Guitar input jacks..

B

BloodRose

Professional Scapegoat
Im going to replace the jacks in a couple of my guitars. Its pretty much a standard 1/4 phone jack right? Are there some that are notably better than others?? I can get 4 Neutrik jacks for about a dollar or 2 less than I can 3 Dimarzio ones.. I figure the Neutriks are good stuff.?? Ive always bought them from a guitar store one at a time and they are labeled guitar jack. So, just wanting to make sure before I place the order. thanks

http://www.onlinecomponents.com/neu...A338827-616D-49D1-8F8B-ACEA36161ACDcsXQrwOIjy

or

http://www.zzounds.com/item--DIMEP1301?siid=171580&gclid=CLaRhLLuksYCFdgQgQod1hoA2w
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

1/4 inch phone jacks are fairly simple devices hard to hork up

cleaning and adjusting the jacks are very easy with the exposed kind

some of my Carvin and Ibanez axes have cannon style jacks

these are much harder to repair

as for you question

yeas
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

If you buy that Neutrik jack, you'll be back on here asking which wire goes where...it's the wrong jack for your application. The dimarzio one is what you need.
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

BloodRose said:
interesting.. are these the same quality tho?? Prolly exactly the same, just cheaper cuz no name attached...??
Click to expand...

The Switchcraft jacks are supposedly made in the USA, I'm always skeptical of the claim given the economics of making such things in the US, but beyond that, it's hard to say. The most common point of failure for jacks seems to be grime or oxidation at the tip, and both designs seem to be equal in terms how they make contact with the male end of the plug. The other issue would be how quickly the metal arm loses it's "spring" after repeated uses, and some might say the USA made one must be better because everything made in the USA is magically somehow better, but without proof, I'd assume they are equal in that regard to. We don't know what metals or metallic alloys they're using in either case, and if we did, how many could speak to the functional elasticity of each? Seeing as how they have similar problem points, and are known to fail rather often, I'd rather retain a bunch of them regardless.

With this and a lot of other guitar parts that cost ten times more for being US made, but still only cost $10 or less, such as PIO caps or pots or switches, people say, to paraphrase "maybe I am getting robbed, but it's only $10, and I feel better about buying American." In general, I start out cheap and then go expensive as the need presents itself. I have so called "high quality" stuff break on me all the time, so that promise alone doesn't mean much to me.
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

I always go for quality in switch and jack. One of the biggest PITA moments I find is a jack that either gets scratchy quickly or a switch that cuts in/out. Some of the leaf construction and the coatings seem to be suspect on the cheaper levels. These two areas are high wear/usage.
I prefer to buy and forget rather than cheapen out and replace.
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

Input jacks seem to be one of those things you can never "forget", even if you buy the Switchcraft jacks, they will eventually start giving you trouble.

The only literature I can find that gives some kind of reason to believe that the Switchcraft is notably different than the Chinese made jacks is that Switchcraft supposedly "special nickel plated copper alloy" which they say is more resistant to tarnishing. The materials used in the Chinese jacks is not specified, so we don't know what's going on there. How do we know Switchcraft isn't just using what's most convenient for them, then just telling us they use it because it's the best stuff?

People can easily sold on the mere fact that something is made in the USA, and is simply more expensive, because "expensive=better", they're primed to believe these things long in advance, then they see "special copper alloy" or some other vague selling point that reinforces the foregone conclusion, and that seals the deal. This happens with all sort of stuff.
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

They are a wearing item. I prefer mine to wear out much slower. As I have had cheap ones wear (become crackly) quickly and not had a switchcraft fail yet I buy based on my experience.
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

I haven't noticed a difference over the years. Maybe I plug and unplug my guitar cabled too aggressively.
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

That's impressive on it's own, but we don't have specs for the Chinese made alternatives. They could be equally impressive for all we know. Sometimes less is more, after all.
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

I am certain that some enterprising person will furnish the Neutrik and/or SE Asian specifications for full, scientific, objective comparison.

Ultimately, some customer will say, "I'm not paying THAT much." All the objectivity in the world will count for nothing.
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

Switchraft jacks (#11) are cheap enough at about $2.50 each (bought by the 5 pack anyway). They have a heavier gauge metal and a thicker insulator than the import jacks I have replaced. I can be a cheap S.O.B and I'll admit that I don't automatically replace a cheap, open frame toggle with a $14 Switchcraft. But the jack swap just seems like a no brainer. I doubt that there is any sonic difference between jacks as long as the contacts are clean and making solid contact. But, I've pulled a cheap jack with a broken insulator. I have also had to bend the tip leg on cheapies for positive contact. I haven't had a broken insulator on a Switchcraft and haven't had to fuss with the contacts. Again, it's just worth the couple of bucks to me, so when I've swapped pick-ups on an import with a cheap jack (open style) it gets a new Switchcraft. It's only an extra few minutes if you are working in the control cavity anyway. I haven't tried the Neutrik jacks so I don't know how them compare.
 
