Mic Anything!! Can You Make a Guitar Pickup From an Old Watch? DIY Microphone Cheap and Easy.

Watch the finished song "parts" by Rusty: • Rusty Robot - PARTS - ...
A while ago I was looking for an inexpensive way to make a pickup for my guitar. One common style of pickup uses something called a piezo in it. I began to do some research and realized that there were piezos all around me, all I had to do was figure out the easiest place to find them and how to wire them up to act as a surface mount microphone.
*This is all just my experimentation, so I take no responsibility for damages to any instruments, burnt fingers, electrocution, or any other possible things that could happen because of doing this project. If you don’t know what you are doing, make sure you do your research first**
Rusty Matyas is multi Western Canadian Music Award winning, and multi Juno nominated musician and producer living in Winnipeg Manitoba. With over 20 years of experience in the music industry, Rusty has enjoyed working in such acts as Imaginary Cities, the Weakerthans, and the Sheepdogs, who became the first unsigned band in history to grace the cover of the Rolling Stone magazine. He also also written, recorded and performed all of the instruments on many projects for television and film, including Amazing Race Canada, CBC documentaries, and the Stuff You Should Know podcast.
If you want to connect with Rusty Matyas or Moonrise Music Club, here are some links:
Email: [e-mail]
KZbin: • Moonrise Music Club In...
FaceBook: / moonrisemusicclub
Sierra Noble is a well-known singer-songwriter and fiddle player from Winnipeg, Canada. She released her first album - a traditional Metis fiddle album - at the age of 13, followed by a well-received EP "Possibilities" which debuted her gift as a songwriter. She has performed around the world including as an opening act for Paul McCartney, Kid Rock, and Bon Jovi, and as a featured performer in the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Find out more about Sierra Noble:
Website: www.sierranoble.ca
Facebook: / sierranoblemusic
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If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you do so at your own risk and you assume the responsibility for the results. You hereby release Lost Wax Designs, and any person included in this programming expressly or implicitly from any and all actions, claims, or demands that you, your heirs, distributees, guardians, next of kin, spouse or legal representatives now have, or may have in the future, for injury, death, property damage, or any other liability that may result related to the information provided in this video.

[@chuckeuston1213]

a recording engineer back in the 1970's told me "there are no rules ....just do what works", and you have done exactly that.

[@LostWax]

I love that attitude. You only find out new things if you start doing things no one believes will work:)

[@PriyanshuBharadwa]

@@LostWaxagreed ❤❤

[@markBAMBOO12]

Exsactly sir ......

[@paulsun4539]

If you want to get the best out of this: (1) put a RF shielding cover over the open back (e.g. copper sheet) to minimize hum from things like flouro lights. Add insulation in between to avoid shorting the piezo element to the cover. (2) Rusty may have done this in the video, but always plug these into a pre-amp that has a minimum input impedance of 1M Ohm; piezo’s have a very high impedance, so matching to that will give the best frequency response. Plugging into a lower impedance input tends to give the dreaded ‘piezo honk’; LOTS of mids, reduced bass.

[@LostWax]

Great tips, thanks so much!!

[@captureinsidethesound]

I'm guessing JJB and K&K are doing this with their pickups? I think LR Baggs is doing the same thing with the iBeam. I love these types of pickups the best, but they suffer from terrible feedback when used live. I'm also guessing that's why UST pickups are more common. UST pickups are an example of polishing a turd lol.

[@redjack2629]

I was planning to make an electric violin for a while now, and you just gave me the last part I needed to scratch build the whole thing, aside from the geared pegs. I'm kind of excited. XD

[@mikebolton2388]

how is the project going? I want to mod my cello for this, just for kicks.

[@lukearnoldinstrumentals]

You could use eye bolt tuners

[@prodgroovyCHU]

Bro drop vids cuz

[@ruthbryant3929]

Thank you for the education. I had no idea what a "pickup" did. Music, radio, cell phones; they are all MAGIC to me.

[@motorteeth]

Wow this is so awesome... I just made a 2 string guitar from an old cake pan, broomstick, and some other scrap, and it has a really unique sound... a pickup made from scrap would really set it off. Thank you so much for this video!!!

[@poinkero]

An online store here in the Philippines sells something like this for under 4 USD...a dozen. Now I'm gonna buy, thanks to you guys.

[@EliMeckes]

I did not expect it to work so well! Thank you!

[@LostWax]

You're welcome!

[@XKupfer]

Chris, you're a genius.

