Official Luthiers Forum!

Well, I have struggled with this in the past. My hands are just too big. And with the Uke I just finished, there was no way to get anything of mine in that sound hole. Nothing like an impasse to help the mind really focus. And now, this just seems so obvious!! But, I've not recently seen anyone post this... so here is what I did. I took a long piece of sewing thread and and tied a safety pin to one end, and a looped zip tie to the other. Dropped the safety pin through the jack hole and pulled it out the sound hole. The zip tie on the other end is finish safe (soft) and won't come through the jack hole. By now, you know where I am going with this. Put the thread through the side holes in the jack (after you put all nuts and washers on). Tie a knot. Now, with the guitar vertical, lower bout up, use the thread to slowly, carefully, pull the preamp jack through the jack hole. Put on the washers and nut. The nut will cut the thread. Keep an eye on the holes in the jack for orientation. Once past the holes, insert a skinny eyeglass screwdriver through them. Tighten the nut and screw on the decorative jack nut.

Done. That was so obvious. And I bet a few of you do it that way. Perhaps, I'm the only one who did not know!

Mike

I also have big hands, here's the way I do it. Dowel thru the end hole, stick the jack on the dowel (friction fit) at the sound hole. Pull it in place. Drop nut and washer over the dowel then proceed as you have stated.

Whatever skins the cat.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

That will skin said cat as well! Poor cat... doesn't stand a chance around here.

I don't want to hijack this thread but what pre-amp-jack did you use?

Bob

Not hijacking at all! Fishman Matrix Infinity, voiced for Uke. See my Tenor Uke thread for pictures.

Mike

I use a plug on a dowel. Plug through the jack hole up to the sound hole,push the plug into the jack and pull back through the hole. Install washers and nuts.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I just use a piece of coat hanger, with the about a 1/8" 90 degree bend at one end that fits into those little holes in the jack. I feed it through the end hole up to the sound hole and now I have the jack "hooked" and I can pull it through, works great!

Shane

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Canada

I dunno. I think all of these ideas are clever, maybe even obvious. But still, I like mine the best so far since it has the least potential for any possible damage to the finish. Admittedly, the damage potential is low, but not non-existent. I'm a bit picky during the end phase. I even wear latex gloves and all of that.

Thanks!

Mike