Mounting a piezo pickup

tommaso

Hi friends,
I would like to know if mounting (glueing or sticking) a piezo pickup(small) on the internal side of the soundboard, can dampen the sound when the guitar is played unplugged.
Thanks,
Tommaso

Tele295

Technically, yes, but it might not be noticeable depending on where on the soundboard you put t. The K&K Pure Maccaferri pickup (with two piezo transducers) recommends placing the two transducers under the moustache tips, since those two pieces are already glued to the soundboard and any extra at that same place would have a negligible effect on the soundboard's resonance

marciero

I thought K&K recommended just to the outside of the moustache tips. At any rate, as we all know, the moustache ends are purely decorative, and as such, are pretty silly. Imagine-gluing additional mass to the soundboard of a musical instrument purely as a decoration! This is way beyond decorative binding, rosette, headstock inlay. It's more like the leather cover on that D-28 that Elvis is playing in some photos, which I am sure just kills the volume and tone. Okay, the moustache ends probably don't noticebly change the volume/tone, but the fact that all our guitars have them just goes to show the extent to which people get attached to traditional designs. And I count myself in this camp. If my moustache ends fell off I would glue them back on.

Mike