Last edited:
Re: Guitar input jacks..

BloodRose said:
interesting.. are these the same quality tho?? Prolly exactly the same, just cheaper cuz no name attached...??
Click to expand...

Short answer, no. Those are probably budget made in China jacks, and I'd expect to replace at least two or three of them in the time a decent jack lasts.

BrianS. said:
If you buy that Neutrik jack, you'll be back on here asking which wire goes where...it's the wrong jack for your application. The dimarzio one is what you need.
Click to expand...

Did you even look at the Neutrik jack? It's a basic 1/4" TS jack, functionally identical to the DiMarzio one.

In terms of wiring guitars I like Switchcraft jacks because they're well made and rather inexpensive (about $2 each). I swear by Neutrik connectors when building cables because they're about the best you can buy.
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

I like the 1/4" Switchcraft brand jacks, and I don't bother buying the cheap stuff.

All jacks will break down over time. Obviously, there are differences in metals, but when a jack fails, it is most likely due to a failure in the insulating rings. I don't know the Neutrik brand that well, but they do build other fine products and I'm sure their jacks are fine. But I have total confidence in the Switchcraft products.

Another issue can be that most foreign-made stuff is metric, opposed to the US-made stuff in SAE measurement. It can make a difference with certain cords.

And not to be nit-picky, but a guitar has an OUTPUT jack. No big deal, nobody ever calls it that, lol!

Bill
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

DreX said:
The Switchcraft jacks are supposedly made in the USA, I'm always skeptical of the claim given the economics of making such things in the US, but beyond that, it's hard to say. The most common point of failure for jacks seems to be grime or oxidation at the tip, and both designs seem to be equal in terms how they make contact with the male end of the plug. The other issue would be how quickly the metal arm loses it's "spring" after repeated uses, and some might say the USA made one must be better because everything made in the USA is magically somehow better, but without proof, I'd assume they are equal in that regard to. We don't know what metals or metallic alloys they're using in either case, and if we did, how many could speak to the functional elasticity of each? Seeing as how they have similar problem points, and are known to fail rather often, I'd rather retain a bunch of them regardless.

With this and a lot of other guitar parts that cost ten times more for being US made, but still only cost $10 or less, such as PIO caps or pots or switches, people say, to paraphrase "maybe I am getting robbed, but it's only $10, and I feel better about buying American." In general, I start out cheap and then go expensive as the need presents itself. I have so called "high quality" stuff break on me all the time, so that promise alone doesn't mean much to me.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input! I actually wasnt questioning country of origin.. Just wondering if the unbranded jack was as good of quality. Sometimes generic is the same, or as good , sometimes not.. Often the same thing, made by the same co, just withot the brand name and therefore, lowering cost


Boogie Bill said:
I like the 1/4" Switchcraft brand jacks, and I don't bother buying the cheap stuff.

All jacks will break down over time. Obviously, there are differences in metals, but when a jack fails, it is most likely due to a failure in the insulating rings. I don't know the Neutrik brand that well, but they do build other fine products and I'm sure their jacks are fine. But I have total confidence in the Switchcraft products.

Another issue can be that most foreign-made stuff is metric, opposed to the US-made stuff in SAE measurement. It can make a difference with certain cords.

And not to be nit-picky, but a guitar has an OUTPUT jack. No big deal, nobody ever calls it that, lol!

Bill
Click to expand...

I know.. And yet I always call it input cuz Im plugging a cable INTO it.. but its where the signal goes out.. Just a habit,,
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

funny, I kinda feel dumb.. I was at work and in a rush tho.. I didnt even notice the dimarzio one was switchcraft.. If I had, it woulda pretty much been a no brainer.. Despite country of origin, plain and simply, I like switchcraft stuff.. Ive had great success with it. I am curious about the neutric tho, cuz thier stuff is also supposed to be great.. I had a LP that had one of the neutric locking output jacks on it.. pretty cool

thanks for all the input !
 
Re: Guitar input jacks..

dystrust said:
Did you even look at the Neutrik jack? It's a basic 1/4" TS jack, functionally identical to the DiMarzio one.
Click to expand...

Indeed I did, and I agree with you. However, it's not exactly the same as a standard guitar output jack. I deal with guitar customers nearly everyday and it's not a stretch of the imagination to envision someone purchasing this jack and then wondering how to hook it up, given that it is not identical to what they are replacing. That's all I was getting at.

In my shop I use Nuetrik & Switchcraft brands for cable ends and jacks. I agree with others about the quality of the Switchcraft pars and use them anytime I am replacing an output jack.
 
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