MUCH LATER NOTE (July 2003): I recently obtained a Peavey 
     "Microbass" 20 watt amplifier. Using the Radio Shack 
     "buzzer" double piezo element pickup described here, I was
     VERY impressed to see that Doodle-bass #3 with this 
     pickup/amp setup is a truly excellent sounding and playing 
     EUB (Electric Upright Bass). This thing would work fine in 
     any situation where an upright bass or EUB was called for. 
     I've had the opportunity to play a commercially made UEB and 
     it held no edge over the Doodle Bass #3 with double piezo 
     pickup. The pickup did not overdrive the Peavey amp at all 
     and no matching or preamp circuit was required between pickup 
     and amp. Not (yet) having a long end-pin on #3, I find it 
     very convenient to play sitting down, with the pot resting on 
     the floor at my feet.

This "Doodle-bass" plays SO smoothly and is such a pleasure to 
play that I figured a pickup would enable it to be useful in a 
band situation, so I made an extremely simple piezo, acoustic, 
contact double-pickup. The piezo transducers can be bought from 
any Radio Shack store for $1.49 each. The Radio Shack part number 
is 273-073A (they sell several different models, which should work 
just as well) and the the plastic cases must first be completely 
removed -- this is not easy without damaging the transducer 
element. The best way is to take a bare hacksaw blade and 
carefully cut all around the top perimeter of the plastic - so as 
to remove the entire top. Then (at the hole where the two wires 
enter) (clip off the wires first - they aren't needed) saw through 
the "band" (the side). With a pair of pliers, bend & work off the 
plastic "band". The actual piezo transducer is quite fragile so 
take care not to bend or otherwise insult the element any. When 
this is done, the piezo transducer should release.

After considerble experimentation, I finally have the Radio Shack 
piezo contact pickups positioned "properly" and working VERY 
nicely. The objectionable random finger scuffs and other noises, 
that were quite noticeable in earler experiments, are gone -- the 
tone/sound and volume are now excellent and the setup works/sounds 
every bit as good as I'd hoped it would. Very nice bassy sound - 
well balanced high to low - not trebly at all and as loud as can 
be (if desired) (the most my ears will stand is with the amp 
volume set at 1/4).

What made the difference is that the piezo elements are now 
sandwiched between the bottom of the bridge and the sound-board. 
The weight/pressure of the strings bears directly on the piezo 
element via the bridge (the crystal side of piezo element is 
positioned facing up, with the brass side contacting with the 
sound-board).

The pickups being pinched under the bridge adds slightly to the 
string heigth, but not enough to be noticeable while playing. At 
this point I've only tried this setup with doodle-bass versions #2 
& #3 (the ones tuned EADG - identical to a big standup bass).

I took pains to be certain that the piezo elements laid 
absolutely flat, with no solder globs or anything else sticking 
up. With the element very flat, I've experienced no tendency for 
it to crack, even with all the pressure on it from the bridge & 
strings.

NOTE (mid 2002): I recently rigged up a doodle-bass for a friend 
who has a Gorilla GG-20, 20 watt amp. These little piezo elements 
really kick out the voltage, and the output of the piezo pickup 
was too much for the Gorilla --- it made for a distorted sound, 
particularily on the lower two strings. This was completely cured 
by inserting a.002 microfarad capacitor (a fifty cent Radio Shack 
item) in series in the bass to amp line. This reduced the output 
of the piezo element to the point where the distortion was 
completely eliminated. The amp was still more than loud enough. 
This capacitor had no adverse effect of the instrument's tone or 
"high-to-low" balance.

                    .002 microfarad capacitor
                        
 to piezo pickup <------------|(--------------> to amplifier
                    center conductor of cable  

 Nothing has to be done to the ground side (shielded wire) of 
 the line.

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Dennis Havlena
Mackinac Straits, northern Michigan