RH450 Input Jack Issue

BigEarl · #1 10-29-2011, 08:08 AM

I just received a brand-spankin' new RH450 from MF yesterday and took it on a gig with me last night. Amp sounded great but the input jack has me very concerned. I plugged my Monster cable in and it was very difficult to seat, I had to force in. A couple of my band mates looked at it and both thought it was weird too (one of 'em even refused to continue to push the cable in for fear of damage!) We tried multiple cables and all of them were difficult to seat. Also. we tried the FX loop jacks on the back and they were difficult too.

Is this something anyone else in TB land has experienced? I am concerned that I may need to send it back to MF for a swap. Thank you!

jza57 · #2 10-29-2011, 10:35 AM

Why beat yourself up ! Send it back , though ultimately this is a TCE product , it is the vendor jack part that is to blame . I have had an RH450 absolutely no problem , and now own an RH750 no problem . These kind of things pop up anytime anything is mass produced . These are great amps , good luck .

billfitzmaurice · #3 10-29-2011, 10:38 AM

That's a common issue with Monster. With cables that use Neutrik or Switchcraft plugs you shouldn't have any problem.

4-string · #4 10-29-2011, 10:41 AM

Never had a problem with my RH750, but I avoid Monster at any cost.

fretno · #5 10-29-2011, 10:47 AM

so is it that the Monster cables end is larger than 1/4" ?

RickenBoogie · #6 10-29-2011, 11:25 AM

Yes, just slightly larger, and can cause the input to get stretched out a bit.

fretno · #7 10-29-2011, 11:36 AM

perhaps that's why I had to replace a jack on a p bass after switching cables

EscapeNote · #8 10-29-2011, 12:02 PM

I have an RH450 - no problems. Like it so much that I ordered an RH750 for my larger rig; UPS dropped it off a couple of days ago.

I'm having that same trouble with the jack on the RH750. In all other respects I'm loving this amp, but now that I've seen your post I'll definitely be contacting TC about it. Will post back with results...

EscapeNote · #9 10-29-2011, 12:03 PM

Oh, and BTW, I tried several different cables. No difference.

4-string · #10 10-29-2011, 12:13 PM

Hmmm, sounds like they had a bad batch or something. That's a shame, hopefully it will get sorted out.

MrLenny1 · #11 10-29-2011, 12:50 PM

Has TC responded to any of the issues mentioned here? Input jacks & power rating actually being higher than amps real output?
With such a large forum and customer base I would think they would have been all over this.
I for one am very interested in the RH 450 but reluctant to get one.

GrowlerBox · #12 10-29-2011, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLenny1

Has TC responded to any of the issues mentioned here? Input jacks & power rating actually being higher than amps real output?
With such a large forum and customer base I would think they would have been all over this.
I for one am very interested in the RH 450 but reluctant to get one.

Not sure about the input jack issue, but they did respond to the the power rating thing, albeit not to the satisfaction of all (myself included, despite my liking the amp). Uffe responded in one or other of the threads (since closed), and then TCE produced a document which is attached to the specs page for each of their bass amps, and which purports to explain their rationale for making those claims regarding output.

FWIW, I've never had any problem with the input jack, but I do try to be gentle with it, and loop the cable through my cab's handle to reduce strain and movement.

LM Bass · #13 10-29-2011, 01:04 PM

It's the fault of the Monster cable. The TC jack is nice and tight with regular cables.

EscapeNote · #14 10-29-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLenny1

Has TC responded to any of the issues mentioned here? Input jacks & power rating actually being higher than amps real output?
With such a large forum and customer base I would think they would have been all over this.
I for one am very interested in the RH 450 but reluctant to get one.

I see the input jack issue as a completely different thing. In the past TC has been good at responding to me via email through the support page of their website.

That whole debate here on TB about the power rating is a non-issue for me. I recently did some A/B'ing with the TC 450 and a Crown XLS 1500 power amp, driving a pair of Berg HT112ERs. The Crown, in stereo mode, is rated 525 watts per channel at 4 ohms. Side by side, the little TC RH450 blew the Crown away, both in terms of tone and power. I've been gigging for 2 months using the 450 with that same pair of Bergs, playing with a band that gets pretty loud at times and have never turned the master higher than 4 or 5.

Of course I type this with some trepidation, hopeful that it isn't going to derail a fairly straightforward thread and start something up again.

But since you said you were interested in the RH450 I wanted to say don't be reluctant because of the power rating thing. These days, with 30 day return policies becoming more common among retailers, it's easy enough to try it out and see if it's a good fit for you or not.

I just emailed TC about an hour ago regarding the input jack, will post what I find out...

Bob C · #15 10-29-2011, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LM Bass

It's the fault of the Monster cable. The TC jack is nice and tight with regular cables.

The OP has stated he has tried several cables. I assume that means different brands, not all Monster.

Also, the problem is that the plug is too tight, not too loose.

LM Bass · #16 10-29-2011, 07:22 PM

But he also talks about having to force the monster cable in. I've seen nothing but problems from those dang things.

EscapeNote · #17 10-29-2011, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LM Bass

But he also talks about having to force the monster cable in. I've seen nothing but problems from those dang things.

For what it's worth, I was having the same issue - having to force the plug in - using 'non Monster' cables. Tried a couple a different cables, very basic, no frills guitar cables. Definitely something with the input jacks. But I'm sure it'll get sorted out... just frustrating to have to deal with.

Rick Auricchio · #18 10-29-2011, 08:33 PM

There are two types of "quarter-inch" plugs. Neutrik and some others are 6.29mm, which is actually 0.2476 inches. That's .0024" smaller than 1/4" SwitchCraft plugs, which are 0.2500 inches.

If TC is using Neutrik jacks, then there's your answer. I'm sure they're not the only ones using the Neutrik jacks.

BigEarl · #19 10-29-2011, 09:47 PM

Well I appreciate the lively response for this post and I thought I'd give y'all a followup. I sent an email through TCE's website, but I'm not expecting a reply anytime soon.

I played an outdoor gig today with the RH450 and seems that whatever I did last night to the jack cleared up the problem. I did not use the Monster cable, but the cable I did use (which was one I tried last night) worked exactly as it should, slipped in easy and seated securely.

We're figuring that maybe something shifted inside the unit and it got pushed back into place. On the bright side the amp performed admirably and I think she's a keeper. But I'm gonna hedge my bets by calling MF tomorrow and get the extended warranty!