Installing Piezo Pickup in Acoustic Guitar

[@bprife]

I had that put in to my 12 string acoustic guitar back in I think it was 2007. And I’ve had that guitar since Christmas of 1995. I was playing in a praise and worship band at a church I used to go to and we had tried different techniques to amplify the sound of the guitar which is either putting a microphone in front of it like with people did back in the day before acoustic electric came out or the internal pick up that you just installed came out. We also tried the sound hole pick up where it’s just a pick up for the sound hole in the cord to plug it into the amp in the pick up mic that you stick onto your guitar next to the bridge in saddle that plugs into the app but those two didn’t work and I found out about the kid that I have install just like the one you put in. And it works great a few times so I had to have it fixed but it works great and without the preamp switches. Works well at my amplifier to.

[@killcredit3073]

lifesaver!!!! Was able to save my guitar while touring for free with this video! One love thanks so much for making this you saved my life!

[@aldoerksen6802]

Love the Peavey T-60 in the background. I have an identical one passed down from my dad. He bought it new in '79

[@KA54the]

soldering tip; hold the iron on what you are soldering the wire to, after the object and the wire are heated enough, put the solder onto the wire. This way, the solder will flow from the wire, onto the surface of the object for a clean solder.

[@jewish_misteak3880]

God? Is it you?

[@simon4187]

Morgan Freeman og name dude

[@daviddouglas7950]

Great, thanks Scott! Really appreciated the small tip about sanding the saddle a shade thinner and beveling the bottom to make good contact with the pickup. Much appreciated! Dave in the Adirondacks

[@tispro]

The reply I got from the video uploader fixed the problem I had. Once I removed the strings and checked the pickup in the saddle slot, I noticed there was a tiny piece of paper (maybe from the packaging?) that was sitting on the pickup. I peeled that off, and the pickup now works beautifully. Otherwise, check under the pickup to see that it is sitting perfectly flat in the slot. Hope this helps.

[@John-Evans]

Nice clear informative and well paced video. Correct equal seating with the guitar body below and the saddle above is critical to it working well.

[@Dutchy1949]

Great to get a straightforward video, thank you. I was hoping to do this to my old acoustic as I don't like the across the hole pick-ups as they can get in way whilst playing. Thank you Scott.

[@stuball]

Very good video. Answered all my questions I could not find elsewhere. Thanks.

[@richrhocks]

You made it look so easy! Obviously you have years of experience working on guitars. Great video!

[@sli43]

Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@NOWILDWOLF]

I have installed a lot of these things and 8/10 , that saddle slot is not deep enough to hold the saddle when te piezo is in place . So good as always i have to make it approx. 3mm deeper to compensate the piezostrip hight. Whitout making that slot deeper,the saddle is floating in the undeep slot space up on the piezo . I make te routing with a mini Dremel combitool on a selfmade system. Works fine on a loose individual bridge or fixt on te guitar body.

[@thepiperofsimms9974]

Thank you Scott, that was fun to watch. Gonna give it a try. Yuma,AZ.

[@nationalsocialist8382]

Expertly done and essential stuff.

[@telecaster541]

thanks for your good work and instruction Piezo pu , appreciate your kindness, I will also share with friends and family as well

[@kevincozens6837]

One thing that wasn't mentioned in this video is checking the saddle slot for any wood dust that may have accumulated in it while drilling the hole for the piezo wire.

[@TriggsRiffs]

Thank you for the video, very informative. I think I might know what's wrong with my pickup now!

[@ax_el_alvarez]

That guitar is just so perfect!!

[@xtoman49]

Great video, I found it very usefull. nice tip on the wire

[@attybong]

nice guitar .. i intend to remove the matrix infinity on mine and replace it with k & k mini ..

[@luisnegron8844]

Great tutorial my friend..! I have a question for you, it happens that the pickup is wider than the slot, can you give me a solution? ¿Can I enlarge the slot with a Dremel? Then the white piece will be a little loose, is that a problem? I really need help.

[@ralfcaetano]

this pickup sounds awesome

[@sli43]

If you have not seen it I did a pre amp installation video also.I put the link in the description.

[@sli43]

A simple passive system is certainly easier and less intrusive to the guitar. In short the difference is with an on board pre amp the eq controls and volume are on your guitar and a passive system you need to use the Amp controls. You will need to turn the volume up higher on the amp than if you had an on board system.

[@sli43]

If you have that kind of bridge you can not use an under saddle transducer. I would suggest the same endpin jack with an under the soundboard surface transducer instead.

[@JosephHF]

Cool, this just what I needed to know, thanks!

[@Arcturian1111]

Subscribed. Nice job. Awesome videe.

[@sli43]

remove saddle and lift up pickup. make sure the saddle slot is clean and perfectly flat. the pickup is very sensitive and needs to make 100 percent contact. also make sure bottom of the saddle is perfectly flat. it could also just be a problem with the string itself. start with new strings.

[@davidAll5]

excellent job, great sound

[@aggieclint]

Great video, very helpful. Any times on where to mount the 9 volt battery?

[@sli43]

If your going for an active system you can mount the battery holder to the side wall inside the guitar.

