Jack

October 11, 2013

Output Jack Considerations

Guitar Electronics, Jack 2

In this article, Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe Guitars goes in-depth on the simple, often overlooked output jack.

Thanks again to Pete for the permission to post this here!

September 2013

Howdy!

The topic for this tech tips newsletter is the all-important output jack.

While there are a few different styles of output jacks have been used in electric guitars and basses including cables with XLR connectors, ¼” stereo output jacks and 1/8” size mono and stereo jacks, for the purposes of this newsletter I plan to focus on the industry-standard ¼” mono output jack. I quite often use output jacks manufactured by Switchcraft and unless specified otherwise in this discussion I will be referring to the Switchcraft model output jack designed for strat, tele and Les Paul style instruments.

This simple and often overlooked component provides both a mechanical and an electrical interface to the guitar cable and is one of the most frequent causes of electrical issues in an electric guitar or bass.

August 31, 2012

Sketch Me Up!

Pedal Building Electronics, Jack, Pedal, Potentiometers, Sketchup, Switch, Video 71

Here’s the table of contents for the whole DIY pedal building series:

This is part 2 of my new series on building guitar effects pedals.

This part of the project ended up being far more grandiose than I originally intended. I started out planning to just show how to model this diecast aluminum 125B guitar pedal enclosure, to make sure my PCB and components would fit properly inside. But by the time I was done with it, it was essentially a complete beginner’s how-to course for Google Sketchup. (Note, Sketchup is now part of Trimble instead of Google). More

December 29, 2009

Guitar Electronics Comparisons

Guitar Circuit Wiring, Semi-Hollowbody Electronics Electronics, Epiphone Riviera P93, Jack, Pickups, Video 66

In this video, I finally bring together the results of the last 20 or so videos, and demo the results of my Epiphone Riviera P93 electronics overhaul. I first demonstrate the original Epi setup, then swap in my new electronics, and then replace the pickups with a matched set of new Vintage Vibe Guitars P-90’s.

The new electronics include CTS 500k audio taper pots, no-load mod on the tone pot, an Orange Drop .01uF tone cap, all new shielded wire, and a new Switchraft L12A jack. So, if you’re wondering what it might sound like if you change out your pots and caps in your guitar, this should be a good example. (Note, I’m changing the jack for mechanical reasons, not to improve the sound). More

November 21, 2009

Wiring up the Jack

Guitar Circuit Wiring Electronics, Epiphone Riviera P93, Jack, Video 55

This is part 5 of the video series on wiring up guitar electronics.

In this video, I show how to wire up the jack. I’m replacing the original Epiphone jack with a Switchcraft L12A. The L in the part number indicates a longer 3/8” bushing, which is just a bit longer than the Epi jack. I’m hoping this well allow me to fit a lock washer in addition to the regular washer and nut, so the jack will stay tightly in place rather than falling into the body of the guitar so much (as I showed in my Don’t Know Jack video). More

September 18, 2009

Don’t know jack

Semi-Hollowbody Electronics Electronics, Epiphone Riviera P93, Jack, Video 91

What is up with the jacks on these semi-hollowbody Epiphone guitars. When I was shopping for guitars in the stores, I often saw Epiphone Dots and Sheratons with the jack missing inside the guitar. How can that be good for sales?! And when reading in the Epi forums, I saw folks complaining of this happening to them. Does this happen on the more expensive Elite Epi’s, or other semi-hollow body guitars?

Update: I added a 1/4″ inner-tooth lock washer between the nut and round washer, and it has stayed tight ever since.

I never thought it would happen to me. I made a point of periodically hand-tightening the jack when plugging in a cable, just to be sure.