Installing Tele Cup on new Warmoth Thinline

[LoxFL]

I am a bit confused on one thing which seems to be the easiest thing installing the Tele cup into the 7/8 pre drilled hole. Since this is not a "vintage" style Tele body there isnt that "flat" part right at the input jack location so when I put the Tele cup in the pre drilled hole it isnt flush. Any ideas on how to make this fit better

 

[bagman67]

I've seen it handled in two different ways:


1.  Use a forstner bit of of the same diameter as the cup rim to recess the jack and provide a flat surface for it to mate with.  This is a pain in the neck, but with patience, caution,and preferably a drill press, it's doable, and looks slick when done correctly.


2.  The much, much easier way to go is to use a football or square jack plate. 

 

[rolloman]

Before installing the cup or the jack put recessed blind hole in a scrap block of wood that will accept a tight fit to to the cup body and leave the top flange of the cup raised slightly about 3/64" out of the hole. Clamp the scrap block in a vise or c-clamp to workbench top. Install the cup and cover the flange top with a rag or masking tape to prevent scratching. With another scrap of wood placed on the flange tap with hammer on the two opposite edges to slightly bend it down to better conform to the curvature of the body. Or you might be able to improvise some tooling to press it down in a vise which would be better than tapping.

Other than that I have nothing for ya except counterbore of the hole which I would not recommend on a finished body.

None of these are great options.

Or if you are really slick with a file removing some of bottom of the cup flange on the two correct opposite sides enough to let it conform to  the body curvature it might help it some. Like a said slick with a file or better yet have some machine tools to do it.

Easiest would be like the other poster said and use a different style cup.

 

[LoxFL]

I've seen it handled in two different ways:


1.  Use a forstner bit of of the same diameter as the cup rim to recess the jack and provide a flat surface for it to mate with.  This is a pain in the neck, but with patience, caution,and preferably a drill press, it's doable, and looks slick when done correctly.


2.  The much, much easier way to go is to use a football or square jack plate.

Would I have the same issue with a Electro Socket?

 

[Cagey]

If it's one of the "vintage" style Tele cups like this one...

You might want to take it out back, close your eyes, and throw it as far as you can. Hopefully, a crow will notice the something shiny sitting there out in the tiddlywads and carry it away to the Blasted Lands, never to be seen again. They're junk, and need a tool to install...

If you must have a "cup"-style jack outlet, the Electrosocket types like this are far superior...

Unfortunately, you'll have the same problem with getting it to install flush. Some patience and a dremel or something may get you where you want to go, but it's scary work.

Best shot is a square or football jack plate. They're generally not bent enough to follow the body contour, but you can either bend it some more or many times the screws will just draw it up flush.

 

[Cagey]

Here's what Hendrix did to get an Electrosocket jack cup to fit flush.

 

[Kostas]

Would I have the same issue with a Electro Socket?

The vintage style will eventually break down, they usually do. Use an electrosocket, I have it in both my Telecasters, one is a Thinline.  Both bodies are the standard Warmoth Telecaster not the vintage style.