taming a Rod Piezo

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Does anyone have any suggestions of ways to tame the harsh tin tone from an under the bridge rod piezo ??

[Leo_Gnardo]

Does anyone have any suggestions of ways to tame the harsh tin tone from an under the bridge rod piezo ??

Nothing cheap & easy that I know of. Passing the signal through a filter that puts a deep cut on 5 KHz works. A parametric EQ would be one solution. Another, some years ago I was working with an artist who had such a problem. I found a Tech21 "Acoustic Guitar preamp/DI" with dual preamps that were combined with a mix control. When the balance was set with the knob at about 1 o'clock, the combination resulted in a 5 KHz cut that was very narrow and very deep, about 25 dB. Turned those guitars from scratchy-klacky into clear rich & robust, very hi-fi, what a major difference! If you don't mind searching out that pre/DI, I've seen 'em on Reverb offered at @ $150, you could do the same. Besides the 5K cut trick, the pre has a 3 band EQ with a semi-parametric midrange, and in my experience it's one of the very best things you can apply to an acoustic guitar - or any other instrument. Highly recommended for any performer's arsenal. BTW it can be run from P48 phantom power, what a relief if you have it available, then no wall wart or battery needed.

[John_H]

Nothing cheap & easy that I know of...

Strings can make a difference. To me, The John Pearse 80/20 bronze, and ernie ball earthwood strings (also 80/20) sound better on an active piezo. I've had a few guitars with passive piezo pickups, and I preferred the tone.

[J M Fahey]

Agree and add: avoid creating a squeaky scratchy frequencyb response in the first place.

Put a 10M input impedance buffer or preamp right in the guitar, less than 12 inches away from pickup.
You´ll be amazed at the now recovered fatness.

And now you have a loud and low impedance signal which can drive any EQ you want to add, even a plain 22k series resistor and 1000pF to 2200pF capacitor to ground.

[shortcircuit]

Agree and add: avoid creating a squeaky scratchy frequencyb response in the first place.

Don't use one to begin with, problem solved Just kidding , thanks for all the input, I'll do some R&D , see what I come up with.

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drive any EQ you want to add, even a plain 22k series resistor and 1000pF to 2200pF capacitor to ground.

Are you referring to the cap across the tone pot??
I built this circuit to try , just because I had all the components on hand

[eschertron]

Are you referring to the cap across the tone pot??
I built this circuit to try , just because I had all the components on hand
[ATTACH=CONFIG]52829[/ATTACH]

To that circuit shown you can add a cap parallel to the 220k resistor which will bleed HF to ground.

[shortcircuit]

To that circuit shown you can add a cap parallel to the 220k resistor which will bleed HF to ground.

Thanks I'll give that a try, not sure what I have in pf caps on hand

[J M Fahey]

Build it as-is and post results.
Maybe you don´t even NEED treble cutting or if a little, it can be dealt with with standard amplifier tone controls.

[shortcircuit]

Build it as-is and post results.
Maybe you don´t even NEED treble cutting or if a little, it can be dealt with with standard amplifier tone controls.

You may be right, definitely made it more manageable in the test subject , and would change depending on amp/cabinet etc. Made a portable unit for testing.
I'm sure this isn't what you pictured ,here is where it's going
This is a Lace Alumitone Matchbook pick-up , Bourns 250k push/pull volume splits the Alumitone , Bourns 250k tone with a .022 cap, that all sounds real good. The piezo is in the bridge, the brass pin is my saddle,sitting right on the piezo . Taking your "avoid creating" quote, I've been switching out the brass pin with , bone, plastic, a Q tip shaft (rolled cardboard ??) all with interesting results . I plan on adding a 10k pot from the piezo straight to the jack , so it can be blended with the Lace or singled out. Open to all suggestions they are always appreciated.

[J M Fahey]

Beautiful build, and also the explanation for your harsh unbearable sound: you can NOT repeat NOT connect a Piezo straight to another pickup, or a standard volume control, tone controls, etc; PERIOD.

I´m appalled at your circuit , so I´ll draw something suitable, that beautiful cigar box guitar deserves it.

Your big problem is not in the saddle material or anywhere else, compared to the electrical problem.

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Ok that would be great, the Alumitone set up was suggested to me by Lace , and it does rock. Am always open for improvements and corrections that's why I'm here to learn from the best!!! Thank you for the build compliment appreciate that.

[shortcircuit]

I found a Tech21 "Acoustic Guitar preamp/DI"

Did check this out, the new version is called Tech 21 SansAmp Para Driver DI Preamp Pedal V2 , new for $200 . Unfortunately I have to make a 120 mile round trip to try one out , unless I do the buy, try, return dance (if it didn't work out ). I see other similar units , that's where a side by side comparison would be nice, maybe it would make the trip worth it . Interested to see what JM comes up with. Thanks for the input

[J M Fahey]

Hi, searched all over the place I have not been able to find a wiring schematic for the Matchbook Alumitone, not even at the Lace page itself https://lacemusic.com/pages/wiring-diagrams

All it says is this, which is incomplete:
https://lacemusic.com/collections/9/...tchbook-pickup

do you have any clickable link?

In any case, also draw and post wiring of what you built, so I can add the piezo buffer and how to interconnect it with the rest of the circuit.

In spme videos I see a bunch of white, red and green wires coming out of the pickup, but nobody shows wiring.

Thanks.

[shortcircuit]

Here is what comes with the pick up , and also what Lace sent me.
this is crude but what I did, and I'm happy with this part so far,but always open to other options. The piezo pre amp circuit I built is the one posted earlier I just installed it into an Altoids tin for testing. Really appreciate your help