An easy way to fix a loose telecaster jack.

[telemnemonics]

I've managed to find a few great right angled cables that fit my Teles only to discover they won't fit the build with the electrosocket. One of my Danocasters has a shallower jack cub and it'll accept any plug I throw at it.. all I need is a source for that besides the one Mark Rutter has which I'm sure is great but I've got more than a dozen Teles that I would like to convert.

I've found this annoying problem too, and usually manage to make it work by not using a washer between the jack and socket, and sometimes have to countersink the back of the electrosocket if the jack doesn't screw in all the way flush.

The pencil might be easy to find at a gig if you have a socket in your bag, (just ask the nearest person texting on their i phone) or a chopstick if you're playing Chinese.
I can't bring myself to buy plastic guitar tools, but those nice deep offset box end wrenches work better than a socket with vice grips.
If needed, I go under the control plate to start and stick a screwdriver in the jack to hold the nut when tightening.
If you get the prong in the right spot you can tighten all the way.
If not it just keeps getting loose IME.

I think of the Tele jack cup prong arrangement as Leos one bad idea in a long brilliant career.
When they get loose they get replaced.

 

[TwangToInfinity]

yes i have had the same probs with the electrsockets thats why i just drill the cups

 

[surfoverb]

a longer switchcraft jack helps with right angles too. (like the one I pictured earlier)

 

[xtrajerry]

Does the long jack protrude enough that the molded right angle plugs like 'Koil Kord' and some of the Higher end Fender Custom Shop cords can be used? I've had issues with these plugs and the electrosocket, haven't tried the longer jacks though.

 

[telemnemonics]

Does the long jack protrude enough that the molded right angle plugs like 'Koil Kord' and some of the Higher end Fender Custom Shop cords can be used? I've had issues with these plugs and the electrosocket, haven't tried the longer jacks though.

The jack in Surfoverbs pic looks longer than the ones I have, and mine work with a standard Switchcraft RA plug with no margin for error, so I doubt if a fatter molded plug would fit.
But most of my trad cups won't take the same RA plug, partly why I prefer 'lectros.

Surfoverb would have to tell you what RA plugs fit with the longer jacks he has, and I'd like to know where he gets them too.

 

[dmondo]

Hey guys I'm not sure if I'm understanding you correctly but if you're talking about getting that jack-cup secured in there snug-as-a-bug and making sure it won't loosen, try this. Take the whole assembly out of the guitar, (including the cross-bar). Now assemble it as a complete unit ( use a locking washer if you want ) and tight as you like. Now you should have a cross-bar attached to the back of the cup with the cross-bar protruding slightly past the diameter of the hole. Now take a screw driver and push the whole lot in backwards ( using the handle end of the screwdriver in the cup - tap it with a hammer if you need to ) The protruding ends of the crossbar will now wedge themselves inside the hole and hold the jack assembly tight forever. Good luck - works for me.

 

[KevinB]

Hey guys I'm not sure if I'm understanding you correctly but if you're talking about getting that jack-cup secured in there snug-as-a-bug and making sure it won't loosen, try this. Take the whole assembly out of the guitar, (including the cross-bar). Now assemble it as a complete unit ( use a locking washer if you want ) and tight as you like. Now you should have a cross-bar attached to the back of the cup with the cross-bar protruding slightly past the diameter of the hole. Now take a screw driver and push the whole lot in backwards ( using the handle end of the screwdriver in the cup - tap it with a hammer if you need to ) The protruding ends of the crossbar will now wedge themselves inside the hole and hold the jack assembly tight forever. Good luck - works for me.

No, it wasn't really about securing the jack clip to the guitar body. It was about securing the jack to the jack cup.

But, rather than simply forcing the entire assembly into the body, the correct way to install the clip is to use a tool that flattens out, and therefore expands, the clip inside the body hole.

StewMac has such a tool available, or you can make one yourself quite simply with a lag bolt, a socket, a couple of nuts and a washer. Forum member Terry Downs posted a great thread some time ago about how to make one easily and inexpensively.

