HELP! Intermitten Guitar Output!

benjsaynomore · April 11th, 2008, 11:09 AM

Hi guys,

when i plug my 1/4" cable ALL THE WAY into my guitar output it doesn't work. However, if I pull the cable out about 1/4 or 1/8" it works fine.

Question: Why is it doing this? And how do I fix it? Thanks!

Pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2454254...7604355501326/

jwells393 · April 11th, 2008, 11:25 AM

Are we suppose to be looking at pictures? If so which ones? What guitar are you talking about?

benjsaynomore · April 11th, 2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

Are we suppose to be looking at pictures? If so which ones? What guitar are you talking about?

Question was "are we suppose to be looking at pictures?" No...they are for reference only if you'd like to look to help make recommendations more accurate."

Second...the guitar I am talking about is the TELE as this is a telecaster forum and thought it'd be the best place to post for answers.

jwells393 · April 11th, 2008, 12:09 PM

Ah ............. too bad. I see you have one of those jacks. Those jacks are also used on G&L guitars. They don't allow you to see the contacts and they're not easy to remove without destroying the jack..... at least that's true with G&Ls.

......

Here's what the jack actually looks like. I suppose you could replace the jack with a new one.

......

WisconsinStrings · April 11th, 2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benjsaynomore

You don't NEED to look at them, it's just for reference...I updated the link...it'd be the black "tele" thus the forum...

Ouch! You know, he's just trying to help right?

You may have to unscrew the jack and pull it out so we can see what's going on in there. Maybe someone else will have some ideas before you have to break out the tools though.

CatfishStudios · April 11th, 2008, 12:14 PM

Yeah , I didnt like that "tone" either...HENCE the lack of desire to assist you..bye now.

benjsaynomore · April 11th, 2008, 12:41 PM

It wasn't a personal attack. Sorry guys.

Any other recommendations?

benjsaynomore · April 11th, 2008, 12:45 PM

It's hard to interpret "tone" reading script. Apologize again if it was taken as rude or outlandish.

benjsaynomore · April 11th, 2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CatfishStudios

Yeah , I didnt like that "tone" either...HENCE the lack of desire to assist you..bye now.

The author wasn't offended, but you are? How does that work...if you have recommendations I'd love to hear them. if you refuse to based on tone you read into my posts that's your choice. I didn't mean any harm in them and apologize that it may have come off that way.

jwells393 · April 11th, 2008, 12:49 PM

Replacement of that jack with the same kind is just about your only option. Normal Telecaster jacks or use of an Electrosocket jack cup require a 7/8 in hole. With a normal jack you can pull the jack out, plug in a plug and see if the jack contacts are making proper contact with the plug. You can bend them if they're not. As you can see in the picture I posted above, that's not possible with your jack.

CatfishStudios · April 11th, 2008, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benjsaynomore

The author wasn't offended, but you are? How does that work...if you have recommendations I'd love to hear them. if you refuse to based on tone you read into my posts that's your choice. I didn't mean any harm in them and apologize that it may have come off that way.

Then why edit? Sure sounds different now that you changed it...Im not offended just maybe read too much into the way your original response was written..your second version sure gives an entirely different impression.

jwells393 · April 11th, 2008, 01:19 PM

Edit: Erroneous information removed.

......

benjsaynomore · April 11th, 2008, 01:28 PM

Both terminals? Can you specify what the terminals are??? I may be able to figure it out but just for clarity sake.

benjsaynomore · April 11th, 2008, 01:30 PM

Catfish, I edited to rephrase what I said in a different way since it was being taken the wrong way. And yes I meant no harm...so we can move on from this now yeah?

boneyguy · April 11th, 2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benjsaynomore

It's hard to interpret "tone" reading script. Apologize again if it was taken as rude or outlandish.

Your right about that. In fact I read jwells tone as kinda snippy in his intial response but who knows for sure.

A good rule of thumb I try to apply, not always very successfully, is this...

The voice you hear in your head while reading someone else's response is your own.

So if you don't like the imagined 'tone' of someone's response just remember it's all taking place in your head and you can just turn the tone knob to a more pleasing sound. Maybe something vintage and warm without alot of distortion.

CatfishStudios · April 11th, 2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benjsaynomore

Catfish, I edited to rephrase what I said in a different way since it was being taken the wrong way. And yes I meant no harm...so we can move on from this now yeah?

