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I am thinking of adding electronics to my archtop build. I don't particularly like endpin jacks because I use straplocks on my guitars. The box is already closed (and the inside sealed with shellac). Right now I can only think of adding a jack to the side of the guitar in the usually location. Normally, I think I would have added a little extra bracing/patch in that area if I was going to drill for a jack..but it is too late. Anyone have any other ways they have monted an output jack? Any cool methods? Maybe a decorative patch on the outside of the body?

Joe

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Joe

Joe, how about drilling an inch or so (assuming a wide enough tailblock) to the side of your strap button? Or, if your body is deep enough, drill the jack hole where your strap button is now, and move the button up or down. Your big problem here is to make the hardware placement look planned. Maybe center the jack and offset the button?

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Dan
http://www.acme-archtops.com

Thanks Dan,

I have not drilled any holes for any hardware yet, so its a blank canvas. In fact, the neck is still not glued in because the binding hasn't been added yet. So I can manipulate the body however I want, but I can't really get inside it. Do you think glue would stick to the shellac sealer on the inside? If so, I could pull a patch/brace thru a hole with a string and clamp it tight to the side on the lower bought. Then drill the jack hole where the string was.

Here is the end graft. The tail block is about 3.5"-4" wide. Tail graft is about 1.5" wide on a tapper.

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Joe

Joe, I see you have some body depth - consider spacing the holes by thirds, or thereabouts, on the centerline of the end graft, and perhaps put the jack high and the strap button low. That way the jack can anchor the tailpiece strap (I'm guessing that's going to be your tailpiece approach) and the button will be in the clear below for the straplock. And before anyone points out that you may not like the strap closer to the back, I'll mention that I've done this in reverse, too - jack low, button high. This may be the best arrangement, but you should check that the straplock will fit between the arms of the tailpiece strap, which will hook over the jack.

I drill AND TAP for those screw-in jacks, and before I install the jack I soak the endblock threads with superglue. Unnecessary overkill, perhaps, but if your tailpiece is lumber - heck, even if it's plywood (mine are) - the threads won't crumble. If your endblock is lumber, you might want to drill the tapping hole 1/32" oversize to reduce the tendency of the tap to wedge a split into the block.

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Dan
http://www.acme-archtops.com