Simple Internal Acoustic Trigger
by Michael Beatnik
Quick and easy way to internally triggered acoustics. Great place to start. I started this way and used the same crossmember components for my more advanced setup.
Parts Needed:
1. Radio Shack Transducer #273-073 with housing removed.
2. Polyuerethane Foam (airconditioner weather seal)
3. Two 3″x3/4″ corner braces.
4. Crossmember Material (I used 1″x1″x1/8″ thickness aluminum u-channel, use whatever you prefer and is available).
5. Screws and washers same thread as lug screws on your shell but 1/4″ longer to allow for corner braces. I used Bonded Sealing Washers (washers with rubber on one side) and sandwiched the corner braces between the rubber sides.
6. Bolts , washers and nylock nuts to attach crossmember to corner braces.
7. 1/4″ jack and cable.
8. Plastic hole plug to fit vent hole in tom.
And don’t forget your mesh heads!
1.Cut foam to the shape shown. A bandsaw works great, you can also use an electric carving knife, but BE CAREFUL!
2.Cut the center as shown and glue the piezo inside making sure the foam is completly glued back together and the piezo is very secure.
3.Solder the cable to the piezo wires and put aside.
4.Drill holes in the corner braces to match the lugs of the tom.5.Cut the crossmember to fit inside the shell and drill it for the corner braces.
6.Assemble the corner braces and crossmember inside the shell.
7.Attatch the trigger to the crossmember using two sided tape (I used Carpet tape).
8.Run the cable through the vent hole in the shell and solder the 1/4″ jack to the end. I also used plastic hole plugs in the vent holes drilled to the cable size for a tighter fit. I also secured the piezo wires to the crossmember.
9.When finished the foam should sit about 1/8″ to1/4″ higher than the bearing edge of the tom. You might need to adjust the size of the foam or add spacers to raise or lower your crossmember to achieve this.
Thanx Michael for sharing!
Best.
www.eareckon.com
