Body mounted jack socket, why?

**Ken Baker** · 11-20-2009, 10:13 PM

Now I do have to say that I don't know whether the 1/4" phone plug/jack predated Leo Fender's designs, but it has been accepted in many places that he employed it for at least a couple reasons:

1. They're inexpensive. From the 50's through his G&L days, Leo had a reputation for being frugal. How was he to know then that he'd set a standard that is still going strong? The 1/4" connection, to this day, is cheap to buy and cheap to maintain.

2. They're simple. Dirt simple. Easy to implement and easy to maintain. Well, the regular one are easy to maintain. The deep panel jacks have their moments.

They're not the best thing out there electrically (not by a long shot), and they weren't even designed for instruments (telephones - think PBX). But they are very effective for our use, if not the best choice overall.

Okay, I'm done.

Ken...

**tkarter** · 11-20-2009, 10:29 PM

Dang I just plug in my cable and try to make music. I didn't know there was a rocket science going on to make that cable.

I wrap mine through the strap so I can dance like a bass player should without hurting my bass.

tk

**Big Poppa** · 11-21-2009, 05:28 AM

the quarter inch wasnt even close to leos invention.....the first pickups were from telephones....they put a nail in the part you speak into and a quarter inch jack...Bigsby made guitars before leo and they were quarter inch...not trying to take anything away from leo but he did not nvent everything.

**silverburst** · 11-21-2009, 06:47 AM

My 30s Rickenbacker lap steel has a 1/4-inch jack on it.

**bradfordws** · 11-21-2009, 09:34 AM

Strange rant. "Body mounted jack socket, why?" I would say because it only required routing the front of the body in one operation - and in the case of the 2 band Stingray (and Sabre), like the J Bass, pots and jack are attached to the control plate and dropped in - easy! Adding another route to the side and a plate for the jack = more time and money. All the current MM models have the jack on the bottom edge - so why this rant? I think it started with the 3 band Stingray = add a pot, move the jack to the edge instead of re-design the control plate = makes sense. I prefer the edge mounted jack as well, but have no problem if it is on the front - just use a right angle cord and loop it through the strap.

**five7** · 11-21-2009, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by tkarter

dang i just plug in my cable and try to make music. I didn't know there was a rocket science going on to make that cable.

I wrap mine through the strap so i can dance like a bass player should without hurting my bass.

Tk

+1

**Ken Baker** · 11-21-2009, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Big Poppa

the quarter inch wasnt even close to leos invention.....the first pickups were from telephones....they put a nail in the part you speak into and a quarter inch jack...Bigsby made guitars before leo and they were quarter inch...not trying to take anything away from leo but he did not nvent everything.

I certainly hope that you didn't read that from my post, Mr. Ball, for I said nothing about who invented the 1/4" plug/jack. My reference was to "why" of their use in this implementation. Whether or not Mr. Fender invented it (he obviously didn't) is immaterial to my comment.

Ken...