Trouble With Guitar Cable

[bugslayer]

Chris/Rich,

I have Rice #68 and have been enjoying it for some time now but lately I have noticed that it has become increasingly difficult to get the cord locked into the jack on the guitar. It takes a really hard push to get it to 'snap' into place. The same cord works fine with other guitars? I'm thinking that something has come loose or moved around in the guitar? Any thoughts? Should I just unscrew the cup and remove and inspect?

Thanks for any help you can provide,

Russ

[Rich]

Hi Russ

We use Switchcraft output jacks, as they are supposed to be the best... We had a batch that has done what you describe, and they worked fine when they left here. They seem to have been a little tight with certain plugs, but not with ours. It's an easy fix. Remove the electrosocket (2 screws), and plug your cable into the jack with the contacts exposed. You will notice the tip of the plug is pushing against the spring contact, which has bent from too much pressure. You can ease the contact back into shape with a pair of longnose pliers, and it will work fine. That batch of jacks had a little too much squeeze against the tip. Once the contact is shaped back, you can adjust the amount of squeeze to your liking by pushing the whole contact towards (or away from) the tip of your plug.. I think the jacks were a little too tight, and then certain plugs bend the tip of the contact with repeated use, eventually bending the contact out of shape. It only needs to be tight enough to make good contact, and hold the plug from falling out. If you need help, give me a call and I'll talk you through it. Should take about 15 minutes to fix it, and last forever. [phone]

Sorry for the trouble.

Rich

[bugslayer]

Rich,

Thanks for the info, I'll take care of it today! No trouble, really! It has worked fine for about a year now and just recently began to get tight. I would have done what you suggested anyway but since you guys are here, I just wanted to ask first.

Thanks again,

Russ

[bugslayer]

Rich,

Following up, all went just as you described. Over time the cable plug had bent the input jack contacts back to the point where it apparently contacted the side of the body of the guitar meaning the cable plug had to bend the contact tip to be fully inserted. A little squeeze with the pliers has it going in like 'Buttah'. I have a Grosh S type that was getting the same way so I fixed it as well. No doubt this is a function of the cable I have been using but, no worries.

Thanks for the tip!

Russ

[Rich]

Hi Russ

Glad you were successful. It's weird how different plugs hit the jacks, I've seen this on a couple of the guitars- so we double check when they get set up. Still, one hit from the wrong cable starts a bad cycle.