Question on end pin 1/4 jack placement

[Dave Martin]

Hi, I just acquired a The Loar archtop guitar, and the tail piece strap button hole is quite high on the side. I am a bit nervous about expanding the hole near the top, and considering a hole for the jack below the tail piece closer to the center of the side. Of course this results in two holes...

Bad idea?

THanks in advance,

Dave Martin

[Greg Mirken]

Drill, baby, drill! If this were an old L5, I'd say ooh, bad idea. But it's not.
What pickup are you considering?

[John Bertotti]

Or use an external jack?

[MikeEdgerton]

Why not just use a Tapastring Vintage Jack? It supposed to fit in the standard hole. The worst case is might have to adjust it a smidge. I'll note that it uses a 1/8" plug but they make all sorts of adapters.

[Dave Martin]

My thoughts likewise on it's not a pristine L5 that was never gigged and was carefully polished and cared for for 50 or 75 years. Not that.

I want try and get in a transducer, having good luck with JJB.

I have an extra Tap-A-String in the drawer, but am considering trading out the one on my Collings MT2-O just from a flexibility standpoint. It works, fine, fits the peg hole just fine, and came with the brilliant idea to use viloin rosin on the jack to help insure it doesn't work it's way out when you least expect it. The 1/4 cables are so pervasive, going to that is one less thing to "fret" over.

THanks for the ideas,

Dave