Back in 1998, I had just purchased the Japanese Takamine '98 LTD as my 3rd stage acoustic guitar. ( each guitar is tuned to various alternate open tunings, as one is usually tuned to standard 440 ) Only a couple weeks later during an outdoor gig, between songs, I was adjusting my mic stand using both hands and the guitar came off the strap and landed face down ON CONCRETE!!! The guitar literally bounced once & landed face down, on it's top. Everyone gasped. I was absolutely terrified. I was afraid to pick it up to see the horrific damage. But I got REALLY lucky ( to be so unlucky ) because the guitar only suffered a single tiny ding about 1/8th of an inch across, right on the corner of the binding. Ya couldn't even see it, unless you inspected the guitar closely. There weren't even any other marks or scratches. We couldn't believe it !!! I immediately bought strap locks, lol.
Sounds quite good. Congrats! It usually works best to drill a small diameter pilot hole so you can make sure everything is aligned properly, then drill the final hole using the pilot hole as a guide.
I just finished installing one of these on my guitar and was still a bit hot under the collar when I saw your video. Thank you! You changed my frown to a smile.
wow that sounds so good brother... I am considering buying one of these for my Ventura 12-string. This guitar in fact is my guitar horror story... it was the last thing given to me from my grandmother before she passed 30 years ago and I have cherished it all of my life. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to play it for nearly 15 years because a friend of mine was playing it and got a phone call, had it hanging from his neck when the cording holding my strap to the neck came undone and he tried to grab it before it hit the concrete, saved the neck, but the lower bout hit the ground and broke horribly. I did a horrible botched job getting it glued back together and trying to make it work but it's not been right. That said, I'm fixing to start working on it again, replacing the nut and maybe saddle to get it playable again and IF (big if...) I can get it playing easy, I'll see if this pickup will work in it and I'll use it at church. The tone of the guitar was beautiful before, the tone is nice now but I messed the nut slots up and didn't know how to set it up back then. Hopefully I've learned something over the years and my first baby will once again sing!! thanks for the great video. gives me hope in believing i can install this on my own! be blessed brother!!
This was a very interesting and informative video, thanks so much! I just bought a 2015 Martin hd28v and I am deciding between having a K&K pure mini or LR Baggs hifi installed in it or I may attempt to install a Fishman Rare Earth Mic Blend in it. I'm fairly handy and am confident that I can do a good and successful job. Thanks for posting. You are fun and interesting to watch. 😊
@@TheOnlineBusker Putting a knitting needle through the hole and stick the pin onto the needle then thread it through the hole. Don't forget the washers. You can also use a wooden dowl taped to a string and then pull it through (I like that more...)
@@guitarplayer1994 Hi thank you, I actually did it on Sunday, just got a reamer tool (there was already a hole) and I could reach the hole from inside so it was an easy job!
Sasha, that pickup sounds really good but I'am not even gonna to drill into my guitar I'll just pay to get it installed, anyway love all the cool videos!!!
@@SashaIvantic I'm actually a bad handyman and this video is reassuring! but you are a crook: it’s very good work! for a great sound with very nice guitar playing!
Place a strip of wide painter’s tape on the wood surface over the hole. After marking where you are going to drill, drill through the tape and into the wood. Make sure the drill is centered and that you are holding the drill steady. When done, remove the tape. This will help keep it from chipping or damaging the finish.
See my other comment. Even though I invested in a side reamer drill bit, it was indeed rather terrifying to drill holes in all 4 of my acoustic guitars, lol. Drilling little holes for strap buttons is no big deal, IF done properly. But drilling a 15/32" hole for an end jack is a whole different ball game.
I saw many people just take the cable out from the sound hole with fishman rare earth blend. No need to cut some of your guitar. I think this is good to preserve a guitar.
Anyone got any tips to stop the cable clattering about inside? I have a sound hole pickup with far too much cable running down to an endpin socket. Do I cut that cable as short as possible and let what's left hang? Or do I bundle it all together and stuff it in a sock?! Will Gaffa tape hold a load of cable or a shortened cable to the wood on the inside or is that likely to fall off? Should I trail the cable all around the inside perimeter and Gaffa it there? My other thought was to thread the cable down inside a shoelace tunnel or even to knit a tube so that when it clatters at least it does so with a muffled whisper. Maybe I'm missing a better and simpler solution?
