K&K Installation

[ParisStarlight]

I have a pure mini to put inside my 74 Guild. Is it something I should be confident in doing on my own, or is it worth the $100 to bring it in and have it done?

I did it myself, but I did consult with Kydave beforehand.

[SalFromChatham]

I did 5 installs. 4 went perfect. The last one was screwed up. I had a luthier undo my handy work and reinstall a new one. I won't install another one myself.

[Fred]

I've installed two. Then, when it came to my Goodall, I hired it done. It may depend on how much risk you want to take with your instrument.

[kcnbys]

I have installed about six of them (with no prior experience doing anything similar), and have had great success. I am not a "handy-man" by any stretch, but I find the instructions quite easy to follow, and I feel it's a relatively easy install. If you're careful, and follow the steps, you should have no problem.

[pieterh]

I put one in my 1977 Guild (though someone else had drilled for an earlier, Fishman, end-pin jack). I've done 4 installs altogether and they've all been fine.

[ParisStarlight]

You're all making me feel better about attempting it. I think my biggest worry is drilling out the end pin for it, but I do have the tools to do it. Any tips on that?

[kcnbys]

Originally Posted by ParisStarlight

You're all making me feel better about attempting it. I think my biggest worry is drilling out the end pin for it, but I do have the tools to do it. Any tips on that?

My suggestion would be to use a reamer, but if you use a standard drill bit, make sure it's with a high speed drill. Put a couple layers of masking tape over the hole before you drill.

[Fire&Rain]

I have installed several endpin jacks. PLEASE DO NOT use a regular twist bit drill! If there is an existing endpin, I recommend leaving it in place and sawing it off close to the body. I then use a 1/2" Forstner bit to drill thru the center of the endpin. If there is no endpin, drill a small pilot hole and proceed as above. A Forstner bit creates a nice clean hole without damage to the finish, and I prefer it over both a reamer or step-drill bit.

Originally Posted by kcnbys

My suggestion would be to use a reamer

I agree. I reamed my Guild and it was super easy. Take your time.

As for the rest of the job, you need good lighting and small mirror inside the body. Be patient and meticulous.

I highly recommend doing a few practice runs without glue before you go for it. Cover the top with plastic wrap anywhere that glue might spill.

The glue doesn't set up as fast as you might think, so don't rush it. I needed to hold the transducers in place for a good while before the glue cured and they stuck permanently.

A couple of videos that are worth watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgJt2GJh28U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB6YxD9I9pI

[evenkeel]

I agree with fire and rain. Forstner bit is a good way to go. A hand reamer also works great.

I've done over a dozen. All very successful.

[pieterh]

A forstner bit is what I used for the installation in a friend's Furch dreadnought. The original end pin was the screwed in/on variety so there wasn't the issue of having to deal with an existing too-large hole. The screw hole was an ideal pilot hole and the installation of pickup and jack went very well.

This isn't the case with a mid-70s Guild so if you are unsure you could get a tech to drill out the hole and you do the rest.

[kaos]

Originally Posted by ParisStarlight

You're all making me feel better about attempting it. I think my biggest worry is drilling out the end pin for it, but I do have the tools to do it. Any tips on that?

I second the recommendation to use a reamer. You can go nice and slow. However that in my opinion is the easiest part. I find the most difficult part to be the gluing of the piezos to the bottom of the bridge. I do use a card board template and tape the opposite side of the piezos to the template, but because of differences in bracing in each guitar, each install is a little different.

[Wardo]

I used a step drill bit for the hole and it worked fine on 2 guitars.

Tape around the hole before drilling.

I still have to do the install on my D18.

It's an easy install unless you're the type that can't change strings w/out hurting yourself.

Follow the instructions and take your time.

Biggest PITA is getting the wood shavings out of the body.

I would say use the plastic template that comes with the kit and do one pickup at a time - there's no rush to do all three at once with a cardboard template unless time is money and you're in a shop.

I prefer doing these things myself because then I know it's done properly.

[JakeStone]

Hey - I am planning on installing a K&K Mini in my 000-18 Martin.

Can anyone offer good place to get Reamer tool and which one to get .... Other than the Stew Mac one.

Thx