Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello all,

I’m planning the install for a mag mic in a guitar I’m building and wonder what everyone does with all the the extra wire. The cable going to the endpin jack is about twice the length isn’t needs to be. Do you just stuff it in there and hope it doesn’t rattle around? Or has anyone shortened it but cutting it off and solder the connections again?

I haven’t put the back on it yet and was thinking I would try and figure out wire routing while I have access.

I want to shorten it and make it as clean as possible on the inside. And I don’t want any wires hitting braces.

I’d love to know what you do. And let me m ow if I’m over thinking this.

Thank you in advance!!!

_________________
_Mike Tracz
MCT Guitars
https://www.instagram.com/mustcreatethings/
https://www.youtube.com/mustcreatethings

I use wire clips from StewMac. Unless the wire length was really excessive I would likely not bother to cut it. I like to run the wires to the side near (but not on) the top so they can't be seen through the soundhole.

https://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Supplies/Glues_and_Adhesives/Tapes_and_Adhesives/Self-stick_Wiring_Clips_for_Acoustic_Pickups_6_Pack.html

I've found they stay on better if I use a small drop of medium CA on the self stick pad, something we used to do in manufacturing when putting selfstick pads on fiberglass.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Steve, thank you for the reply and link to the clips. Seems like the way to go. I have a little time before I have to pull the trigger on this and I’m going to have to resist clipping and splicing wires.

Here’s a photo of what I’m working with.



Thanks again for the reply and suggestion.

If anyone else has experience or a suggestion please toss it in the ring!

_________________
_Mike Tracz
MCT Guitars
https://www.instagram.com/mustcreatethings/
https://www.youtube.com/mustcreatethings

Man that's a lot of wire. I definitely would not want it flopping around against the top. If you know exactly how you want to lay it out and can get into the jack I would consider making it shorter but would still route it around the side.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Haven't had to deal with this but as a sugestion you could fold the excess back and forth against the end jack and slip a piece of
heat shrink tubing over it to hold everything snugly to it... if you can snag a piece of heat shrink that is. Tape would do in a pinch
but the heat shrink would no doubt be a more professional choice.

We unsolder from the jack, trim to length, and resolder.

_________________
A constellation only takes shape when one maps the whole.
- Beth Brower

Awesome thanks guys! I think I’ll mark it for trimming but hold off and see if anyone else weighs in.

Much appreciated!!!

_________________
_Mike Tracz
MCT Guitars
https://www.instagram.com/mustcreatethings/
https://www.youtube.com/mustcreatethings

Trim it, for sure.

Thank you Barry! That’s the plan now!!!

_________________
_Mike Tracz
MCT Guitars
https://www.instagram.com/mustcreatethings/
https://www.youtube.com/mustcreatethings

Mini zip ties, stick on wire holders. I do that all the time on another pickup style