Removing DTAR for repair

[GAD]

I have a glorious-sounding New Hartford D55 with a broken DTAR. I think I can fix it, but to do so I need to remove the PCB that's under the sound hole. From what I've read it's held on with double stick tape but it's on there good and tight. Has anyone ever removed one? I don't want to damage the guitar (obviously) because it's otherwise damn-near mint.

 

[GGJaguar]

Yes, I removed one using a small, thin (scientific) spatula. I would think any thin blade-like tool will work. It's actually held on by very thin adhesive foam rubber. It wasn't difficult with gentle, systematic prying, but I was nervous for the same reason as you.

 

[walrus]

I had it removed from my NH F-30RCE. I watched a local guitar tech gingerly pry it off as GGJ said. But he never took the velcro off for the battery pack from the inside of the neck block, so I did that myself. Same thing although no tools - just peeled it off gently.

BTW, I replaced it with a K&K pure mini.

walrus

 

[HeyMikey]

What did you put in the F30RCE? I am thinking of removing it from my F30CE because I don’t like the undersaddle.

 

[walrus]

What did you put in the F30RCE? I am thinking of removing it from my F30CE because I don’t like the undersaddle.

I edited my post right before I saw your post! K&K pure mini.

I hardly ever play it plugged in, and I almost just left it with no electronics, but I always liked the sound of the K&K in my D64. I didn't like the volume control, etc under the soundhole if I wasn't going to use it much.

Second, and this is probably just me, I was not a fan of the battery pack bag stuck on the neck block. Does it affect the acoustic properties of the guitar? Does it throw off the "balance" of the weight of the guitar? Who knows, but it bothered me.

walrus

 

[geoguy]

FYI, an excellent technique for removing double-stick tape-mounted automotive badging, is to slice through the foam tape with dental floss. Minimal risk of damage to surrounding surfaces, too, given that no prying is involved.

If the PCB is mounted with foam tape, I would expect it to work for that application, too. Although it might be a little awkward to get it started inside the guitar body.

 

[GAD]

Thanks all! That floss idea is brilliant! I will try again to get it out.

 

[kostask]

I edited my post right before I saw your post! K&K pure mini.

I hardly ever play it plugged in, and I almost just left it with no electronics, but I always liked the sound of the K&K in my D64. I didn't like the volume control, etc under the soundhole if I wasn't going to use it much.

Second, and this is probably just me, I was not a fan of the battery pack bag stuck on the neck block. Does it affect the acoustic properties of the guitar? Does it throw off the "balance" of the weight of the guitar? Who knows, but it bothered me.

walrus

if you have the full setup, and don't intend to use it on anything, I would like to buy it from you.

 

[fronobulax]

Thanks all! That floss idea is brilliant! I will try again to get it out.

 

[walrus]

if you have the full setup, and don't intend to use it on anything, I would like to buy it from you.

Sold it to an LTGer a week after the job was done!

walrus