Removing Older Factory Installed Fishman Jack

plaidseason

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I’m replacing the pickup in my 90s DCE1, but I’m unsure how to remove the end pin switch jack

I’ve swapped out many pickups and jacks, but never this type.

can anyone offer input?

9AD78F00-1FBB-4202-AC5A-DA274559D86D.jpeg
 

wileypickett

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Many of my acoustic guitars came with pickups installed. Since I never use pickups, I've yanked out virtually every one, so I'm pretty familiar with the various species.

Pretty sure that's an early one-piece pickup jack that -- unlike most -- DOESN'T screw in. Rather it is squeezed (or possibly hammered) in, the way some tuner ferrule bushings are.

Like those ferrules, the jack has grooves in the barrel which lock it in place and prevent it from turning. (So don't try to unscrew it!)

First check inside with a mirror to see if there is a nut and washer securing it. (I don't think there is.)

If not, you just have to pull it out -- which can be confoundingly difficult. Since I never cared about the pickups enough to try to salvage them, I snip the wires leading to the jack before tyring to pull it out. If that seems too drastic, you can always heat the soldering points with a soldering iron in order to remove the wires after the jack is partially out.

As I say, it's a tough job getting the damn thing out, and risky using anything as a lever to extract it (like a clawhammer) without damaging the jack and possibly the guitar(!), so if you have resort to that method, pad the guitar (and the jack if you care about it) and apply pressure slowly rather than wrenching it.

I know -- it seems like there's got to be an easier way, but having removed several of these type jacks, I haven t found one. Brute force seems to be the only thing that works.

Good luck!
 
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plaidseason

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Many of my acoustic guitars came with pickups installed. Since I never use pickups, I've yanked out virtually every one, so I'm pretty familiar with the various species.

Pretty sure that's an early one-piece pickup jack that -- unlike most -- DOESN'T screw in. Rather it is squeezed (or possibly hammered) in, the way some tuner ferrule bushings are.

Like those ferrules, the jack has grooves in the barrel which lock it in place and prevent it from turning. (So don't try to unscrew it!)

First check inside with a mirror to see if there is a screw and washer securing it. (I don't think there is.)

If not, you just have to pull it out -- which can be confoundingly difficult. Since I never cared about the pickups enough to try to salvage them, I snip the wires leading to the jack before tyring to pull it out. If that seems too drastic, you can always heat the soldering points with a soldering iron in order to remove the wires after the jack is partially out.

As I say, it's a tough job getting the damn thing out, and risky using anything as a lever to extract it (like a clawhammer) without damaging the jack and possibly the guitar(!), so if you have resort to that method, pad the guitar (and the jack if you care about it) and apply presure slowly rather than wrenching it.

I know -- it seems like there's got to be an easier way, but having removed several of these type jacks, I haven t found one. Brute force seems to be the only thing that works.

Good luck!

Thank you! I greatly appreciate the input.

I had a feeling!

Upon second look with my better mirror, it's possible there is a nut holding it on. I need to take off the strings to confirm or more likely, unconfirm that.
 

walrus

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Many of my acoustic guitars came with pickups installed. Since I never use pickups, I've yanked out virtually every one, so I'm pretty familiar with the various species.

Ha! Just today I had the electronics removed from my '11 F-30RCE. Simply not using them, and I don't care for the large end pin jack.

I guess I have a new model, an "F-30RC"...

walrus
 
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