[@rogward]

This is a really great example of a really useful up-cycle project, and the results are just amazing. Def going to make some of these. So pleased I found this video, and your channel. Thank you :-)

[@LostWax]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ErnieRodgersMusician]

Pure Genius! I've been a professional musician sound engineer and producer for a good 30 years, It never occurred to me that a piezoelectric speaker could be reversed and used as a guitar pickup. I guess it proves you learn something new everyday. Thank you for this amazing idea, It got me out of a real tight spot. You represent what KZbin is all about. 😎🎸👍

[@LostWax]

That's so cool, I am glad this was helpful!

[@vrucewayne]

Haha sounds stunning, 13 year old me using my headphones to record vocals feels completely vindicated. I still use the mic on a simple 10 dollar skull candy, placed inside the acoustic guitar chamber to record, it makes the set up super simple whilst getting an idea down on your phone

[@LostWax]

That's awesome!

[@jessiemontgomery7838]

As always Chris, you didn't disappoint. Keep it up!

[@LostWax]

Thanks, it was a really fun project!

[@SeareanMoon]

That was so interesting to watch, my daughter will love this and try it once she finds an old digital watch :p what a great way to start off the New year with music!

[@LostWax]

Hehe, yep, thrift stores are great places to find them.

[@Sparkey]

This was great from start to finished tune. Well done.

[@byaherongmusikero8054]

wow it was so amazing, i made exactly like that and it works really well thank you for sharing this knowledge.

[@musictutorjaygogoi]

does it picks up percussive hits in guitar

[@tommybenefield1480]

That was absolutely amazing!!

[@shawnmccolley8337]

Super cool! Can’t wait to try this on my classical!

[@stefanhopfer3905]

Hi and many, many thanks for your super input!!!! I was sceptical, but I immediately bought 4 brand new large piezo elements (€ 0.79 each - hahaha!!!), optimised the positions and the adhesive material first on the guitar top, now stuck them inside and wired the 6.3 jack socket of the old PickUp system (with bridge piezo) symetrically. The new 4 x piezo stuff sounds fantastic and so close to a mic recording, that I can only wonder!!! The only small, but for me as a home recorder irrelevant disadvantage - the system is more susceptible to feedback. For me, it's a tonal blast for practically no money! THX!!! S.H.

[@katherine5753]

That is genuinely incredible. Good work!

[@LostWax]

Thank you!!

[@edwinvanbeelen4221]

It sounds great! Surely going to try it. Thank you for the strange, but wonderful, sidestep from your normal videos.

[@LostWax]

It was a really fun project. Nice for me too to have a bit of a change:)

[@GerhardOli4]

So cool. Trying this immediately!

[@ericsweetman9973]

Wow, this worked so well!

[@kazs6529]

Hi Chris! Happy New year!!! I'm a total dumb regarding making crafts and sound/music but even with my lack of skills in that I can say this was a triumph for you! Congrats and I'm here to show KZbin that we love you. Be happy, be strong and be creative this new year. ❤️

[@LostWax]

Thanks for showing KZbin that you love me!! 😁 Happy New Year to you too, and I wish you an amazing year!

[@Z0MB13Redfield]

This couldn't have come at a better time. Thank you

[@LostWax]

Oh, good, I'm glad!!

[@JacquiGiesbrecht]

So cool Chris! Well done. That's amazing that you got to work with Sierra Noble too!

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

That really impressed me,I need to build 3 now

[@DoseBand]

Wow, I am making one of these! Thanks for the video! Kick ass!

[@reaganpreshong7486]

Impressive as heck Chris!!

[@LostWax]

Thanks Reagan!!

[@jeffro.]

Pretty cool, dude. I'm an electronics buff, so I've been using those things for ever. Made an ultrasonic cleaner, mini speakers, and of course as a transducer, like you did. Frankly, the speakers are better sounding when I used a flexible membrane that was made with piezo properties, I got a sample kit with some small sheets of it, made stuff with it.

[@dahlavibez5726]

Awesome quest has begun

[@norbertriman1569]

You reminds me to my first "electric" guitar. In fact, it was little cheep acoustick guitar and i put this under bridge. It was 1994-96 You remind me this. I try it for fretless bass what i now build. Thanx. Nice video

[@LostWax]

Nice!

[@aliloucreations1817]

Oh my word Chris you are a genius pal ! 🎻🎹🥁🎸🎼

[@LostWax]

Aww, thanks!