You're VERY lucky that ya didn't tear out the lacquer finish while using a common twist drill bit to drill that hole!!! For people on a budget, it's best to start with a step-drill bit to get the correct diameter of the hole and THEN use the twist bit to drill all the way through. But even that can be risky. The very best & safest tool for drilling holes for jacks in acoustic guitars is what is known as a side reamer bit, but they are extremely expensive ( $128.00 from Stew Mac. ) There is the ongoing debate between various luthiers pertaining to using or NOT using masking tape. One camp contends that the tape helps protect the lacquer finish from tearing out, while the other camp contends that when removing the tape, the tape itself can rip the lacquer finish loose around the hole. If one chooses to use tape, use ONLY masking tape/painter's tape that doesn't have very much adhesive. I just installed the Journey Tek EP001K pickup system ( only $50 each, and they actually sound a little warmer than the tried & true K&K Pure Mini, which has just seen a ridiculous price hike from $100 up to $150 ) in all 4 of my acoustic guitars at the same time, so I wanted to play it safe & purchased the expensive side reamer drill bit. There are advantages & disadvantages to ALL forms of amplifying an acoustic guitar, and the Fishman Rare Earth Blend is really a great choice yet pricey.........but for the $50 price, it's hard to beat the Journey Tek EP001K. Other than the jack, ya don't even know the Journey Tek EP001K ( or the K&K Pure Mini ) system is installed, it uses NO batteries, and the tone & volume is totally controlled by an acoustic amp, a PA system, or DI box. For playing with a loud band and/or in large venues at high volumes, the Fishman Rare Earth Blend is the way to go.......but that can get extremely expensive if ya rely on several acoustic guitars like I do.......for the purpose of having each guitar tuned to various alternate open tunings. Because it sucks having to continuously re-tune in front of your audience, and doing so, is really tough on guitar strings. Breaking strings during a performance is every guitarist's worst nightmare.
It always pays to RESEARCH BEFORE doing any such installations. You can go to any hardware store & buy the correct size long wooden dowel that fits snug into the jack. Ya push the long dowel through the hole in the guitar, and push the end of the dowel snug into the jack........and then simply pull the wooden dowel back out of the hole with the end jack attached. The wooden dowel will not harm the jack.
RESPECT!!! Ik kreeg al haast een hartaanval toen ik het jou zag doen, dus ik moet er zelf nooit aan beginnen. Vraagje: dit is dus ‘slechts’ een humbucker en een microfoon? Geen piëzo? Ik ben het namelijk roerend met je eens, maar ik gebruik de LR Baggs Anthem. En als ik dit zie en hoor, dan zou ik zomaar eens voor deze kunnen gaan. Alleen… geeft dat microfoontje geen feedback problemen?
Hi sasha. Thanks for a very informative and instructional video. You still had me chuckling though. You need a child around to help you install it! Can you please tell me, does the output act as a button for the guitar strap or would I need to install a button somewhere else Many thanks
As a guy who professionally drills holes into aircraft day after day, I am thoroughly impressed with how straight you were able to keep that bit. (I feel like I'm teeing up a double entendre penis joke 😊)
This was great! Funny for us, not for you! I plan on installing in my Martin.... or I might let my luthier do it haha very scary taking a drill to your guitar isn't it!!
@@SashaIvantic After a bit of research and advice from my luthier, the right tool is a "reamer" ("NOT A DRILL" he said), which should be used by hand. He told me it's quite easy with this tool, and "a good learning experience" for me...... (He is 2 hours away by car, so I will try it myself)
It's incredible. I'm using the guitar on a tour and we're playing with IEM's. So the the mic is fully engaged and it just sounds stellar. We had wedges during rehearsals and I was good with the 50/50 mix and getting no squeels.
