How to Make a Piezo Pickup

A piezo pickup is a fun way to turn your old acoustic guitar into an electric one. Made using a variety of inexpensive materials, the piezo pickup is a great economical project for those looking to record or amplify acoustic instruments, or those who simply like to make use of their soldering iron.

Things You'll Need

• Piezo buzzer element
• 1/4" audio jack
• 1' shielded audio cable
• Soldering iron
• Wire strippers

Instructions

Building Your Piezo Pickup

1. The piezo buzzer element is what makes the pickup work. Think of it as a small microphone that will take the sound you create and turn it into an audio signal. The most popular buzzers for this purpose may be found at Radioshack and most other electronics suppliers. They will range from $1 to $5. The more expensive buzzers will indeed sound better, but are not necessary to create a functioning pickup.

2. Once you have acquired your buzzer, carefully break it open and remove the buzzer element, sometimes referred to as the "transducer." This is the round metal piece in the center of the device.

3. Strip the ends of your shielded audio cable. On one end of the cable, solder the signal wire (usually red) to the center of the piezo element and the ground (usually black) to its outer brass surface. On the other end, solder the signal wire to the signal tab on your 1/4" audio jack, and the ground to its ground tab.

4. Plug it into an amplifier or recorder via the 1/4" audio jack, and press the buzzer element up to whatever instrument you are using it on. Experiment with different positions until you find the best sounding place for the pickup. Once you have a nice sound coming from your amp, tape the pickup in place (double-sided tape works well) and play away.

Tips & Warnings

• In some cases, covering your pickup with medium-density foam or copper shielding will greatly enhance the sound and reduce idle buzzing. Try a few materials of your own to find something that works with your instrument/amp setup.

• Soldering irons can be very hot. Be careful when completing the procedures found in this article. If you have no experience with soldering, it may be wise to ask a friend or family member who does for help.

Resources

• Harmony Central