Official Luthiers Forum!

I plan to install an undersaddle pickup in a Classical Guitar. Since the Classical player usually rests the waist of the guitar on the left leg, this puts the tailblock directly on the right thigh, so a tailblock mounted jack would present a serious interference problem with the output plug and cord sticking into the right thigh.
I've seen pictured, some Classicals with the jack mounted in the large bout of the gutar side. This solves the interference problem, but I'm leery of mounting the jack in a 2mm thin side. Is there some sort of side reinforcement recommended for this type of installation?

Thanks,

Ray

Leery with good reason, side mounted jacks can result in some nasty cracks, although mostly from careless owners- walking away while the guitar is still plugged in, setting the guitar down right on the jack.

See if a right angle plug at the tailblock would be in the way of your leg, lots of classicals do have jacks mounted through the tailblocks, and i have not heard of the interference issue yet, although i dont deal with pro classical players all the time.

If you do feel the need to mount the jack through the side, you can reinforce the side by glueing support in there with handy magnets, or, if you are building the guitar, glue it in before closing the box. Perhaps a piece of plywood or laminated hardwood fit to the countour of the side, or just a veneer if you are feeling lucky, or nothing at all if danger is your middle name. The plywood would give the washer and nut something flat to bear against on the inside.

I think that a right angle plug may be out of the way enough, but maybe not, and it is a drag to rely on a specific type of cord.

_________________
Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY