A Gretsch Tim Armstrong signature came in for a setup with its output jack so loose it was almost falling into the body. Jack tightened, saddles filed to the right radius, truss rod, bridge, pickups and intonation set. An hour and ten.
- Instrument
- Gretsch Tim Armstrong signature
- Tech
- Dave Eastwood
- Customer complaint
- Setup and a loose jack
- Diagnosis
- Jack very loose, almost falling into the guitar; saddles uneven; truss rod, bridge height, pickup height and intonation out
- Work performed
- Jack tightened and checked; truss rod and bridge height set; saddles filed to radius; intonation set; pickups set to height
- Parts
- None
- Bench time
- 1 hour 10 minutes
- Outcome
- Jack saved before it dropped in; felt much better after the setup
What Came In
A Gretsch Tim Armstrong signature. It needed a setup, and the output jack had gone loose to the point it was about to fall into the guitar.
What We Found
The jack was very loose and close to being pushed inside the body. The saddles were uneven and needed filing. The truss rod, bridge height, pickup height and intonation all needed adjusting to play correctly.
What We Did
Tightened the jack and confirmed it worked. Set the truss rod and bridge height. Filed the saddles to get the radius right. Set the intonation and brought the pickups to the correct height. About an hour and ten minutes on the bench.
Result
The jack was saved before it got pushed in, and the guitar felt much better after the setup.
Why deal with a loose jack right away on a hollowbody?
Because once it drops inside, a two-minute tightening becomes fishing the jack back out through the f-hole. On any guitar a loose jack eventually strains the wiring; on a hollowbody it also disappears.
Related
- The Repair Vault
- Guitar Repair at Paul's Guitar Hideout
- When to Take Your Guitar to a Tech vs. Fix It Yourself
- Eastman Electric: Loose Output Jack and a Light Setup
- Hofner Bass: Spinning Jack and a Bridge in the Wrong Place
Bring It In
Jack getting wobbly? Tighten it now or bring it in now, either way before it goes inside. Guitar repair at the Hideout.
Paul's Guitar Hideout is located at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY. Use the Cooper Street entrance and take the stairs up. If stairs are difficult or you're bringing in something you don't want to carry up, call or text us and we'll arrange access.
The Shirt Factory
71 Lawrence St., Suite 201B, 2nd Floor
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Wednesday–Sunday, 12–5 PM
(518) 217-8695 · info@paulsguitarhideout.com