Interesting problem

It ain't a tele problem, but it is a tech problem, so here goes. When I play my 1967 Gibson ES-335 through my Fender Deluxe, the slighest shift in movement of the cable causes a real loud and annoying popping sound, like the cable quickly popping out and back into the guitar. I tried a variety of cables, and it did it with all of them, so cables are no way responsible. None of my other guitars do this with that are any amp, so I thought it was just the jack on the guitar being touchy, as it is an old guitar. But here is the odd thing, the 335 won't do this with any other amp. It only happens with the 335 and the Fender Deluxe. What could be causing this?

What other amps have you tried?

...../.....I tried a variety of cables, and it did it with all of them, so cables are no way responsible. None of my other guitars do this with that are any amp, so I thought it was just the jack on the guitar being touchy...../.....

it sounds to me like the guitar's output jack needs to be retensioned/replaced.....
and/or the connection(s) touched up with a soldering iron.....

It's got to be one of these:
guitar jack
amp jack
cable(ruled out)
Gibson gear hates Fender gear
Fender gear hates Gibson gear
It's haunted

with stratelecaster, on amp or guitar jack.

As mentioned it has to be one of those things listed...

Are you sure it's ONLY from cable movement?

It could also be the extra output of the humbuckers kicking a preamp tube that is on the edge of going bad.

Do like Sherlock Holmes says and eliminate the options until you're only left with the one possibility... mind the cocaine and/or opium and violin playing though.

I've had a similar problem. Turns out the guitar jack ground surface had
got corroded. I cleaned it with a socket cleaning brush; then spray it
occasionly with finger ease. Hope this helps.

But I'm curious why this happens only with that specific guitar and specific amp. None of my other guitars do that with that amp or any of my amps. And the 335 won't do that with any other amp, not even other Fender Deluxes. Friends have come over and tried their guitars with my Fender Deluxe, and they have no problems.

I would just like to know what are the possibilies could be for it to be just this specific 335 and specific deluxe.

To chickenpicker's question, I've tried it through an Ibanez practice amp, a Marshall tube, a Mesa, and a Vox. Tried it through a different Fender Deluxe too.

To JohnnyCrash's question, I believe it is cable movement because if I sit completey still nothing will happen, but if I even shift my weight from one side to the other it will happen.

But I'm curious why this happens only with that specific guitar and specific amp. None of my other guitars do that with that amp or any of my amps. And the 335 won't do that with any other amp, not even other Fender Deluxes. Friends have come over and tried their guitars with my Fender Deluxe, and they have no problems.

There are pretty much the things already listed... you need to narrow it down to the only possibility.


To JohnnyCrash's question, I believe it is cable movement because if I sit completey still nothing will happen, but if I even shift my weight from one side to the other it will happen.

You may need to unscrew the input jack and take a look at it. It might even be as simple as cleaning an old oxidized jack tip.

Start at the beginning... it has to be EITHER the amp OR the guitar. Thoroughly check the pickup, switch, and jack wiring... once the guitar is eliminated, move onto the amp.

It may feel like the problem is exclusive to both together only, but just like troubleshooting an amp, you have to systematically go through each possibility.


I would just like to know what are the possibilies could be for it to be just this specific 335 and specific deluxe.

This is like asking a mechanic to troubleshoot your car without even being able to look at it... if you can't even figure it out with it right in front of you...

How can somebody on a forum miles away from being able to take apart the guitar or amp help?

We can do this, we just need to be systematic and logical... start with the guitar, like I said... let us know what you find. Take photos if you need to for us.

Since you think it's cable movement...can you make it happen? If you wiggle the cable at the guitar end or at the amp end can you cause the noise?

It will happen if I wiggle the cable at the guitar end only, and only on that specific Fender Deluxe.

Wiggle that cable at the guitar end until it makes the noise. Then flip the cable. Does it still do it at the guitar end?

Yep, still at the guitar end.

I know you believe that it's the combination of guitar and amp...but have you pulled the jack on the guitar to check it out?

I haven't taken the jack out. I never done that before, and I hesistant to because I haven't done that before, and 335s aren't the easiest guitar to take things out of (or to put back in) and not to mention its vintage (which makes me scared of accidentley breaking something).

Just be careful. You won't break anything. I'd give it about a 90% chance that replacing the jack would fix your problem. If you just really don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, then take it to a local repair tech. A jack replacement won't cost that much. Good luck.

If you end up changing the guitar jack.
I'd use Neutrik or Switchcraft.
Stay away from no-name, junk jacks.
Good luck!
Steve