Body mounted jack socket, why?

[silverburst]

Ah. No. There is a Stingray in the rack, though.

 

[DaddyFlip]

In any design there must be some place where stress can be released.

Pardon the innuendo, but I don't think it's a coincidence that the TRS plug is designed and shaped the way it is.

From a practical standpoint, the slab-bodied guitars were thick enough to take a front mounted jack integrated into the control plate. As body designs became more slick and slim, the jack had to be moved to the edge (or Strat style) because the body wasn't thick enough and for improved aesthetics.

To me, an angle TRS on either front- or edge-mounted jack with the cable routed through the strap is equal to or better than any locking system. A straight, non-locking TRS on the amp end is as useful, safe and reliable as one will ever need.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

I think some acoustic guitars have got it covered, when their jack input is fitted into their strap pin at the back of the body, that is out of the way of your playing hand and can be kept locked in by the strap, hence difficult to inadvertedly unplug when pulled.

 

[the unrepentant]

Pardon the innuendo, but I don't think it's a coincidence that the TRS plug is designed and shaped the way it is.

From a practical standpoint, the slab-bodied guitars were thick enough to take a front mounted jack integrated into the control plate. As body designs became more slick and slim, the jack had to be moved to the edge (or Strat style) because the body wasn't thick enough and for improved aesthetics.

To me, an angle TRS on either front- or edge-mounted jack with the cable routed through the strap is equal to or better than any locking system. A straight, non-locking TRS on the amp end is as useful, safe and reliable as one will ever need.

They don't use TRS, they're not r**kenb***ers i know what you meant though

 

[mynan]

They don't use TRS, they're not r**kenb***ers i know what you meant though

 

[Ken Baker]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[bradfordws]

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]

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]

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...

 

[Steve-O]

I've seen cables pulled out of jacks many times, and every time the result was preferable to what would have happened had the cable not come loose.

 

[bovinehost]

This is the strangest thread I've seen in quite some time.

 

[Jimmyb]

What was the question again?