I am by no means a professional luthier; however, this is my third pickup installation. If you're looking for a DIY project, this will hopefully give you some pointers.
Goodness! About 3/4 of that video is taken up just drilling a hole in the tailpiece. I'm just gonna drill a hole in the side of the Mandolin - saves a lot of work. Thanks for the video, btw!
You did the best you could! I have found real luthiers use any and all practical means to do the task and turn out a first rate install/project in the end. The true definition of a craftsman is one who makes mistakes but you never see or know it! Your slow, taking your time approach did you well. After all, this is your mandolin, not a scrap 2X4 you are working with! I have done many such installs and have used the same method and have had great success. Thankz
Thanks so much for creating this. This gives hope to anyone who might want to DIY this install. To those complaining about a sound test, just go check out other videos on that. This one is just for the install.
PS....a sound check of what it sounds like would be helpful. For those who have never done an install, it would demonstrate what you are shooting for in the way of sound. More videos from you would be great! Thankz
All that ... and we don’t get to hear it? I am about to undertake this same task this weekend. And I sure hope I have the patience you have. Wow. Thanks for warning us of the pitfalls. Great job.
I just finished installing my K&K twin internal. I widened the tapered end pin hole from 3/8" to 15/32" using gradually larger bits of 1/64" gradations. With the tail piece on the instrument and protected with tape I started with the largest bit (23/64" I think) that would fit without contacting the metal of the tailpiece to get the hole centered with the tailpiece. Then I removed the tailpiece to continue widening the hole It went very smooth with no crunching, shuddering or tear outs. I didn't widen the hole on the tailpiece, it's a thinner stamped version. I have the nut tightened on the outside of it and both the jack and tailpiece are nice and secure. The pickup sounds great with maybe too much bottom, but it picks up a lot more than just the sound of the strings. Any where you contact or rub the instrument comes through.
I see you used some tape on the wood to help stop splintering of the wood or your finish, also should of screwed the tail piece to some wood to hold it from twisting and you'd a got a straighter hole as well I may get this system for my Mandolin would like a update now it's been 6 years???
It may be easier to put the jack socket on the bottom side of the mandolin (like a guitar). Use a small bit to pilot a hole and then use a forstner bit to drill a bigger hole. If you have a variable speed drill you should be ok.
Lots of dos and don'ts here. I would recommend to DIYers to get some drill bits with 64th gradations or at least 32nds so you can avoid the crunching when going from a 3/8ths to a 1/2 in bit. The hole only needs to be 15/32 anyway. I would probably widen the tailpiece hole first since you risk having the it un-centered after you've widened the end block hole.
