Don't overlook the input jack

Odd thing.

My Jackson has had this pesky scratchy noise for a while. Been driving me nuts, to the point where I'd not play it. Even after replacing one of my pups and redoing part of the wiring I still had this scratchy noise.

Open up the electronics cavity again, poke around, resolder a wire or two. Still didn't go away. Unwired EVERYTHING again, soldered it all back together. Same thing.

Only thing left was the input jack itself. Plus I got to thinking about it. The only time it would make the noise was when my guitar would move around, indicating that something was wrong with either the cord itself or the jack. Swapped cords, didn't solve it... Had to be the jack.

Went to local guitar shop, got a new one, put it in last night and wala... Problem gone.

How? How can a jack be the problem? They don't do anything. No moving parts. I looked closely at the jack, nothing was touching that I could tell which might cause some kind of grounding issue.


Anyway... Moral of the story, don't overlook the input jack as the source of an electrical issue.

Originally Posted by: RickBlackerMoral of the story, don't overlook the input jack as the source of an electrical issue.

Never, never. I know that :)

Those things can be a cause of lots of overlooked problems. Not just on guitars, but amps, pedals, etc.

Can be a good thing for us bargain hunters though :)

Originally Posted by: DazooCan be a good thing for us bargain hunters though :)

Ha, true, true.

Originally Posted by: RickBlacker... How? How can a jack be the problem? They don't do anything. No moving parts. I looked closely at the jack, nothing was touching that I could tell which might cause some kind of grounding issue...

The integrity of the signal from the guitar to the amp input depends on having a good elctrical connection between the jack and the cable plug.

The contact that mates with the groove just behind the tip of the plug needs to have enough tension on it to press firmly against the plug. Sometimes the metal of the contact leaf 'gets tired' and doesn't frimly contact the plug. The result is a lot of scratchy noise from tiny arcs between the plug and the jack.

So, is that to say then that I can fix it by bending it so there is more tension back on the input plug?

Sometimes yes, bending them back a bit will work. However, if it is a low quality jack bending it back will also equal breaking... *cough cough or so I've heard *

Also, if the plating on the jack degrades it will also cause the same problems.

Originally Posted by: DazooAlso, if the plating on the jack degrades it will also cause the same problems.

...and insanely cheap to replace. If I had scratching, I'd replace it the first thing. I remember that happening to my old Les Paul..Replaced and all gone. No reason not to.

Originally Posted by: JeffS65...and insanely cheap to replace. If I had scratching, I'd replace it the first thing. I remember that happening to my old Les Paul..Replaced and all gone. No reason not to.

True, but that's $2.50 you could put towards a new pedal. :D

On the guitar I built I actually had the jack hooked up backwards at first. It worked, but badly. :o (That's a secret between us, don't tell anyone!)

Originally Posted by: RazboOn the guitar I built I actually had the jack hooked up backwards at first. It worked, but badly. :o (That's a secret between us, don't tell anyone!)

Shhhhh... Ok. I'll keep it between us.