[@CriticalEatsJapan]

Awesome little project

[@waynzwhirled6181]

Cool homemade soundboard pickup. of course, you could make almost anything sound good with all that studio equipment.

[@linussantotomas1367]

Wow! Now I have to look for those old watches of mine and convert them. Thanks a lot. :-)

[@beattheboogie8635]

Thank you for showing this !! Been to rustys page! Impressed really!

[@rickhenry1833]

I plan on using this idea for a pickup for my Cigar Box Guitar ! Thanks M8 !

[@cynthiawelsh5017]

Clever, my husband who plays thought this was really cool.

[@juliencomeault3709]

Great video man.

[@GamingDad63]

Wow :D Just wow. And very nice too see something different from you!

[@LostWax]

Thanks, it was fun to do a project that I didn't have to spend a month designing patterns:)

[@mr1alta1keys]

Great Video and I'm here to tell you this works. I had a three piezo inside under bridge that had way to much high end, no bottom end. Made one exactly as shown in video and installed and it sounds great. The three piezo setup would not send a good enough signal to my TC Helicon voice live to trigger the harmony effect. This piezo hack triggers the Helicon perfectly. If it were my ears only it might be skeptical but the Helicon knows what kind of signal it needed to work. Thanks a bunch.

[@LostWax]

So glad it worked for you!!

[@elbus1969]

Thank you, Man!Thanks to you, I saved a lot of money! Love and hugs!

[@LostWax]

Glad I could help!

[@garys5203]

Awesome stuff.

[@joepasco1420]

Thats brilliant!

[@jcgalarzao]

I have to try it, thanks

[@LostWax]

You should!

[@josephmiller6677]

Ha that was fun.... Bravo !!!

[@tkgcreations3247]

That is totally awesome.

[@CosplayApprentice]

Chris!!!!!!!! Dude!!! You are a genius! That is so cool! That was such a fun video! :)

[@leemski]

Incredible! Thanks for this video :)))))

[@Popsplace42]

Oh man, this was great. Now I’m ordering a bunch of piezoelectric discs and making some. ❤❤

[@LostWax]

Nice.

[@peterdesch4970]

I was skeptical but I tried it. I read up on piezos and realized a battery would not be necessary. It works. works well. For mine, filtering some treble frequencies was best.

[@alanbarwick6203]

Everyone watching… it took me 4 minutes. To do it myself. And it actually sounds awesome

[@RobertJones-et7gh]

That's amazing

[@LP-qi8hs]

Great video. Thanks for sharing...

[@DennisHicks78749]

In the 90’s I took a set of cheap earbuds, desoldered the tiny speakers in the earbuds and soldered in cheap tiny little mic elements from Radio Shack, put the earbuds in my ears and plugged into my mini disc player and recorded. I used it for ambient sound in public, and recorded a friend’s band in a bar. The results were amazingly great and lifelike. It would have sounded better with quality parts and acoustic design. There is a mic you can buy today that works just like this. I’ve seen it for $200-300. Really, I should have added a battery inline to serve as a preamp for best results, bit it was awesome even all Jethro like it was. A few things folks should know if they think this will be a great pickup for them. There is no one ideal way to electrify an acoustic instrument. The piezos in watches will not all be the same, some may sound better, some worse. Many pickups will sound good if you have a sound engineer massaging it into a professional sound board in a quiet environment with minimal instrument handling. Using a soundboard mounted pickup like this gets a lot of handling noise. Every little touch of the instrument is there, and annoyingly loud. They are also subjected to feedback if you are playing through an amp. The wire hanging off like that will be unwieldy, and will eventually break off from the pickup if it is just hanging loose and moves relative to the pickup. If you make one and want a long lasting install, you could attach it to the soundboard inside the instrument, and run the wire to a jack that you install onto the instrument. You can also buy a cheap external soundboard pickup for a few bucks from scamazon and elsewhere. But I’ve never heard anyone describe them as sounding amazing. I suspect that the metal watch back and blue tac receive the vibrations better than the plastic housing and foam tape those cheap units use. YMMV and good luck!

[@LostWax]

Thanks, those are some great insights for those that want to try use this for something other than a bit of fun. I'll add another downside, it's super easy to bump the pickup and knock it off the instrument.

