{"id":1708,"date":"2012-01-14T08:28:50","date_gmt":"2012-01-14T07:28:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/guitarworks.thestrandbergs.com\/?p=1708"},"modified":"2012-01-14T08:28:50","modified_gmt":"2012-01-14T07:28:50","slug":"piezo-installation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/guitarworks.thestrandbergs.com\/2012\/01\/14\/piezo-installation\/","title":{"rendered":"Piezo Installation"},"content":{"rendered":"
#13 is the second build that includes a piezo loaded bridge. #9 was the first, but the time from completion to delivery was so short that I had little time to play around with them. This time, I have tried them through a couple of different amps and am very impressed. Here are a few pictures of the work that goes into installing them – it is fairly manual labor since having custom saddles manufactured becomes reasonably priced only when the quantity is very high.<\/p>\n
I start with GraphTech piezo equipped saddles for Wilkinson tremolos and saw off just the front portion.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n I then put them up in the milling machine and mill them down to the correct thickness.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The next step is to shape them roughly. I usually do this on a Dremel with a disc grinder.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n I make sure the fit into the custom bridge\/tuner housings. These have been modified from the original by having a slot where the saddle would normally sit, and a hole for the wire to go through.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Next, after some final finishing work, is installing them into the guitar. I now rout a gradually deeper channel under the bridges themselves.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Each cable is hidden under the next bridge, ensuring there is some slack for intonation and string height adjustment.<\/p>\n