TIP. Drop a guitar cable through the hole from the back. Fish it out through the sound hole. Plug it in to the Fishman, draw it back through the hole. You may have to temporarily put some electrical tape (or similar) around the connection join but shouldn't need to
You really shouldn't be encouraging others to think they can do this too... You may have been just lucky to get out done that good. There are a bunch of techniques that a Luthier / repair worker will know to avoid even the smallest damage.
Me and grampa are saving up all of our cash!!! We are going to start our own a donkey ranch!!! If any of you boys need a place to rent donkeys get ahold of me... We are going to lease them out!!!
What is your guitar horror story?
Back in 1998, I had just purchased the Japanese Takamine '98 LTD as my 3rd stage acoustic guitar. ( each guitar is tuned to various alternate open tunings, as one is usually tuned to standard 440 ) Only a couple weeks later during an outdoor gig, between songs, I was adjusting my mic stand using both hands and the guitar came off the strap and landed face down ON CONCRETE!!! The guitar literally bounced once & landed face down, on it's top. Everyone gasped. I was absolutely terrified. I was afraid to pick it up to see the horrific damage. But I got REALLY lucky ( to be so unlucky ) because the guitar only suffered a single tiny ding about 1/8th of an inch across, right on the corner of the binding. Ya couldn't even see it, unless you inspected the guitar closely. There weren't even any other marks or scratches. We couldn't believe it !!! I immediately bought strap locks, lol.
Sounds quite good. Congrats!
It usually works best to drill a small diameter pilot hole so you can make sure everything is aligned properly, then drill the final hole using the pilot hole as a guide.
thanks for taking us along this journey with you! that was fun and sounds great!
5:34 In the dark with a girl for the first time
I just finished installing one of these on my guitar and was still a bit hot under the collar when I saw your video. Thank you! You changed my frown to a smile.
Sounds awesome!!!!
Thanks!
Thinking of trying one of these on my bouzouki...
I just got one of these for my Guild D-40. I just hang the cable out of the sound hole -- works and sounds great. No drilling.
wow that sounds so good brother... I am considering buying one of these for my Ventura 12-string. This guitar in fact is my guitar horror story... it was the last thing given to me from my grandmother before she passed 30 years ago and I have cherished it all of my life. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to play it for nearly 15 years because a friend of mine was playing it and got a phone call, had it hanging from his neck when the cording holding my strap to the neck came undone and he tried to grab it before it hit the concrete, saved the neck, but the lower bout hit the ground and broke horribly. I did a horrible botched job getting it glued back together and trying to make it work but it's not been right. That said, I'm fixing to start working on it again, replacing the nut and maybe saddle to get it playable again and IF (big if...) I can get it playing easy, I'll see if this pickup will work in it and I'll use it at church. The tone of the guitar was beautiful before, the tone is nice now but I messed the nut slots up and didn't know how to set it up back then. Hopefully I've learned something over the years and my first baby will once again sing!! thanks for the great video. gives me hope in believing i can install this on my own! be blessed brother!!
great video! im happy I only plan on installing it on my harley benton and not my martin guitar 😅
Thank you Im going to give this a try
This was a very interesting and informative video, thanks so much! I just bought a 2015 Martin hd28v and I am deciding between having a K&K pure mini or LR Baggs hifi installed in it or I may attempt to install a Fishman Rare Earth Mic Blend in it. I'm fairly handy and am confident that I can do a good and successful job. Thanks for posting. You are fun and interesting to watch. 😊
I enjoyed this very much. Very useful and a good laugh! You probably didnt see the knitting needle trick till after you made this.
What's the knitting needle trick?? I might need it :)
@@TheOnlineBusker Putting a knitting needle through the hole and stick the pin onto the needle then thread it through the hole. Don't forget the washers. You can also use a wooden dowl taped to a string and then pull it through (I like that more...)
@@guitarplayer1994 Hi thank you, I actually did it on Sunday, just got a reamer tool (there was already a hole) and I could reach the hole from inside so it was an easy job!
Haha, thanks for the video! This is what pickup installation actually looks like :)
If you put a 1/4" guitar cable through the hole and attach the cable to the end pin jack it easily comes through the hole that's been drilled.
