The Song Fight Bulletin Board

I put together a simple piezo electric pickup for my violin/mandolin/banjo/classical guitar. It is based on the use of a $1.99 piezo transducer ($1.99 Radio Shack part #273-073) that has been taped (with double sided tape) to the instrument. Trial and error is the best method of determining PZT placement on an instrument.

PZTs are very sensitive ultra high impedence 'mics' that transfer the vibrations of anything they are in contact with into electrical signals, and while they will work without a preamp, it is recommended that one be used. Here is a rough schematic of what I put together:

Once you get the PZT, just splice about 5' of cable to it and use an 1/8" mono connector on the other end.

You can build a modified version without a preamp with little electronics skill. It will (obviously) not require a battery.

That's awesome! It looks simple enough to make. I might have to try this.

Cool.

Anyone else got interesting mods/hacks/builds of gizmos? I love this kind of stuff.

My first electronics project (I built it, I didn't design it), still available on my website:
http://www.heuristicsinc.com/dist.html
Very nasty. No controls
-bill

<a href="http://www.botic.com/mobots/symbols.htm" target=_blank>Here is a small list of electronics component symbols</a>
<a href="http://www.partsexpress.com/" target=_blank>Here is a great source for parts.</a> (Radio Shack is also okay but I would order online, their stores suck)