Retrieving plug from inside a Sheraton II

[jcotten]

The input jack on my Epiphone Sheraton II archtop has fallen back into its body. Don't ask how. It has to do with a wonderful little girl that I'm mad at. My question is not about her, but the guitar. How do I get that plug back into the right spot so I can secure it and use the guitar again?

jcotten

[el profe]

First, you'll need to fish some sorta stiff wire though the hole and have it come out the f-hole. Then use some sort of magnetic flexi-probe thingie (you can get them from auto parts stores) to pull the jack through the f-hole so you can tie it to the wire you just fished through the jack hole. If your guitar's wiring isn't long enough to let the jack reach the f-hole, use the magnet right through the jack hole and a hook made out of wire to pull it up through the guitar top. If you're lucky, you can put the jack nut over the jaws of some long needle nose pliers, then jam the plier jaws into the jack to hold it in place, then slide the nut down and thread it on. I hope this helps.

[jcotten]

Doesn't sound very easy, but I do definitely appreciate the help. Oh, and welcome to the Gear Page, El Profe! You got here just in time to share your knowledge with someone in need.

Anybody else have another suggestion?

jcotten

[mike80]

Here's a suggestion.

Take a piece of stiff wire (thin coat hanger or such), and bend a small right angle on the end...maybe half an inch (use pliers). Snake that into the guitar and try to hook the jack. Pull it to the jack hole, get the jack through the hole and hold it there with the wire, slide the nut over the wire, tighten the nut by hand, then use pliers to hold jack while you finish tightening the nut.

Worth a shot.

[ajchance]

I just replaced a pickup on an old ES125 today. Here's how I did it: Pull some thread up through the input jack hole to the F-hole. An old guitar string does a great job to pull it through. Use the same trick to fish the jack up to the F-hole and tie the thread around the threaded shaft of the Jack. Pull the thread and jack back down into the hole. I then used a short length of guitar string with the ball end attached to reach into the jack and pin the jack to the hole. I used about 2 inches off a wound 6th string. You have to fish around inside the jack to anchor the ball end. You can then slip the washer and nut over the string and tighten them. You'll have to pop the thread off the shaft after you get the nut threaded.

I was dreading the project because of the input jack, but with just a couple of attempts, it worked like a charm.

Best of luck - and be careful of the finish around the F-hole if you try my idea.

[jefesq]

Take a look at this.

http://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/video-335.asp