$3 contact mic

 by zedoktar
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In a nutshell, I didn't want to buy a contact mic and I like making things. To do what I did, you must first acquire the following:

piezo conductor -  I got 5 for a buck on Ebay.
Wires                   - I recycled mine from a toy but insulate copper wire is cheap.
1/4' stereo jack  - another dollar on ebay but you can get them in lots of 3-5 for the same amount.
clear plastic container  - I used an old peanut butter container but really, anything works.

Soldiering pen and skills. Self explanatory.

Its simple:

Red wire goes from middle part of piezo to the contact for the long piece on the stereo jack. This is the + hot wire. The black wire goes from the outer ring of the piezo to the other contact on the stereo jack. this is the - ground wire.
I drilled a hole in the side of the container for the jack and the bottom for the contact mic, then attached them. Its a rough piece but its a prototype. Now you just plug a cable into it, connect your recording device, and go!

You can see it in action here:

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