[@sli43]

I like the way it sounds very much.

[@MrTheBigM]

Hello, thanks for the video, it helped me a lot to understand how piezos work. I d like to upgrade my Takamine g320 acoustic guitar this way but Ihave a question I dont seem to find a good answer for. What is the main difference between passive piezos and active o es with a battery powered preamp? Wat is the difference in the final sound? Is using only a piezo pickup and a jack connector like you did sufficient? Thank you :)

[@catbirdfeeder]

Awesome..got any ideas for me to amplify my frame drum?

[@sli43]

I prefer to use the d-tar high output sadducer model for nylon strings. It's a bit more money but is excellent for classical guitars.

[@supersimon44]

Is that you rolph harris!?? Haha Really good video! I'm looking at getting one of these! It seems quite simple but a bit picky at times!

[@cavanimakesthenoise]

Hello,great video!!Sorry about my English,I have a question.In ur opinion is possible to install this type of pickup inside the guitar?Of course in the proximity of the bridge.I ask this because,I am makeing a solid body ukulele and I don't want to work on the white saddle.So I am wondering if strings vibrations can be caught by the piezo even under the top.Thanks so much.

[@sli43]

Yes, but it's a different type of pickup.you want a sound board transducer pick up. They are inexpensive and very easy to install.hope this helps.

[@cavanimakesthenoise]

@@sli43 yes,I did try them on an acoustic,they are ok.But I have a solid body DIY ukulele with nylon strings.So I am wondering if I can use this strip piezo under the bridge but inside the body from the back,thanks.

[@sli43]

No, a piezo will not work.the pressure of the strings pushing down on the saddle is what makes them work.

[@mauronaviglio]

great video. Thank you for sharing your expertise !!! :)

[@SONGSTICKS]

Hi Scot, Could I ask a question please. I'm trying to fit an under saddle pickup to a guitar which has an adjustable saddle, the inards of which is made of metal. I replace the saddle with the piezo but I get lots of hum, this mostly goes away when I hold the jack socket, so I presume it's an earthing issue. There are no other metal parts on the guitar so how should I earth it please? I thought praps gluing a metal plate somewhere inside and earthing to that might do it? Your advice would be much appreciated, Cheers Gary

[@11kerol]

Thank you for your help

[@jj8526]

Great video never the less.. Great men...

[@charlesduckettjr.800]

Thanks so much for this!

[@4GuilleMusic]

Great vid! How exactly would you recommend to sand the slight angle on the bottom of the saddle to compensate for the forward shifting? Thinking about this this installation myself and that is the part that is the most scary for me

[@sli43]

I just glue sand paper to a block and angle the saddle by eye and take a little bit off at a time. sorry for the late reply.

[@TimGeersProductions]

Hi Scott Do i get this right must one use a pre-amp at all times with such a pick up element ? Great vid by the way.

[@untitled899]

How does a piezo pickup's sound characteristics change over time? Or does it's sound characteristics actually change over time?

[@aonym4922]

If the connector fishes back through the hole when soldered, couldn't you just solder it it all together without fishing it out the bottom?

[@schlippery1]

a bit confused why you would tamp down into the bridge, the fragile foil covered piezo pickup that will get a ground hum the minute that foil is torn????

[@neilmalyon8784]

Jonathan, even worse he used the drill bit's sharp end. Better to use a dowel rod and NO TAPPING. Just a very gentle pressure to ensure seating (after ensuring the slot is clean of dust). The other thing that had me cringing was him using long-nose pliers to hold the nut rather than a ring-spanner. Oh boy, certain to damage the finish due to poor grip. Finally, place the lock nut and washer onto the wire on the outside, feed it through , connect to jack then pull back out through the hole and tighten.

[@thejurydogs4321]

Hi Scott, A very informative video, many thanks. I'm trying this conversion but when I've fitted the piezo transducer I find that the slot isn't deep enough to accommodate both the transducer and the saddle. Any ideas on how to overcome this problem?

[@jonathanoakley88]

The Jury Dogs cut the saddle thinner.

[@skibbet21]

When replacing saddles i've taped a piece of sandpaper to the table and sanded the bottom of the saddle. Taping it helps keep it even

[@sli43]

I just used some flannel rags and low tack drafting tape.

[@hadihagemaru5155]

I heard something whistling?

[@TravisHyattMusic]

Herbert

[@walkerkemp6559]

Do you want a Popsicle?

[@fotog04]

Hehehe!

[@josenat1292]

He should sue his dentist

[@faithmusic9]

I've installed a pizeo in my ukulele and noticed it's a bit noisy when I rub the body of The uke. Is that normal or is There a way of getting rid of the noise?

[@nextstorming3908]

That is the roughness of the body going to the pickup so just smooth out the body

[@williambartholomew5680]

Nice T-60!

[@aysuaysu5158]

hi.piezo disks located inside what?where us it? where can l find it?

