[Supernicklas]

Hello everybody,

I was playing my Epiphone Dot yesterday when the cord male jack got stuck in the female jack. I tried to get it out and eventually it came out, but the round screw which holds the female jack in place on the body's outside jumped off and the female jack tube sliped into the guitar. This off course makes me unable to play it with the amp. And since you can't open the guitar, I really don't know how to fix this problem.

So how do I get the line in female jack back in place in the hole, so I can put my cord back in and play with the amp?

You can hear the tube dangling inside with wires on, but you can't see it. Here's a picture of my problem:



Thanks everybody!

[Stevie 202]

My 2c

I don't have any personal experience, but I was under the impression that one needed to remove the bridge pick-up to access the wiring harness on these guitars.

(I could be wrong. Someone more knowledgeable should verify).

[charliechitlins]

Fish the jack out through the F-hole...use a piece of wire.
Put another piece of wire (something like thin like safety wire...not coat hanger!) through the jack hole and get IT out the f-hole, too.
Make a hook on the end of the wire that's coming from the jack hole, stick it through the jack and hook the springy thing that holds the cable in. Don't twist it on, just hook it. It'll have to come off when you yank it.
Now, ****IMPORTANT**** if you don't have or can't find the star washer, GET ONE and slip it over the wire and down onto the jack (it goes INSIDE the body and keeps the jack from spinning when you tighten it from the outside).
Now, pull the wire through the jack hole and the jack should pop right through.
Now slide the flat washer and the nut over the wire and get the nut started.
Push the wire so it comes off the springy thingy and pull it out. It may not slip right out of the jack, so you may have to yank it so it straightens itself out (this is why you used thin wire...so it can straighten itself and come out) and tighten the nut.
AND...check the nut now and then!

[charliechitlins]

My usual disclaimer...
...if Wally chimes in and disagrees, listen to HIM.
I've done this a dozen times...he's done hundreds.

[Wally]

Charlie's advice is on the spot. I don't fear using stiffer wire because you can always take it through thejack and out of the f-hole after you get the nut on, but a thinner wire that will 'give up the hook' will work well.
I would add that a flat blade screwdrive is a handy thing to use to tighten a jack....sometime before losing it inside the body. Get a flatblade that is wide enough to go into the jack and lightly wedge against the sides of the hole. This will hold the jack and keep it from spinning while you tighten the nut with a wrench.

[Supernicklas]

Okay, thank you guys for your excellent tips. I'll try it right away!

[Wally]

So, you haven't gone 'fishing' for it yet. LOL There is one other way, but it takes a great deal of luck, patience, etc. Hold the guitar upside down and over your head. Tilt the body back and forth and see if you can get the jack come to the hole. IF you get it near enough to the hole to see, use a small stiff wire with a very small hook formed on the end. Put this wire into the jack and carefully pull the jack through the hole. Carefully turn the guitar over and lay it down...all the while holding onto the jack with the wire. Slide the washer and nut down the wire, start the nut onto the threads. You can now relax and thread the nut down. Use the screwdriver method to tighten the nut.
This method foregoes the possibility of getting the star washer onto the jack, but if you are lucky it will work. Having the star washer is preferrable. Good luck.

[schundog]

A large paperclip, unfolded to form a hook, works well for Wally's "fishing" method.