Output Jack Problems

edski · Post by **edski** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 1:35 am

I have a 75 4001, and just started using it again after a long stretch playing 6 string. And I return to a problem I've had for a long time: The output jack tends to go ungrounded easily.

I've had several luthiers look at it over the years (have had the bass since 1980) and they all say "nothing wrong". But most certainly there is when I move around and hear CLICK-BUZZZZZZZZZZZ and then have to futz with my cable...

I've tried bending the interior posts, tried tightening the retaining nut...actually tightening the nut helped enough that I can actually use the bass, but it still does it's Buzz Lightyear immitation. My band has one cable that seems to work better than the others, so I tend to horde that one

I've seen a little written that this is not that uncommon-does anyone have a similar stroy? Suggestions on what to do? Right now I'm close to considering replacing the whole jack, or trying to find a special cable so I can use the stereo jack and get both PU's out of the Rick-o-Sound jack (forgot to memtion that it's the standard plug that's fritzy)...

Anyway, nice to find a group of like minded musicians who dig Rick's!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:40 am

The type of jack used with the ric-o-sound setup tends to have more problems ...

If you are a purist and a fan of ric-o-sound then you may want to replace the 2 jacks ... you can get the ric-o-sound replacement jacks for about $11 and with a screw driver and a soldering iron you can replace them ...

Or I like to get a couple of mono jacks and put 2 of those in and then I have 2 mono outputs ... if one goes bad you have the other to use ... plus ordinary mono jacks are more stable ... they don't have the cutoff built into them that the ric-o-sound jacks have ...

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:43 pm

Ed, welcome to the Forum!

One less invasive thing to try first is to use some metal polish/cleaner on the inner surface of the hole of the jack. I've cleaned jacks that had lots of accumulated corrosion on that surface, and that's the surface that makes the ground connection.

You'll have to take the jackplate off to do that bit of cleaning and more than one application may be needed. I use a Q-tip or two to apply the polish, then a clean cloth to remove it; you might as well also clean the other contact point on the piece that touches the tip of the plug. And while you're at it, one thing to try with the jackplate loose is to jimmy the plug when it is in the jack (and the guitar is plugged into an amp) and see whether you can see what is visibly connected to the buzzing. You might be able to tell whether it is the contact with the inner surface or the connection to the tip that is contributing to the problem that way.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:52 pm

I repaired my friend's guitar with a noisy jack ... I took it apart and bent it a little and put it back in and it worked fine ...

dougp · Post by **dougp** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:42 pm

Have you tried re-soldering the jack? I had a similar problem with my 4001, and it turned out to be a cold solder joint (should've tried that *before* cleaning the contacts & bending them back in).

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 5:15 pm

I say replace both jacks ... it costs next to nothing ...

rhampshire · Post by **rhampshire** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 7:51 am

DeOxit costs even less, and it's faster...

scoobster28 · Post by **scoobster28** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 11:58 am

Maybe your cable is bad, with the plug having a lose wire. Have you tested it with a KNOWN working lead?

edski · Post by **edski** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 5:00 pm

Pretty sure it's NOT the cable...have lots of cables to choose from and we don't mess around with ****** cords anymore-they go in the trash. Plus I have my J-Bass and my son's Ibanez to check things like cords out against.

Thanks for the ideas guys! I'll let you know when I try something. The cleaning ideas sound like a best first step, but failing that I'll probably try the re-solder next, followed by a replacement (being that's it's not as expensive as I'd imagined!)...

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 9:44 pm

Sounds like a good plan, Ed.

jayfbv · Post by **jayfbv** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:19 pm

It's a classic problem with mono jack outputs. The jacks are made by Switchcraft, and were never really intended for the sort of constant yanking they get from a guitar cord. For this reason, I use stereo jacks for mono outputs on other guitars with the ring shorted to sleeve.

A brand new type 13(mono isolated make) jack will be a bit tighter on the sleeve connection than a well used one. It is the Mono jack which is glitching, right? There's pressure on the jack tip from the tip connection and the switch tab. That pressure holds the sleeve to ground, but the fit isn't tight for ground. You can bend the tip connection in to get more pressure. (Also, a 90 degree plug, running the cord up around the strap pin helps.) The stereo jack hangs on better because it has tip and ring contacts levering the sleeve into contact with the jack. That's a type 12B.