Pick-up the World and Tapastring Guitar Care have joined forces to create the first of it's kind Vintage Pick-up system. Now you can enjoy the benefits of having a pickup system installed in your instrument without drilling or modifying anything!
The Vintage Jack replaces your existing endpin and will fit most guitars, mandolins, violins and similar instruments equipped with taper fit endpins. This jack is securely retained by the taper fit of the mating parts. No Drilling or adhesives are required.
Here at Pick-up the World, we've designed an entire line of pickups specifically for this application. These pickups are sized to be inserted through the endpin hole and come ready to install. No soldering, no fuss, no muss!
The Vintage Pickup System utilizes the highest quality 1/8" stereo output jack available and includes a matching heavy duty SwitchCraft plug for a rock solid, secure connection. These plug ends can be easily soldered to one end of any type of standard cable, or complete cable assemblies can be purchased as an option.
With this system, you can properly install pickups in your instrument without having to drill out the end pin hole or use some other less than ideal system.

The Vintage Jack compared with a
typical endpin.

The Vintage Jack and heavy duty SwitchCraft stereo right angle plug.

Pick-up the World is currently offering four unique Vintage Pickup Systems for steel string and classical guitars. The first incorporates our new high output I/O Saddle Transducer Pickup, the second is the Vintage #54 dual SBT system, the third is the Vintage Duo (an I/O and a single #27 SBT), and our new ultimate pickup system - The Vintage Trio (an I/O and a Vintage #54). The I/O Saddle Transducers are available in 3/32", 1/8" and 3/16" widths, and split saddle versions are also available.

Vintage Pickup Systems come standard with a very attractive brass endpin, but are also available in a variety of Exotic Hardwoods and Fossilized Ivory. Hardwood and Ivory jacks are available on a custom order basis and will require some additional manufacturing time. Special order Vintage Pickup Systems are listed at the bottom of this page.

The Vintage I/O Saddle Transducer System
Comes pre-wired to a high quality endpin jack. The I/O UST captures all of the subtle nuances of Steel stringed guitars without being overly 'stringy' or metallic sounding. The pickup requires a small hole under the bridge saddle slot, but does not diminish the natural dynamics or volume of the instrument.

The Vintage Model #54 Pickup System
This pickup is our flagship soundboard pickup for steel string guitars. Comprised of a pair of Model #27 steel string pickups, the installation is greatly simplified, and the tone is very natural with a slight emphasis in the bass & treble registers. The tone is improved across the board from our single element pickups, and this is especially noticeable on lighter or more boutique instruments that tend to have an exaggerated midrange emphasis with other soundboard pickups.

The Vintage Dynamic Duo Pickup System
This system combines an I/O UST pickup with a Model #27 SBT for one of the most dynamically expressive Steel string guitar pickup systems available. The outputs are typically wired in mono at the jack, but when wired in stereo, each of the two tonal contributions can be adjusted and blended independently. The tone is very woody and dynamic and can be dialed in excellently for most all steel string guitars.

The Vintage Dynamic Trio Pickup System
This system combines an I/O UST pickup with our #54 dual element SBT for the best of everything. A truly natural sound even at very high stage volumes. This our flagship pickup system. Extremely woody and dynamic, this system is infinitely adjustable for dialing in tonal perfection on virtually every type of steel string guitar.

For Archtop Guitars, the PUTW Archtop Pickup (a compression type sensor that mounts under the bridge feet) or an I/O pickup installed in the bridge work great. The Vintage Jack also works excellently with all existing magnetic pickups. Some soldering is involved in the installation of these.

For Mandolin Family Instruments, PUTW offers its Vintage Mandolin Pickup (a compression sensor that mounts under the bridge feet) or our special I/O pickup installed into the bridge. The Vintage Jack also works with all other types of mandolin pickups. Some soldering is required.

For Violin & Viola, PUTW offers a Vintage Violin/Viola system that includes one of our highly regarded compression pickups that slips under the bass bridge foot. No soldering is required!