[@beverlyjomitchell2903]

Wow! 😮 First... Kudos to you for making this video! And Thank you so very much!! After extensive, exhausting and frustrating searches I finally happened upon this video that turned out to be my salvation! For some time I have been looking for an inexpensive yet relatively good way to amp my acoustic guitar. I actually used an old pickup that came out of a wrecked electric guitar I had salvaged until it finally bit the dust. So I've been trying to figure out an alternative way to "get louder" 😁and what do you know? Then came you! Just wanted to say that I think you're brilliant and can't wait to explore other ideas that you have posted. From a humble, grateful, small time tinkerer... Thanks again! Keep up the great work my friend!👍 😘

[@LostWax]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hlkhmer5890]

Oh My God, It so good for your music

[@traciakierman1]

So, so cool! Passed this on to some people I know who make and mix music :)

[@LostWax]

Thank you so much!!

[@thoughtguardian]

wow this in incredible!

[@themarblers4399]

I did this with a casio backplate, it sounded amazing

[@LostWax]

Glad it worked!!

[@Z-Ack]

I wonder if you could make it active by adding an lm amp circuit with some feedback ground isolators and frequency modulators to cut out all the junk you get with cheap active pickups... but then again active pickups always use coils of wire so the eddie currents likely play a big role in the feedback dept though... just an idea.. would be cool to see the pickup used as an i/o trigger like the ones used on drums.. they are the exact same thing except instead of just plugging into an amp to get the sound you run it through a box that has different prerecorded sounds that are "triggered" by the piezo on the drum heads and also reflects live how hard the drum is hit.. they use them a lot on live shows especially on the kick drums but are different for em.. anywho just an idea for a guy who had held a soldering iron a time or two.. some simple electret mic amp circuits should work with minimal parts and try a simple high band or low band crossover circuit with some inductors and caps like what are used on speaker systems.. would be interesting to see, especially if you made a package out of it that could be stuck on things or even a in line deal down the quarter inch line somewhere... thumbs up tho..

[@arbainmel8568]

Seems just simple diy project.....but those xperiment was awesome

[@timrex4175]

Hollllyyy s*****! That was amazing man

[@LostWax]

Thanks!!

[@riffmaster5805]

I already made one from my old casio Gshock... damn it's the best pick up in the world... even I didn't change my nut and saddle with bone... just eq, compression, delay, reverb and eventide blackhole vst... whoa!! the sound is GREAT MAN! THANK YOU... AT LAST I'VE FOUND THE BEST GUITAR PICK UP IN THE WORLD.. no battery needed.. I will make for sale... Etech here😁

[@LostWax]

For real? That's awesome!

[@riffmaster5805]

@@LostWax yes sir.... I used it with my focusrite solo... set to instrument.... before this video I was planning to buy lr baggs pickup but this is very expensive here in the Philippines... so for last resort I browse in KZbin.. then I found your video... thanks a lot man.... 👍👍👍👌🤘

[@LostWax]

@@riffmaster5805 I'm so glad it worked well for you!!

[@riffmaster5805]

@@LostWax the only problem is when I charge my laptop it has a 50hz interference, but if the laptop is fully charged you can't hear any interference.. I will try to build a diy DI box to get rid of this..

[@patrickwilliams3108]

A freaking mazing! Thanks!!!

[@LostWax]

You are very welcome:)

[@evenbass]

Cool!!!

[@rogersmith3512]

FYI, muratic acid will allow you to solder to stainless steel. clean first with steel wool and use as a flux. hopefully thousands of people haven't posted this yet.

[@AERHEAD]

Hey man, just discovered your channel, I love it! You make awesome stuff. Idk if you have seen the mandalorian or not, but that would be a sweet build to consider!

[@LostWax]

Yay!! Welcome to my channel!! I have seen Tthe Mandalorian, but I am not sure if I will do that build as there are probably lots of others that will be making it. You are right though, definitely a cool build.

[@mallikarjunbasutkar4172]

Awesome thanks for helping me

[@LostWax]

No problem

[@shovelhead4558]

It worked I can hear my bird box along with laptop thanks.

[@LostWax]

Awesome!

[@taimoooooooor7594]

It works. i tried it

[@attybong]

wow, amazing .. just like that? what's the principle behind that setup?

[@asmrellymask3872]

SO COOL! 😍😆

[@captureinsidethesound]

I've used these as drum triggers because they are isolated to only surface vibration. I've also used them on acoustics but only in the studio with Focusrite preamps. Unfortunately, the feedback is a problem when playing live, so i use a LR Baggs Lyric or Anthem. Personally, i would love to use a JJB pickup using this design, but couldn't find a way around feedback issues without destroying the sound with EQ.

[@marinehm]

I'm wondering if you could put the piezo inside a stethoscope head, run the wire up the tubing into a small box with a battery & speaker?