Watching you drilling the guitar gave me adrenaline palpitations. You have big balls. Pickup sounds great, thinking of this for my OM28 MD.
My trick when installing the endpin is to tape it to a knitting needle then just pull it through! Walla! Job done.
Sasha, that pickup sounds really good but I'am not even gonna to drill into my guitar I'll just pay to get it installed, anyway love all the cool videos!!!
Very useful video , instructive and very funny ! I will try !!!
Please don’t use my tips. I’m an amateur 🤣
@@SashaIvantic I'm actually a bad handyman and this video is reassuring! but you are a crook: it’s very good work! for a great sound with very nice guitar playing!
Place a strip of wide painter’s tape on the wood surface over the hole. After marking where you are going to drill, drill through the tape and into the wood. Make sure the drill is centered and that you are holding the drill steady. When done, remove the tape. This will help keep it from chipping or damaging the finish.
Very funny video. 🤣😂 I've the same experience when installing similar pickup on my guitar
Congrats, entertaining
See my other comment. Even though I invested in a side reamer drill bit, it was indeed rather terrifying to drill holes in all 4 of my acoustic guitars, lol. Drilling little holes for strap buttons is no big deal, IF done properly. But drilling a 15/32" hole for an end jack is a whole different ball game.
I saw many people just take the cable out from the sound hole with fishman rare earth blend. No need to cut some of your guitar. I think this is good to preserve a guitar.
Anyone got any tips to stop the cable clattering about inside? I have a sound hole pickup with far too much cable running down to an endpin socket. Do I cut that cable as short as possible and let what's left hang? Or do I bundle it all together and stuff it in a sock?! Will Gaffa tape hold a load of cable or a shortened cable to the wood on the inside or is that likely to fall off? Should I trail the cable all around the inside perimeter and Gaffa it there?
My other thought was to thread the cable down inside a shoelace tunnel or even to knit a tube so that when it clatters at least it does so with a muffled whisper.
Maybe I'm missing a better and simpler solution?
😂😂😂 funny video!!!
One advice, inside the female jack you have two small holes, with an old string you can pull It in an easy way.
You're VERY lucky that ya didn't tear out the lacquer finish while using a common twist drill bit to drill that hole!!! For people on a budget, it's best to start with a step-drill bit to get the correct diameter of the hole and THEN use the twist bit to drill all the way through. But even that can be risky. The very best & safest tool for drilling holes for jacks in acoustic guitars is what is known as a side reamer bit, but they are extremely expensive ( $128.00 from Stew Mac. ) There is the ongoing debate between various luthiers pertaining to using or NOT using masking tape. One camp contends that the tape helps protect the lacquer finish from tearing out, while the other camp contends that when removing the tape, the tape itself can rip the lacquer finish loose around the hole. If one chooses to use tape, use ONLY masking tape/painter's tape that doesn't have very much adhesive. I just installed the Journey Tek EP001K pickup system ( only $50 each, and they actually sound a little warmer than the tried & true K&K Pure Mini, which has just seen a ridiculous price hike from $100 up to $150 ) in all 4 of my acoustic guitars at the same time, so I wanted to play it safe & purchased the expensive side reamer drill bit. There are advantages & disadvantages to ALL forms of amplifying an acoustic guitar, and the Fishman Rare Earth Blend is really a great choice yet pricey.........but for the $50 price, it's hard to beat the Journey Tek EP001K. Other than the jack, ya don't even know the Journey Tek EP001K ( or the K&K Pure Mini ) system is installed, it uses NO batteries, and the tone & volume is totally controlled by an acoustic amp, a PA system, or DI box. For playing with a loud band and/or in large venues at high volumes, the Fishman Rare Earth Blend is the way to go.......but that can get extremely expensive if ya rely on several acoustic guitars like I do.......for the purpose of having each guitar tuned to various alternate open tunings. Because it sucks having to continuously re-tune in front of your audience, and doing so, is really tough on guitar strings. Breaking strings during a performance is every guitarist's worst nightmare.