 

[telemnemonics]

No, it wasn't really about securing the jack clip to the guitar body. It was about securing the jack to the jack cup.

But, rather than simply forcing the entire assembly into the body, the correct way to install the clip is to use a tool that flattens out, and therefore expands, the clip inside the body hole.

StewMac has such a tool available, or you can make one yourself quite simply with a lag bolt, a socket, a couple of nuts and a washer. Forum member Terry Downs posted a great thread some time ago about how to make one easily and inexpensively.

That is a great tool, but Terry left us to decide on the depth setting all by ourselves.
And as he pointed out, you need to orient the clawed clip to bite into new wood, and the only reason I'd install a vintage style jack is to keep a vintage Tele all original.
My late 50s Esquire body was all chewed up in there and I didn't lose sleep over altering the otherwise all original wood with a 'lectro.

Still like the tool though, just have to get the depth perfect so there's a bit of tension on the clip when the cup is tightened down, without bending the claws too far so they lose their bite.

 

[KevinB]

That is a great tool, but Terry left us to decide on the depth setting all by ourselves....

Yes but I think the answer to that is "anywhere as long as the clip clears the cup, and you get a good bite into the sides of the hole in the body".

As long as you install the jack clip with the bent wings pointing out, the tension supplied by the jack nut should keep it all tight.

 

[73Fender]

Is this the electro socket whuchum u call it? Looks like what Ron Kirn uses..at least the bowl piece.

I never had an issue with the old style including my 73. The fix would be in my garage..blue lok tite, tiny screws in the side of the hole as mentioned etc would come into play me thinks. Would take a lot for me to actually order something special for this.

 

[surfoverb]

Does the long jack protrude enough that the molded right angle plugs like 'Koil Kord' and some of the Higher end Fender Custom Shop cords can be used? I've had issues with these plugs and the electrosocket, haven't tried the longer jacks though.

it fits my vox coily cord as well as my Bullet
also my $5 GC patch cord. I havent found a RA yet that doesnt fit.


but the one on my cvc the vox plug does not fit snug
but the others do (Bullet, GC)
the vox plug is a POS though so theres that. any good plug should fit.

you can see the difference is like 1 thread
maybe I put a washer on my cvc? who knows...

 

[surfoverb]

Is this the electro socket whuchum u call it? Looks like what Ron Kirn uses..at least the bowl piece.

I never had an issue with the old style including my 73. The fix would be in my garage..blue lok tite, tiny screws in the side of the hole as mentioned etc would come into play me thinks. Would take a lot for me to actually order something special for this.

its a really easy 'mod'
just drill (or start you dont actually have to drill)
2 holes to accept the screws the size of pickguard ones.

the bowl piece screws onto the switchcraft jack and then you screw that whole shebang down.

its reversible because once removed you cant see the drill holes which are covered by the milled cup. But once you go electro I doubt you'll go back.
its really an ingenius design im surprised Leo didnt think of it.
but Ill say this they can fail sort of, ive had one screw itself loose somehow. But all you have to do is take the screws out and screw it back on tight.
compared to the nightmare of getting a cup keeper back in its place the elcetro is well worth the $15 or whatever they cost.

the only tele I dont have one on is my 52RI which only failed once.
I use the 2 strikes rule: fail once I keep the original, fail twice the electro is going on. My 52RI cup only failed once in 7 years (knock wood)

but the main advantage is I can use right angles. Im so used to using those I get annoyed my 52RI has the trad cup (damn you Leo!)

 

[Ike286]

I have one right angle cable from Analysis Plus (http://www.analysis-plus.com), and it seems to be a pretty good cable, but it won't go into my guitar, I have to use the straight side. So maybe a pedal board plug or something.

 

[Blue Bill]

Bill,

I corrected my last sentence. The loose jack is now fixed and works great.

And Bob's your uncle! Glad it worked out.

 

[DavidM1]

I have one of these in my toolbox...

It's an Allparts Bullet Guitar Jack tool. They're about $8 from Amazon.

Totally useful device. Love mine. Gibson should include one with every 335 they sell.