Absolutely...as I said..I read to much into it..s'all good

jwells393 · April 11th, 2008, 01:44 PM

In the picture I posted above there are three terminals the large metal part at the bottom is the ground terminal. The two small terminals near the center are the signal terminals.

Here's another view.

......

benjsaynomore · April 11th, 2008, 01:51 PM

Jwells...thanks man i'll take a look at it when I get a chance this weekend.

jwells393 · April 11th, 2008, 02:39 PM

Deleted bad information

WisconsinStrings · April 11th, 2008, 07:16 PM

Wow, you must have a nice camera Jack. Nice pictorial!

6x47 · April 12th, 2008, 10:28 AM

We're all assuming the trouble is the jack.

Should not the cable be ruled out as the trouble source before ripping things apart?

Try another cable first.

Wally · April 12th, 2008, 11:12 AM

Jack, it is early in the morning for me, but I have to question your advice to connect the output 'lead' to both of those terminals. If one does that and uses a mono plug, you will be taking the lead to ground...and cancelling signal. This is true for either of the jacks pictured...the contained or the exposed.
In your picture of the stereo 1/4" jack, the plug has not been inserted fully, has it? The 'tip' contact of the plug should be contacting in the 'groove' of the tip, and the second 'lead' contact contacts the small ring of a stereo plug. The larger ring of a true stereo plug will contact ground. With a mono plug fully inserted into the jack, the second or 'ring' contact of the jack will contact the ground ring of the plug....grounding out the signal IF one has attached the mono output lead to both of the stereo jack's 'lead' contacts.

jwells393 · April 12th, 2008, 11:48 AM

Damn Wally ..............You're right. I hadn't pushed the plug in as far as it would go. I should have known better than that. Here's a picture with the plug pushed all the way in showing that the second stereo contact is touching the plug ground. I'll go back and edit out the bad information. Thanks for correcting me. I hate being the bearer of false information.

......

I'll go back and edit out the bad information.

So ............ this brings up a possible cause of the problem. In the type of jack used on those Aerodyne Telecasters, assuming they are stereo jacks like those sold by StewMac (there may be a mono jack of that type), perhaps the unused signal terminal is too close to the one being used and could be shorting out the signal.

Wally · April 12th, 2008, 12:32 PM

IME, those 'enclosed' jacks are suspect at best. They do not have the lifespan of a good Switchcraft 'open' jack. ONce one starts giving you problems, pull it out and replace it....preferably with a Switchcraft type.

jwells393 · April 12th, 2008, 01:14 PM

Here's a picture of a G&L with one of those jacks. It differs from the one sold by StewMac .......... it's a mono jack.

......

Replacing this type of jack with a regular Switchcraft open type jack would require enlarging the jack hole.

I found this pictorial procedure for replacing the enclosed type jack on the Guitars by Leo website.

http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/GALLERY/...t_portrait.pdf

April 11th, 2008, 11:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
benjsaynomore TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Age: 24 Posts: 52	HELP! Intermitten Guitar Output! Hi guys, when i plug my 1/4" cable ALL THE WAY into my guitar output it doesn't work. However, if I pull the cable out about 1/4 or 1/8" it works fine. Question: Why is it doing this? And how do I fix it? Thanks! Pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/2454254...7604355501326/

April 11th, 2008, 11:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,921 101 Photos	Are we suppose to be looking at pictures? If so which ones? What guitar are you talking about? __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

April 11th, 2008, 12:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,921 101 Photos	Ah ............. too bad. I see you have one of *those* jacks. Those jacks are also used on G&L guitars. They don't allow you to see the contacts and they're not easy to remove without destroying the jack..... at least that's true with G&Ls. ...... Here's what the jack actually looks like. I suppose you could replace the jack with a new one. ...... __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

April 11th, 2008, 12:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
benjsaynomore TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Age: 24 Posts: 52	It wasn't a personal attack. Sorry guys. Any other recommendations? __________________ I help make this music

April 11th, 2008, 12:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
benjsaynomore TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Age: 24 Posts: 52	It's hard to interpret "tone" reading script. Apologize again if it was taken as rude or outlandish. __________________ I help make this music

April 11th, 2008, 12:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
CatfishStudios Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon , United States Age: 33 Posts: 727	Yeah , I didnt like that "tone" either...HENCE the lack of desire to assist you..bye now.