[@Steveh112]

I attempted to install one of these today and drilled the hole for the jack in the same place the strap button was. It turns out the guitar is 3/4" thick, and the threaded part of my 1/4" jack is only about 1/4" long so it won't make it far enough through the hole to thread the nut onto it. Do they make a jack with an extra long threaded part for situations like this. (My guitar is an Epiphone AJ-220S), or do you have any suggestions? Thanks

[@sli43]

Steveh112 sounds like you are using an electric guitar Jack. You can get an acoustic guitar Jack at Stewart McDonald's they're usually over an inch long.

[@Steveh112]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah this was a cheap kit I ordered on Ebay from China. The pickup itself worked when I first got it, but it failed already too after having it in and out of the guitar a couple times. I really can't afford to spend over $100 on the expensive fishman type, and this was only a $125 guitar. Is there anything less expensive, but good quality you can recommend? I'm going to buy a whole new kit and not just the jack. Thanks Again!

[@borisfogelson5225]

The other guitar, the end of the video, What pickups on it?

[@Levkhat]

Hallo, can you link me this piezo pickup, where can i buy it?

[@100roberthenry]

will these transducers work with nylon classical guitars?....

[@jacoblajoie9362]

Yup

[@markokoli6217]

what piezzno name,, are using artec?

[@JonasDaniel95]

If I did this to my martin 00-15 would I then be able to plug it into my Marshall jtm45?

[@Chris_Mann_2020]

+Jonas Jørgensen Yes, but it might not sound very good. If you set the amp as clean as possible and adjusted the eq it might be ok, but going into a keyboard/acoustic guitar amp or PA is better. You might get some nasty feedback if you get the soundhole too close to the amp speakers. Nasty, blowing your speakers feedback, not the cool Jimi Hendrix Star Spangled Banner feedback.

[@JonasDaniel95]

i recently bought a 12 string acoustic with build in pickup, it sounded pretty good

[@Chris_Mann_2020]

I play an acoustic through a Carvin Belair 50Watt tube amp and it sounds pretty good. I go to a Boss CS3 compressor first and turn up the treble a bit.

[@juancpgo]

I want something that detects each string vibration individually. Does that exist?

[@TheEthug]

maton ap5

[@jesuisravi]

nice work

[@Arcturian1111]

16:48 it sounds sweet.

[@MickeyOsthimer]

So, uh...how much do you charge? Haha. Very informative, thank you so much!

[@WoodesosGuitarMods]

Awesome. More videos please:-)

[@sli43]

yes, you can.

[@Iggytommy]

how does that stick type of piezo compare to the disc type piezos? thanks.

[@sli43]

Iggytommy The under saddle is more sensitive to each individual string and gets more definition but the under the sound board can still sounds very good.

[@Iggytommy]

+Scott lajoie - thanks.

[@tispro]

My A string has less volume than the other strings on my guitar. Is this likely a problem with the pickup? the saddle? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[@moki2093]

6 years late but pretty sure it's the pup

[@DanielRiabchyk]

God's Not Dead!!!

[@eclectico78]

how did you shave off those 2.5 mm that you mentioned from the saddle?

[@sli43]

If your slot is deep enough you can sand down the bottom of the saddle.double stick some sand paper on to a flat surface and sand down slowly to your line.

[@eclectico78]

got it! thanks a lot!

[@sli43]

yes, a simple passive pickup.

[@jj8526]

So glad you're not doing open heart surgery......

[@justinmason100]

Can someone answer my question? What if i have a brace where i need to drill the hole. Can i just drill through the brace?

[@RandySchartiger]

no! Never drill thru a brace you could damage the entire guitar.

[@justinmason100]

Oh, ok. i don't actually have one, i just wanted to know. Thanks

[@carlhsk]

hey, what is the stuff you used to cover the bridge?

[@FerasHamido]

can we include volum botton

[@threeguysofgaming3522]

Does anyone have a link for where i can buy this?

[@BarbButler-p3o]

is that a Wiggy?

[@muhdrizal8969]

it is working without pre amp??

[@DordeKaurinovic]

wow thanks

[@zinatera]

Do you have the series name of this pickup?

[@zinatera]

I can't find this type of Piezo pickup.

[@geoffnoll7706]

neither can i

[@bobu5213]

So now this is electro-acoustic?

[@launchpadKid-yq8ze]

yes

[@bobu5213]

launchpad.Kid Cool.

[@mattizpinturas]

Hello piezzo The fuse of my guitar out the solder how do I reinstall? Thanks and sorry for my english I'm Brazilian

[@kettbelly]

é vendo este vídeo transformei o meu violão tonante velho em um violão elétrico

[@soretuber847]

Can i do this for my classical guitar?

[@jannekebroers6229]

no problem

[@uglytothebone5]

gr8 job

[@leoric21]

thank you

[@bawasanjaya3746]

how much money do i need for instal the pickup?

[@daijohn3]

does it work with a nylon strung guitar?>

[@stuehrenberg]

I have the same problem with d and G strings.

[@jaymaxxmusikalabofficial6818]

How to remove endpin?

[@mounsonndh]

merci bien

[@mpachuca1313]

♍️📐⚡️🕊️

[@paulkasputis5978]

Think twice before you do this! The acoustic sound will be compromised.

[@ftwoodycocks]

need 20 dolar for to get it done