How do you remove a glued in endpin jack on a vintage mandolin?

[Ryan Matzen]

Howdy,

I was wondering what might be the best way to go about removing a glued in pick up jack from a 1912 Gibson A mandolin?  Drilling it out or using heat are both options, but both scare me a bit!  In case it matters the pickup is a Hot Dot and I am pretty sure it was installed in the 1970's.

Thanks much,

Ryan

[Ryan Matzen]

I messed around with for a little while and was able to break the jack free!

[Frank Ford]

Aw, gee, and here I was just about to suggest JACK the GRIPPER, the only "sponsor" on this forum (nyuk, nyuk).

[Hesh Breakstone]

+1 on Jack-the-gripper!  It's a great tool and one of my favorite things to use daily in our biz!

From the loose input jack for that gigging musician that has a show in an hour to every single set-up that I do this tool get's used (for everything with an input jack) and does the job great too.

Recently I turned down a socket to fit in the recess on a Parker acoustic guitar and it worked like a charm.

Thanks again Frank for creating this excellent solution to the age old problem of loose input jacks!

[Ryan Matzen]

I have to get one of those.  Although it might not be long enough for an vintage oval hole A style mando.

And I don't really understand why I would want to pull an arrow through it, but I'll give it a go! ;)

[Frank Ford]

Yeah, there are lots of products with that name,  but then I always figured if somebody complained I'd just drop it. 

 

Sometimes I think "Jack Grab-it" would have been better, but I'd already started with LMI and StewMac by the time that idea came along. . .

[Ryan Matzen]

I found it pretty quickly.  It's a great idea.  One of those "why didn't I think that" gadgets!  I will be getting one.

[Mike Kolb]

Here's a little "go-to" tool I've used for years to get stubborn endpins out.  Before posting, I tried to remember where I got it, but the usual suspects don't seem to carry it anymore!  Anyway, it's solid brass... pretty hefty, and the knurls really let you get a good grab.

The endpin head slides into the open side, then you screw the two halves down tight. The head is held in place with sheer tension and the rubber cushion.  

It's heavy enough (and 'grabbable' enough) that a few careful twists are usually enough to break the endpin free. Now, if only I could remember where the heck it came-from!  Golden years, my butt....

[Lee Gendvilas]

I found what I believe is the tool pictured above at http://atlanticviolinsupplies.com/Tools.asp

No. 810T

End Button Holder. I hope this is it, from the small picture it seems so.

[Mike Kolb]

Bingo!  That's surely looks like the one, Lee.... good detective work.  The only difference I can see is that they use a leather gasket and mine's rubber. Here's their description of it:

End Button Holder-The ideal tool for removing stubborn end buttons and for holding end buttons while shaping their shaft. Screw clamp with leather-lined end button holder. Brass body, fits all violin and viola end buttons which have a maxium neck diameter of 9.5mm. I've used it on guitar endpins (for both straight installation & removal) ...it's a good little tool.

$22.50

[Ned Knepp]

You guys all get the coolest tools!

I'd show you a picture of my end peg removal tool... but I'm pretty sure you all know what a pair of pliers and a soft rag look like.  Interestingly enough they look exactly like the tuner key straightening tool I use too

Given how variable the results can be with my tool, it's probably a good thing I don't have a lot of call for using them. 

[charley erck]

vintage mando, vintage pick-up!

[Alex Glasser]

stew mac used to sell that tool that Mike posted, but they stopped a few years ago from what i remember.