How am I going to get this under saddle pickup in?

UkeKiddinMe

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Ok, I didn't plan this out too well. :)

I have an acoustic baritone that I want to put an under saddle pickup in.
I bought the pickup - great price from cbgitty, BTW.

But - I have a Riptide. [See my avatar if you don't know what they look like] They have no large center sound hole. Just an upper bout hole and a side one - and both are pretty small.

So, I'm either stuck, or I'm going to need special tools and a special mirror, yes? Anybody have any advice?
 
Well, it's not as hard as a soundboard transducer. You will have the remove the saddle (held in by tension of the strings), drill a hole for the wire. You will also need to drill a hole for the jack, usually through the endblock. Then it's just a question of threading the wire and bolting in the jack. If you're uncomfortabe, take it to your local repairperson
 
And I might add, be sure if you can, that the cable to the endpin jack is as short as possible so there is not a bunch of loose wire inside. It will rattle, vibrate, and perhaps worst of all, cause feedback and/or humming if it is too close to the pickup and/or endpin.

Normally the excess cable is looped tightly and held in place on the inside back of the uke with some type of an adhesive fastener. But you can't get in there to do that!
 
Normally the excess cable is looped tightly and held in place on the inside back of the uke with some type of an adhesive fastener. But you can't get in there to do that!

Exactly. Which is why I created the thread. :)

Outside of the cable concern, I have a much bigger problem. Ok, I drill the hole in the bridge and slide the saddle and cable assembly through that. I drill into the endblock, and hopefully, I grab the cable through and wire it to the jack. I push the jack into the hole in the endblock. Now - how do I tighten the nut on the other side of the jack. I'm hosed I think.
 
The key is to get the inner star washer and nut in the right position first. You will know that they are properly located because just the right amount of jack will be sticking out of the tail (enough for the the outer nut, washer and cap to fit without excess threading showing). Most endpin jacks have a very small hole through the sides laterally that you can use to stabilize the jack and keep it from spinning when you tighten the outer nut. Just thread the nut on far enough that it passes the lateral holes, and then use something thin like an allen wrench put through the holes to stabilize the jack and keep it from spinning while you tighten the outer nut. Since the inner nut is already in the right place, all you have to do is tighten the outer one and everything is good. If the jack spins at all, it will thread backwards through the inner nut essentially tightening it, which will mess everything up, so make sure it doesn't move.

Once you have the nut on, just thread on the endpin cap and you should be ready let it rip! Just make sure you double check everything (especially your solder joints) because its no fun to have to take the whole thing apart and start over.

As far as getting the jack into the hole through the block and tail of the instrument, just get a really cheap guitar cable and cut it in half (leaving about 3 feet of cable with a 1/4 inch jack on one end). Use one that has a rubbery encasement where the jack meets the wire (not a steel one, that's why I say cheap). Take a razor blade and shave down the rubber encasement so that its as thin as it can be without exposing bear wires (you want it thin enough that you can thread the nut and washer over the 1/4 tip completely). Push that end through the endpin hole into the body of the instrument and let it come all the way forward and out of the soundhole in the front. At this point (you should have the jack also coming out of this soundhole too) plug the cable into the jack, and use the other end of the 1/2 cable to pull the jack back into the soundhole and all the way back into the hole you have made for it in the end block and tail. You will have to do this a few times to get the inner nut and star washer in the right place (just try moving it around to different point on the threading till you get the right amount sticking out the back side). You can then thread the outer nut and washer down the cut side of the 1/2 cable, over your razor bladed thin rubber encasement at the jack end of the cable that is still plugged into the jack, and directly onto the threads of the jack. Tighten that thing down past the lateral holes, stick your allen wrench through the holes to stabilize, and tighten it up completely.

Make sure to tighten the nut enough to compress the starwasher. This will create back pressure against the jack that pulls the nuts tight on the threading and makes for a much more reliable hold (less likely to come loose over time).

This is really hard to explain, but I think its the best way to deal with endpin jacks, and certainly the quickest. Let me know if you want me to clarify any of the steps, I'm not sure if I explained well, but that's my best shot! Good luck, you can do it!
 
I do not envy you Ukekiddingme, good luck with it
 
By the way, I watched the video cited. Good video. That pin, though seemed to be the reverse of mine.
He pulled the end of the pin through the hole with a dowel, and then tightened the nut on the outside.
I can't do that. I have to push the whole pin in and then be able to tighten the nut on the inside. Thus me likely hosed.

50-065-01_Product_Image_1.270.JPG
 
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If the end doesn't come off that could be a booger to tighten. Maybe someone knows a trick.

Anyway of returning/exchanging it?
 
I bought it as a prewired kit. I'm ok with not returning it. I'm gonna use that pickup.

I think this is my answer:

Pin.jpg
 
My favorite tool for retro-fitting pickups is a Crochet Hook. It wouldn't work with your original model, but it is ideal for fishing wires and jacks from inside the body of instruments and will hold the jacks quite firmly while tightening nuts. A specialist knitting shop stocks them in reasonably long lengths and the hook shape won't damage any wiring attached to the unit. Works for me :)
 
That jack that screws into the outside of the uke is gonna be hard to get the filament wire connected to. Since the jack can't be brought through the hole into the body you would have to bring the wire to the jack inside the body, which might be impossible. Just get a regular endpin jack that has nuts on both sides, which should only be ten bucks or so.
 
I think I am going to give this a spin. This combo is actually easier with the side hole of a Riptide than
a top soundhole.

Pickup.jpg
 
I think I am going to give this a spin. This combo is actually easier with the side hole of a Riptide than
a top soundhole.

View attachment 55306

I'm going for it today over my brother-in-laws house. Probably while drinking a few beers.
Won't have the needlenose to attempt to finish the job, but we will drill for that endpin jack, as well as drill for the pickup.

Say a prayer.
 
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