Wow that sounds great! Are you using any kind of acoustic preamp?
No this was straight into interface!
That turned out pretty well - I think if you have some woodworking ability , this should be a relatively straightforward install.
It always pays to RESEARCH BEFORE doing any such installations. You can go to any hardware store & buy the correct size long wooden dowel that fits snug into the jack. Ya push the long dowel through the hole in the guitar, and push the end of the dowel snug into the jack........and then simply pull the wooden dowel back out of the hole with the end jack attached. The wooden dowel will not harm the jack.
RESPECT!!! Ik kreeg al haast een hartaanval toen ik het jou zag doen, dus ik moet er zelf nooit aan beginnen.
Vraagje: dit is dus ‘slechts’ een humbucker en een microfoon? Geen piëzo? Ik ben het namelijk roerend met je eens, maar ik gebruik de LR Baggs Anthem. En als ik dit zie en hoor, dan zou ik zomaar eens voor deze kunnen gaan. Alleen… geeft dat microfoontje geen feedback problemen?
Hi sasha. Thanks for a very informative and instructional video. You still had me chuckling though.
You need a child around to help you install it!
Can you please tell me, does the output act as a button for the guitar strap or would I need to install a button somewhere else
Many thanks
I have two children. They are on their phones 24/7 so they are useless. The output thing is a strap button as well. That is useful
You rock, in an acoustic way!
As a guy who professionally drills holes into aircraft day after day, I am thoroughly impressed with how straight you were able to keep that bit. (I feel like I'm teeing up a double entendre penis joke 😊)
This was great! Funny for us, not for you! I plan on installing in my Martin.... or I might let my luthier do it haha very scary taking a drill to your guitar isn't it!!
Yeah please have a luthier do it for you 🤣
@@SashaIvantic After a bit of research and advice from my luthier, the right tool is a "reamer" ("NOT A DRILL" he said), which should be used by hand. He told me it's quite easy with this tool, and "a good learning experience" for me...... (He is 2 hours away by car, so I will try it myself)
Just get a 1/4" jack on an extention stick to reach your jack through the end hole.
Sounds great man. Drilling holes is my Kryptonite, I am absolutely shit at it.
I've built a couple of electric guitars ( not kits) and , for me,... it's always the neck pocket
Now you have had it while how do you feel about it? Sounded great in the demo
It's incredible. I'm using the guitar on a tour and we're playing with IEM's. So the the mic is fully engaged and it just sounds stellar. We had wedges during rehearsals and I was good with the 50/50 mix and getting no squeels.
@@SashaIvantic can't decide if I'm better of investing in a good mic as I just record at home. I have an AKG p120 and it's a bit basic.
I've been there!! Nothing more scary than knowing that one false step could ruin your prized guitar!!!
how long is the cable inside the guitar?
56 million kilometers. The whole guitar has been filled up with cable
@@SashaIvanticIt's to help suppress feedback when you're playing Wembley Stadium.... 😝
Fish the wire silly!
TIP. Drop a guitar cable through the hole from the back. Fish it out through the sound hole. Plug it in to the Fishman, draw it back through the hole. You may have to temporarily put some electrical tape (or similar) around the connection join but shouldn't need to
Love this!
You really shouldn't be encouraging others to think they can do this too... You may have been just lucky to get out done that good. There are a bunch of techniques that a Luthier / repair worker will know to avoid even the smallest damage.
I would be surprised if anybody wants to drill a hole in their acoustic guitar after seeing this struggle
Pete's done it already you copycat you
Me and grampa are saving up all of our cash!!! We are going to start our own a donkey ranch!!! If any of you boys need a place to rent donkeys get ahold of me... We are going to lease them out!!!
The donkeys, we are going to lease the donkeys out!!!
We are going to have punch cards, and if you lease a donkey 10 times we will name one of the donkeys after you!!!
Grampa is strong, AND sensitive!!!
Donkeys are cool because they are characters! They all have different personalities... Pretty soon we're going to have some donkeys!!!
Grampa's been teaching me how to wrestle lately