it'll be OK when it's installed. a decorative washer covers a multitude of sins. the hole is bunged out to the right but is the same height so i can shove the jack over to the original path and bolt it down.
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the endpin jack is a neat little device. it can fit entirely through the hole in the end block when disassembled. i figured out that with this i can solder the jack onto the end of the pickup cable, pass it out through the hole in the end block with a nut in place where it'll contact the end block as seen in the photo, screw the washer, nut, and strap button on the outside end and voila. i'll pass a cable through the hole from outside, plug it into the jack, and winkle it out like an ice fisherman.
the strap button is really clever...it's larger than the retaining nut and has a groove hollowed out around the underside so it screws right down on the jack, rendering the nut invisible.
- a very well-thought-out device.
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while i was working i noticed how rough the fingerboard was compared to my nicer guitars. the last time i worked on this guitar i sanded/polished the bridge so it looks good, but didn't feel up to tackling the fretboard because i knew from doing the Musima neck that it's a long, exacting process. but i have the strings off so i can install the pickup so they aren't in the way, and i figure this is the last time i'll work on this guitar in my lifetime because there's nothing left to do so i might as well make it as pleasant as possible to play and look at. i'm using the same process as before, 800 grit followed by 1200. i could go to 2000 but that seems pointless when there'll be strings scraping on it. one hangup was being able to keep things even near the frets, where the wood ends up less smooth. solution: wrap a bit of sandpaper around the blade of a butter knife with a straight top edge. once i saw the difference i knew doing the sanding was the right choice.
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i work each space until i can't feel any irregularities when i run my finger across it. yet another project thing where i tell lazy me that the end result will be worth the effort.
i'll finish the fingerboard before installing the pickup. if i put in the pickup first i'll want to restring it to test the pickup, and there goes my window of opportunity to nice things up. this should be done in a couple of days, but might be delayed...my girlfriend is in the hospital which is only 7 minutes from my apartment so i've been spending a lot of time there. having work to do has helped me not to stress, but having burned out after working on the Kondor for 14 hours and been fried for a couple of days subsequently i have to pace myself and not get obsessive. i really like the part in doing this stuff when it becomes clear my nefarious Rube Goldberg plots are actually going to work.
once this is done i'll fix up the Kondor so everything works well. i know exactly what to do now so i should be able to knock it off reasonably easily. i have to contact the people about the Duo Sonic pickguards, and really should order the new one soon because it's about the easiest mod i can do. even though i have to rout to correct the bridge pickup position, that Dremel cutting bit should go through basswood like Sherman through Georgia. it's possible that i'll start on the Gretsch after the Kondor if the DS pickguard hasn't arrived, but i'm putting it off because it'll be particularly complicated in that i gutted the electronics and have to rewire everything. and i may need to drop everything to take care of my girl. i'll update when there's something significant. and the Hopf parts have been sitting in US Customs for a week. <sings> someday my neck will come...</song>
I've never done anything more than clean, bit of a go with fine steel wool and oil, maybe it's worth the time to really do this and make them look nice. 
