Lost/broken battery-clip on an acoustic? Handy hints.

slyd

Over the past 6 months, I've had 3 acoustics come in with a lost or broken battery compartment cover/clip.
After success with both previous "fixes", with this last one, I figured I'd take detailed pics and share my methods. (This is not saying that this how YOU must do it, but it just may give a little insight and tips :-[ )

Each "fix" has had it's own requirements, but generally the thinking is the same.

Now to create the retaining clip side of things . . . .

Continuing . . .

slyd

Continuing . . . .

A nicely proud clip, with flexing properties . .

All ugly glue areas will get a touch of black paint, for aesthetic reasons only, as they are all hidden.
As I said, each "fix" is different, but uses very similar methods. Just a bit of lateral thinking . .. ?

slyd

Here's another one, on a Washburn. Different clip system.
No detailed build pics, but. . .

8) :-[ ?

Neon-Gecko

Man, I reckon that you not only manage to thing outside of the box, but you manage to think outside the galaxy! guess you either can or you can't... ?

costafonix

Brilliant... :applause:

slyd

Thanks guys :-[
It's just a case of . . . ; "it can be done" ?

deefstes

I'm not sure if I'm more impressed by the craftsmanship or by the ingenuity. Well done!

AlanRatcliffe

Nice! But it's a hell of a lot of work. I think if you had to charge a normal hourly labour fee, it would work out cheaper to replace the whole preamp. One of those jobs where you end up spending tons of your own valuable time to save someone else some money.

I fixed one for someone a few months ago and simply wired in a normal battery clip and used some draught excluder in the battery compartment so the battery fits snugly and doesn't fall out. Not elegant, but it works and only took 15 minutes to do.

slyd

Absolutely Alan. If you're working to the clock and charging accordingly, it would not be cost-effective to do. I am fortunate to be in a position (not financially, but time-constraint free) where I can charge per job, and not per hour.

I like to put that extra bit of time in on a guitar, where, at the end, I can say to myself I did the best job I could. This is reflected in my clients' faces, when they see the result, and makes it all worthwhile. :-[