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The Gretsch Jim Dandy is a small-bodied parlor guitar with a charming, woody voice — but the classic model has no electronics, so plugging in means adding a pickup. Because it’s a budget-friendly guitar with a small soundhole, the best options are soundhole magnetic and clip-on/contact pickups that install without permanent modification. Here are the pickups that work best on a Jim Dandy.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gretsch Deltoluxe Soundhole Pickup | $40–$80 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Fishman Neo-D Magnetic Soundhole Pickup | $40–$80 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | LR Baggs M1 Active Soundhole Pickup | $140–$200 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | KNA NG-1 Piezo Contact Pickup | $30–$70 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Gretsch Deltoluxe Soundhole Pickup
The factory-matched answer — the same magnetic soundhole pickup Gretsch fits to the Deltoluxe Jim Dandy, designed for exactly this guitar.
- Magnetic soundhole pickup
- DeArmond Rhythm Chief-inspired voicing
- Drop-in soundhole mount
- 1/4″ output
- Purpose-built for the Jim Dandy
- Warm, woody tone without piezo ‘quack’
- Easy non-permanent install
- Magnetic pickups can feed back at volume
- Cable dangles from the soundhole
Fishman Neo-D Magnetic Soundhole Pickup
The easiest upgrade of all — a passive magnetic pickup that drops into the soundhole in seconds with no tools.
- Passive or humbucking options
- Tool-free soundhole mount
- Single-coil or humbucking
- Detachable cable
- Install in under a minute
- Strong, feedback-resistant output (humbucking version)
- Affordable and reliable
- Magnetic ‘electric-ish’ tone, less natural than a mic
- Visible in the soundhole
LR Baggs M1 Active Soundhole Pickup
The premium soundhole option — a body-sensitive magnetic pickup that captures more of the guitar’s natural acoustic movement.
- Magnetic soundhole pickup with body sensor
- Active, battery-powered
- Volume control on pickup
- Feedback-resistant design
- Most natural, dynamic soundhole tone
- Great feedback rejection for live use
- On-board volume is handy
- Costs more relative to a budget guitar
- Requires a battery
KNA NG-1 Piezo Contact Pickup
A non-permanent piezo contact/clip pickup for players who want amplification without any soundhole hardware.
- Piezo contact transducer
- Clip-on or stick-on mounting
- Passive, no battery
- Removable with no modification
- Truly reversible — no marks on the guitar
- Captures percussive body sounds
- Inexpensive
- More prone to the piezo ‘quack’
- Placement-sensitive and feedback-prone
Buying tips
- Soundhole magnetic pickups (Deltoluxe, Fishman Neo-D) are the easiest, most reliable choice for a Jim Dandy — no drilling.
- Want the factory Deltoluxe sound? Buy the Gretsch pickup; it’s literally the one fitted to the electric Jim Dandy.
- Humbucking versions resist the 60-cycle hum and feedback you’ll get on stage with a single-coil.
- Avoid permanent under-saddle systems on a budget parlor — the install cost can exceed the guitar’s value.
- Tuck and manage the output cable so it doesn’t pull on the soundhole edge of this lightweight body.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.