End pin jack idea

joepopp · #1 04-21-2016, 07:43 AM

I had a product idea I thought might be cool. I am getting away from having a battery bag and preamp in the body of my guitar. I want as little stuff inside the body as possible. I will be installing a K&K Pure Mini in my J200 and I just purchased a Red Eye preamp.

The K&K will cut it easily for most gigs (I play in a acoustic duo), but when I play with a band it would be nice to be able to install something like a Sunrise passive sound hole pickup for better gain before feedback.

The product: An end pin jack that has two 1/8" inputs. One that goes nowhere/does nothing (GNDN) and one that connects to the 1/4" out.

Use: My default would be the K&K plugged into the jack that goes to the 1/4" out (I will have to solder on an 1/8" plug to cable of the K&K). For the volume gigs I move the K&K 1/8" to the GNDN jack, pop in the Sunrise, and then connect the Sunrise to the 1/"8 jack that goes to the output. This will give me two easily changeable pickup configurations.

Why the GNDN dummy jack? This keeps the K&K cable from flopping around inside the guitar.

Thoughts? Idea? Could you use one?

Here is a very bootleg mockup of what I am talking about:

fazool · #2 04-21-2016, 07:47 AM

Actually........that's such a good idea I don't know why someone hasn't already come up with it. You should run with that.

LeightonBankes · #3 04-21-2016, 07:51 AM

how about a 1/4" trs (stereo) jack with each permanently hooked up and a common ground? then you could use a balance pot to blend them or a switch to use one or the other

joepopp · #4 04-21-2016, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeightonBankes

how about a 1/4" trs (stereo) jack with each permanently hooked up and a common ground?

I thought about that but that complicates the output. You will need a specialty cable to plug the guitar in like a TRS to two mono 1/4". Still easily doable though.

Actually now that I think about it, using a mono 1/4" would short the jack connected to the ring so it could work both ways! With a mono cable one jack is shorted. With a TRS cable you have two outputs.

Great Idea Leighton!

Hmmmmm.......

emmsone · #5 04-21-2016, 08:06 AM

The only downside I see is that with the current design you have to reach all the way into the guitar, probably removing the strings to get access to reach the plugs. Nice idea though.
Maybe you could place the output/gndn double socket on the end of a wire coming out of the endpin that runs at least half way to the soundhole so it would be accessible for quicker and easier switching without having to get right inside the guitar every time

LeightonBankes · #6 04-21-2016, 08:09 AM

I would get a project box at radio-shack, run a trs cable to a trs female on the box, put a blender and a switch on it, then you would have a lot of control on/off, off/on and on/on with blend

martingitdave · #7 04-21-2016, 08:12 AM

Seems like a good idea. I think Trance has a similar setup. The only downside I can see is dust causing a problem with the connection inside the guitar. It won't be so easy to clean. I guess that, ans possibly a better connection, is the benefit of hard wiring.

joepopp · #8 04-21-2016, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmsone

The only downside I see is that with the current design you have to reach all the way into the guitar, probably removing the strings to get access to reach the plugs. Nice idea though.
Maybe you could place the output/gndn double socket on the end of a wire coming out of the endpin that runs at least half way to the soundhole so it would be accessible for quicker and easier switching without having to get right inside the guitar every time

Good point. But the idea of having it as part of the end pin is that you could loosen the strings and just feel your way and push the plug in with one hand. If they are on a cable you would need to hold both both ends in order for them to make the connection. I guess the cable could be long enough to fish out of the guitar, but my goal is the least amount of wire inside of the body of the guitar. Thanks emmsone!

joepopp · #9 04-21-2016, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martingitdave

Seems like a good idea. I think Trance has a similar setup. The only downside I can see is dust causing a problem with the connection inside the guitar. It won't be so easy to clean. I guess that, ans possibly a better connection, is the benefit of hard wiring.

Just checked out the Trance. Very similar but they have a preamp that requires a battery. I'm staying totally passive so I have no battery and minimal cabling inside the guitar. Great design though. Regarding cleaning, simply spray a little DeOxit D5 an an 1/8" and plug in and out a few times. Thanks martingitdave!

joepopp · #10 04-21-2016, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeightonBankes

I would get a project box at radio-shack, run a trs cable to a trs female on the box, put a blender and a switch on it, then you would have a lot of control on/off, off/on and on/on with blend

Cheap and easy to build! Excellent...

TOCS · #11 04-21-2016, 08:35 AM

I have two JJB transducers and a Sunrise magnetic pickup soldered to a TRS endpin in one of my guitars. I then the signal goes to a DIY piezo preamp/splitter where I bypass the Sunrise and boost the JJB transducers. Works fine.

joepopp · #12 04-22-2016, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOCS

I have two JJB transducers and a Sunrise magnetic pickup soldered to a TRS endpin in one of my guitars. I then the signal goes to a DIY piezo preamp/splitter where I bypass the Sunrise and boost the JJB transducers. Works fine.

Sure this will work but I don't like having the Sunrise installed when I'm playing acoustically. I wan to be able to remove it quickly.

myersbw · #13 04-22-2016, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joepopp

Sure this will work but I don't like having the Sunrise installed when I'm playing acoustically. I wan to be able to remove it quickly.

I agree that cleaning at that jack would be a pain. Plus, as jack contact points oxidize (and they will), you'll eventually run into a static mess if you play percussively or move the guitar much during performances.

I like the idea of a quick disconnect, so why not bring the 1/8 jack up to the inside lip of the sound hole? Then removal is very quick for the Sunrise...and...it's MUCH easier to swab some alcohol on the pickup's 1/8" plug to insert and keep ahead of the oxidation...?

Just a thought.

RogerPease · #14 04-22-2016, 12:32 PM

Couldn't you achieve the same thing just by mounting a suitable clip inside
the body to hold K&K cable while you have the Sunrise plugged in?
No special part required.

_Roger

joepopp · #15 04-26-2016, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerPease

Couldn't you achieve the same thing just by mounting a suitable clip inside
the body to hold K&K cable while you have the Sunrise plugged in?
No special part required.

_Roger

Totally! That is probably what I am going to end up doing. I don't think there will be any way to two 1/8" jacks next to each other and still have it fit through the 1/2" end pin hole. I would like to see a sturdy 1/4" to 1/8" end pin jack.