Body mounted jack socket, why?

**Lynottfan** · 11-18-2009, 04:31 AM

Something that has bugged me for years, WHY put the jack socket on the front face of the body of the guitar, it looks damn ugly, imho.

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that the best place for a jack socket is on the underside of the guitar out of harms way (I have seen a jack socket ripped out because of lead being stuck out of body, on a very high end flying V

).

To me it really spoils the line, look at the Stingray, fantastic looking Bass guitar, why spoil its lovely line with an awful looking hole on the front face of its body, its just wrong! However there was a great moment in time,when EBMM Stingray went 3 band, no more jack socket on the front, a most beautiful line was now carried over and not spoiled, so yay EBMM.

Sorry for the slight rant

Am I alone in my jack socket phobia ( I do not have or would ever have a bass with the jack socket on the front)

Is there any reason for it, what was the thinking behind it, anyone know?

yours curiosly,

Lynottfan.

**cellkirk74** · 11-18-2009, 04:40 AM

as long as you play with a cable, you will see no hole...

**mynan** · 11-18-2009, 04:48 AM

Originally Posted by Lynottfan

Something that has bugged me for years, WHY put the jack socket on the front face of the body of the guitar, it looks damn ugly, imho.

Because that's the way Leo made it...probably more a case of "function" than "form".

Originally Posted by Lynottfan

very high end flying V

Isn't that called an oxymoron?

**adouglas** · 11-18-2009, 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by Lynottfan

(I have seen a jack socket ripped out because of lead being stuck out of body, on a very high end flying V

).

Wouldn't have happened with a right-angle plug.

FWIW, the barrel jacks on the edge of the body... the kind that don't have a plate associated with them... can occasionally cause problems. They're hard to tighten snugly and from time to time may loosen, which in turn causes stress on the solder connections.

I've had basses with those kinds of jacks for years, and I've been in the habit of putting a dab of loctite on the threads to prevent it.

**oli@bass** · 11-18-2009, 05:39 AM

2 things:

- easy to access (no blind fumbling for the jack)
- easy to manufacture (no extra holes to drill)

That said, I also prefer the bottom mounted jacks, but I somewhat like the desing of the Strat jack socket.

**keko** · 11-18-2009, 06:19 AM

I wonder, well, for some time, why do we still use those inferior simple old fashioned 1/4 inch jacks for guitars and basses at all?

I mean, from my personal and professional point of view there are many more quality and superior jacks (contacts) on the electronic market, much better and practical than this 1/4 (we call them banana jacks

) jacks, which could be plugged out accidentally...etc.

**DTG** · 11-18-2009, 06:38 AM

sorry man,but i love them on the front and i wish all my bassed had them on the front.my 93 2 band ray is the only one that has it.
i always use an angled jack anyway,i just think they look better

**five7** · 11-18-2009, 06:41 AM

Originally Posted by oli@bass

2 things:

- easy to access (no blind fumbling for the jack)
- easy to manufacture (no extra holes to drill)

that said, i also prefer the bottom mounted jacks, but i somewhat like the desing of the strat jack socket.

+1

**maddog** · 11-18-2009, 07:06 AM

buy a bongo.

**Big Poppa** · 11-18-2009, 08:21 AM

I guess Im stupid but which basses are you complaining about? THe two band is just like leo designed it.....everything else is at the bottom.....kind of a strange rant....

**bovinehost** · 11-18-2009, 08:46 AM

1. The Stingray is better.
1a. No, the Sterling is better!

2. The Precision is the best.
2a. No, the Jazz is the best!

3. Flatwounds rule.
3a. No, flatwounds suck!

4. I like a bass with 22 frets.
4a. No, 22 frets is too many!

5. A real bass has four strings.
5a. Fivers rule!

6. Jaco only needed four strings.
6a. Jaco is dead!

and so on

Any questions?

Jack

**bizmarckie** · 11-18-2009, 09:14 AM

I feel like this thread is a bad deja vu experience...

**Lynottfan** · 11-18-2009, 10:08 AM

HI guys, Firstly, I am not complaining as such about any bass, just stating my opinion, that a front mounted jack socket fror me looks odd and in some ways, looks a bit cheap to, now that may not be the case. Secondly I am not trying to argue oranges or apples, I am very curious to know, if any one does know, why this method was chosen is there a design or electrical benefit, any info would be very helpful.