello. I've built a full-scale upright and need advice on amplifying it. I plan to experiment with piezo placement in the body, but need to figure out my parts list and wiring plan first. Here is what i'm looking at so far:

Pickup: 15mm Piezo Element (http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/PE-53/15MM-PIEZO-DISC/-/1.html)
Tone: 2meg Audio Taper Pot (http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/ATP-2MS/2-MEG-AUDIO-TAPER-POT/-/1.html)
Volume: 2meg Audio Taper Pot (http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/ATP-2MS/2-MEG-AUDIO-TAPER-POT/-/1.html)

Do i need any additional transistors? Can anyone link me to a good wiring diagram for a single piezo with 1 volume and 1 tone? Finally, do you think i'll need a pre-amp? If so, any links to a DYI pre-amp would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!
-Jack

[MarkusBass]

Wow, it seems that you know a lot of about building upright basses but almost nothing about piezo :confused:. Just do a quick search for "FET piezo buffer" on Google and you will find a lot of references. For example:
http://www.scotthelmke.com/Mint-box-buffer.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=83127
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131882&highlight=Piezo
http://www.diyguitarist.com/Guitars/PiezoBuffer.htm
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422646

Mark

[Enzo]

That disc piezo might not be optimal for placement in an acoustic instrument.

Have you considered a commercial piezo - or other type - pickup? They are made specifically for this sort of application, and would be ready to install, and would have instruction as to the best point. For example some mount to the bridge, and some mount to the body. Fishman is a well known name in these. My friends at Elderly Instruments sell a variety, as do others. www.elderly.com - searching "acoustic bass pickup" Check some of these out. They also make matching preamps in a variety of styles - belt clip, in-instrument, floor style.

http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/BP100.htm
http://elderly.com/images/new_instruments/PUA/BP100_sm_.jpg

http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/TRBP.htm
http://elderly.com/images/new_instruments/PUA/TRBP_installed_sm_.jpg

Other products are under Pickups for acoustic instruments.

SOme are piezo, some use small microphones, some use both.