April 11th, 2008, 12:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,921 101 Photos	Replacement of that jack with the same kind is just about your only option. Normal Telecaster jacks or use of an Electrosocket jack cup require a 7/8 in hole. With a normal jack you can pull the jack out, plug in a plug and see if the jack contacts are making proper contact with the plug. You can bend them if they're not. As you can see in the picture I posted above, that's not possible with your jack. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

April 11th, 2008, 01:19 PM	#12 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,921 101 Photos	Edit: Erroneous information removed. ...... __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras. Last edited by jwells393; April 12th, 2008 at 11:57 AM. Reason: Remove Erroneous information.

April 11th, 2008, 01:28 PM	#13 (permalink)
benjsaynomore TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Age: 24 Posts: 52	Both terminals? Can you specify what the terminals are??? I may be able to figure it out but just for clarity sake. __________________ I help make this music

April 11th, 2008, 01:30 PM	#14 (permalink)
benjsaynomore TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Age: 24 Posts: 52	Catfish, I edited to rephrase what I said in a different way since it was being taken the wrong way. And yes I meant no harm...so we can move on from this now yeah? __________________ I help make this music

April 11th, 2008, 01:44 PM	#17 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,921 101 Photos	In the picture I posted above there are three terminals the large metal part at the bottom is the ground terminal. The two small terminals near the center are the signal terminals. Here's another view. ...... __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras. Last edited by jwells393; April 12th, 2008 at 11:58 AM. Reason: Removal of erroneous information

April 11th, 2008, 01:51 PM	#18 (permalink)
benjsaynomore TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Age: 24 Posts: 52	Jwells...thanks man i'll take a look at it when I get a chance this weekend. __________________ I help make this music

April 11th, 2008, 02:39 PM	#19 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,921 101 Photos	Deleted bad information __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras. Last edited by jwells393; April 12th, 2008 at 12:00 PM. Reason: Removal of erroneous information.

April 11th, 2008, 07:16 PM	#20 (permalink)
WisconsinStrings Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arcadia, Wisconsin Age: 37 Posts: 659	Wow, you must have a nice camera Jack. Nice pictorial!

April 12th, 2008, 10:28 AM	#21 (permalink)
6x47 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Northern ON - Northern MN Age: 64 Posts: 486	We're all assuming the trouble is the jack. Should not the cable be ruled out as the trouble source before ripping things apart? Try another cable first.

April 12th, 2008, 11:12 AM	#22 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3,769	Jack, it is early in the morning for me, but I have to question your advice to connect the output 'lead' to both of those terminals. If one does that and uses a mono plug, you will be taking the lead to ground...and cancelling signal. This is true for either of the jacks pictured...the contained or the exposed. In your picture of the stereo 1/4" jack, the plug has not been inserted fully, has it? The 'tip' contact of the plug should be contacting in the 'groove' of the tip, and the second 'lead' contact contacts the small ring of a stereo plug. The larger ring of a true stereo plug will contact ground. With a mono plug fully inserted into the jack, the second or 'ring' contact of the jack will contact the ground ring of the plug....grounding out the signal IF one has attached the mono output lead to both of the stereo jack's 'lead' contacts.

April 12th, 2008, 11:48 AM	#23 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,921 101 Photos	Damn Wally ..............You're right. I hadn't pushed the plug in as far as it would go. I should have known better than that. Here's a picture with the plug pushed all the way in showing that the second stereo contact is touching the plug ground. I'll go back and edit out the bad information. Thanks for correcting me. I hate being the bearer of false information. ...... I'll go back and edit out the bad information. So ............ this brings up a possible cause of the problem. In the type of jack used on those Aerodyne Telecasters, assuming they are stereo jacks like those sold by StewMac (there may be a mono jack of that type), perhaps the unused signal terminal is too close to the one being used and could be shorting out the signal. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

April 12th, 2008, 12:32 PM	#24 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3,769	IME, those 'enclosed' jacks are suspect at best. They do not have the lifespan of a good Switchcraft 'open' jack. ONce one starts giving you problems, pull it out and replace it....preferably with a Switchcraft type.

April 12th, 2008, 01:14 PM	#25 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,921 101 Photos	Here's a picture of a G&L with one of those jacks. It differs from the one sold by StewMac .......... it's a mono jack. ...... Replacing this type of jack with a regular Switchcraft open type jack would require enlarging the jack hole. I found this pictorial procedure for replacing the enclosed type jack on the Guitars by Leo website. http://www.guitarsbyleo.com/GALLERY/...t_portrait.pdf __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.