Bridge slot not deep enough for undersaddle pickup

Badgerbank · #1 03-30-2021, 04:25 AM

Hi,
I am looking for some advice re the installation of an undersaddle Piezo pickup. I bought a preamp based pickup that takes its input from a piezo undersaddle strip. On beginning to install the piezo undersaddle strip i realised that there it is probably too thick for the bridge slot. The piezo supplied with the preamp is around 2 mm thick and quite rigid (kind of wire wrapped like a guitar string). The bridge slot on my guitar is only 3mm deep at each end rising to just over 4 mm in the middle. Also the saddle is not a tight fit, it can easily be inserted and extracted.

My instinct and from what i have read tells me that the slot is not deep enough. I think deepening the slot would be too difficult without specialist equipment and better skills than my own so my idea is to replace the supplied piezo strip with a thin 'film' piezo which is only around 1 mm thick.

However the thin piezo strips that i have been able to locate have a 3 to 4 week delivery wait and seem very cheap - average around £5. I am guessing they would have to be ordered from China (I am in UK)

Does anyone know if these thin film piezo strips are any good ? I dont want to wait 4 weeks only to find that they will not do the job. I would be grateful if anyone can maybe advise me in advance on this or any other possibilities for solving the problem.

calvanesebob · #2 03-30-2021, 04:55 AM

Have you considered a pickup that goes under the bridge inside the guitar like the K&K, Dazzo, or Schatten HFN pickups?

Or a magnetic soundhole pickup like the LR Baggs M80?

These are all options that you would not have to alter your saddle in any way.

Badgerbank · #3 03-30-2021, 05:05 AM

Hi,
Yes i did think about that but the system i want to install is a Hyvibe so i have to be careful about feedback and also if it would affect how the system works. I think a soundhole pickup might work but i would need one that had a 2.5mm jack plug connector that would plug into the Hyvibe preamp. The soundhole pickups i have looked at dont seem to have that - they all seem to link to a socket.

calvanesebob · #4 03-30-2021, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badgerbank

Hi,
Yes i did think about that but the system i want to install is a Hyvibe so i have to be careful about feedback and also if it would affect how the system works. I think a soundhole pickup might work but i would need one that had a 2.5mm jack plug connector that would plug into the Hyvibe preamp. The soundhole pickups i have looked at dont seem to have that - they all seem to link to a socket.

You did not mention anything about the Hyvibe system, so I was just trying to give you alternatives.

Badgerbank · #5 03-30-2021, 07:14 AM

Hi,
Yes, thanks for your reply it was very helpful. I think what you suggest is doable. I am looking, now, to see if i can get a passive sound hole pickup and change the output connector to a 2.5mm jack plug. Didnt want to overload with information in the first instance.

cmac · #6 03-30-2021, 09:25 AM

Individual piezo elements, like the discs used in some pickups, are very cheap. The problem with taking that approach is that it may not work well for guitar purposes. The frequency response may make it sound very muddy or shrill. Also the signal strength may not be useful.

I once installed a Fishman thinline in an old Yamaha acoustic. It was probably just happy coincidence that it was narrow enough to fit in the saddle slot, and that the saddle slot was deep enough to hold both the pickup and a good amount of saddle, so (apart from wiring) all I had to do was reduce the saddle to maintain the same string height.

So assuming you don't fancy routing a deeper saddle slot (and I wouldn't blame you) you're looking at a soundhole magnetic pickup. You can easily enough solder a 2.5mm connector on the cable, and hope that it works well with your preamp.

nickv6 · #7 03-30-2021, 10:16 AM

1. Bear in mind that the Hybive places it's activators on the soundboard so no soundboard pickup will work... you'll just get massive feedback.
2. You don't need a high quality pickup as you are basically adding effects so an average or cheap one will do.
3. The UK Hyvibe dealer can fit it for you. If you are not a tech it's worth sending it to them as it's not a totally straightforward fit.
4. A cheap magnetic soundhole pickup should work.
Nick

Badgerbank · #8 03-30-2021, 11:42 AM

Thanks for the responses. I have now ordered a cheap 1mm thickness film based piezzo undersaddle online and will see how i get on with that. It has a 2.5mm jackplug that the preamp needs and i should, fingers scrossed, have enough of the saddle (2mm) inside the bridge for it to function alright.

If there is a problem then i will try a cheap passive magnetic soundhole pickup as suggested. Just have to have patience and wait 2-4 weeks for the delivery (patience not not my strongpoint !)

I am surprised though that i could not get a thin 1mm film piezo from uk supplier. I would have thought that the thickness issue would be a problem for others wanting to install an undersaddle. I guess most people now go for soundboard pickups.