[@SHUT-UP_MEG]

Bro you solder so damn well tho I wish I had your patience ❤❤❤❤❤

[@LostWax]

Hehe, I guess 15 years as a jeweller might have helped:)

[@Zogg1281]

That is so COOL!!!!!! Now....... where's that watch?!?!? Thanks for showing this, I will definitely play with this idea 😁👍👍👍👍👍

[@LostWax]

Nice!

[@rommel3942]

amazed, I am

[@kg6497]

I want one!

[@Hendradibali]

thank you Sir

[@LostWax]

Most welcome

[@Xxmeca421xX]

Awesome.

[@LostWax]

Thanks!

[@Xxmeca421xX]

@@LostWax I can't find a watch, do you think a smoke alarm or alarm clock is better? I have extras. Also I'd love to see you make a video hand wiring guitar pickups with a 9-12volt wall wart. The transformers copper is perfect for winding.

[@LostWax]

@@Xxmeca421xX To be honest, I tried a bunch of others and the best results were from the watch. I think because the piezo is already glued to the stainless steel back, that has something to do with it. If you try and blu just a straight piezo to something, there is a good chance you will end up breaking the piezo. I have installed in my guitar as pickups, but I had to actually super glue them to the guitar to get them to pick up sound. I'd say the smaller the piezo the better. Hope that helps a little- that's just from my very very limited experience!!

[@dusingizimanaetienne1502]

that is very good for piezos / microfone

[@jennyomalley7634]

I'm going too remove the under saddle pick up so I can bring down the action and try and solder a piezo on the wire so as to attach under the bridge , see if it works !

[@ankan2088]

I want one tooo.

[@robert5861]

NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICEEEEE WOOOOW

[@LostWax]

Glad you like it!

[@DanGiesbrecht]

Great video Chris! Did I see some Planet Express action in there too?

[@LostWax]

Hmm, I'm not sure......did you?

[@aditya__exe]

do we need an amplifier for this or can we directly connect this to the laptop for recording??

[@jesuslovesu2272]

Nice 👍 experiment 🥰🥰🥰 amezing 👍👍 happy 🥰🥰🥰

[@DanyDizzay]

So all with blue tack?!? That’s how u stick it to all????!!?? Love this vid

[@LostWax]

Yep, we did it all with blue tac. Ya gotta be a little careful not to move around too much or it will eventually fall off. But worked pretty good!

[@lailacahucom3820]

Put your acoustic in amp with full overdrive for BIG PP ENERGY

[@parveshchandchand9183]

Love from india bro😊

[@PlayNowWorkLater]

I’m a professional musician. That was really cool to watch. Great idea.

[@LostWax]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@moosafytv3610]

Can we use this thing on the place of electric guitar pickup???

[@jerrykooyman]

That Gibson sounds so awesome :) Which model is that?

[@unknown32523]

Hey, you're great and I love your videos (I've made some of the projects myself!) so I thought I might throw you a challenge: can you make a steampunk traveler's notebook?

[@LostWax]

Hmmm, I'll add it to my list:)

[@unknown32523]

@@LostWax can't wait to see it!

[@hanliefx]

Does it matter which wire gets soldered onto which part or are they interchangable?

[@NorthernProductions886]

It would be cool to fix this to an acoustic and connect a Vol & Tone knob, any idea how to do that?

[@LostWax]

No idea TBH. Love to hear if someone does though....

[@Stevejoohee]

How would you go about making one for electric guitar? A really hot one for heavier music, what would be a basic construction for that?

[@LostWax]

Im not really sure, I think you can make a pickup by wrapping a bunch of wire around some nails or something like that....

[@justinpurba]

Sacrificed my 3 dollar watch, and an old karaoke mic cable... IT WORKS! Thanks to this video, I will be posting more acoustic videos. 😊👍

[@LostWax]

Awesome!! Glad it worked for you!

[@justinpurba]

@@LostWax dear sir, I just want to share an acoustic video I recorded using your pickup: kzbin.info/www/bejne/faLHi4uid72ggJI Thanks again for your sharing sir. You're the best!

[@LostWax]

@@justinpurba Wow, that was beautiful!! Thanks so much fro sharing!

[@justinpurba]

@@LostWax I owe it to your creation. :)

[@seanmccambridge]

Very cool. Just discovered your channel. Did the vocals go through the pickup as well?

[@LostWax2]

Yep, he had it attached to an acoustic guitar and then sang into the guitar.