This afternoon I strung up Delrene's tenor and installed the MiSi pickup. Thought you might enjoy seeing the process.
First you must hold the instrument firmly. Here I protect it with foam pads and clamp it firmly to the edge of the work table. Notice the clamp pressure is only on the very end over the butt plate. You can exert pretty firm pressure here.
Next, I find the exact mid point at the end piece and score it with the sharp point of an awl to guide the drill bit. You sure don't want the drill to stray and marr the finish here.
Now I drill a guide hole entirely through the butt block with a small drill bitt. The big step bitt will follow this hole faithfully.
This is the step drill bitt. I believe they are made to drill holes in sheet metal but I have successfully used this many times for perfect holes in wood for pickup installation
Now the step bitt is about half way into the end block. I will go entirely through at its maximum width, exactly right for the barrel of the pickup.
With the big hole drilled, now it is time for the tiny hole in the bridge through which the piezo cable of the pickup must be led. I drill the hole, and then move the bit around to lengthen and widen it a little. Pulling the cable through this, from the inside, is difficult and the hole needs to be enlarged a bit.
And here it goes, deep into the ukulele. It will sink itself entirely into and through the end block
With the holes drilled now it is time to install the pickup. I use a wooden dowel just the right size to firmly fit into the end hole of the pickup barrel.
Here is the marvelous MiSi pickup for ukuleles. I have also used it successfully in my big bass. After a one minute charging, it will power your amp for 16 hours. Truly an amazing device. I have installed dozens successfully.
In order to get the piezo cable up through the bridge, I insert a thin steel wire into the hole , pull it out through the sound hole, and carefully wrap it around the cable in this fashion. Now I am ready to pull the barrel of the pickup from within the uke out through the hole in the end after inserting my wooden dowel.
Here I have gently brought the barrel out of the hole, but it protrudes a little too far.I must push it back into the instrument and adjust the nut and washers on the barrel. Then bring it back out the hole to attach a washer and nut.
Now it is adjusted correctly. With a tiny wrench I have tightened the outside lock nut and now can screw on the end cap and strap button. The pickup is installed if I can successfully pul the piezo cable out of the hole in the bridge.
And here it comes. Now it is just a matter of undoing the wire and laying the cable in the groove of the bridge.
Then the saddle is simply placed down over the cable and the job is complete. I sanded down the bone saddle an amount equal to the thickness of the piezo cable so that the action remains at the proper height. I installed the strings, gave the MiSi a 60 second charge and connected it up to my amp. Works like a charm. Job successfully completed. Delrene's uke is finished.
