whacky jack

CosmicRay · #1 11-11-2011, 06:54 PM

So, I'm in the middle of our last set of the night and all of a sudden, no bass...I'm like, what now...?? My cable was literally pushed out of the input of my Genz-Benz Shuttle 6

Does anyone have an explanation as to why this occurred?

Has anyone ever heard of this or have it happen to them?

I'm a little apprehensive to use this amp again on a gig, and I really don't want to go wireless...

agedhorse · #2 11-11-2011, 07:18 PM

Not sure I understand what happened?

It it possible that it wasn't fully inserted to begin with?

The input jack uses a 3 beam cantalever type jack and it's really solid, unlikely (I can't see how it would be possible) to come out on it's own. This is the first time I have heard of this. Do you maybe have a guitar player who may be playing a (bad) joke on you?

CosmicRay · #3 11-11-2011, 07:31 PM

I wish that were the case. No one was near my rig, except me. Fully inserted, and it was all good up 'till that point.
I don't get it either...it was like blown out of the input...really weird.

dog1 · #4 11-11-2011, 07:35 PM

Since what you describe sounds impossible, I don't have a clue. IMO, there is no logical explaination for what you have described.

CosmicRay · #5 11-11-2011, 07:40 PM

I tend to agree, but you can't make this stuff up. The only reasonable explanation is that there was excessive vibration coming from the cab that it was sitting on, and it sort of wormed out....???
This was a first for me in all of my 35+ years of gigging. And I hope the last.

brendanbassist · #6 11-11-2011, 07:46 PM

Is it possible you stepped on the cable or something? If no one pulled on the cable, all I can think of is it worked its way out due to cab vibrations... which would mean the cab is SEVERELY under-braced.

dog1 · #7 11-11-2011, 07:47 PM

Yeah. I have 45 years under my belt and have never had this happen. Just a thought. For many years I have used Planet Waves cables with the added grounding (feet, spikes, or whatever they call them) This makes for a tight fit. Some have said that it wears out the input jack. I have not found this to be true. BTW, I also hate wireless. That micro second of delay is something I can't deal with.

CosmicRay · #8 11-11-2011, 07:50 PM

No, I didn't step on the cable but in my prior post I kind of think it was vibration. I may have to place the amp on some sort of cushion or something to absorb the vibes...

CosmicRay · #9 11-11-2011, 07:58 PM

To dog1 - here's the thing, I always use Monster bass cables BUT
last night I failed to pack it after a spontaneous rehearsal, so I had to use a cheap cable that I borrowed from the sound man.
I usually travel with spares, but last night was supposed to be an
easy acoustic gig, so I went real light.
Lesson learned - ALWAYS make sure you have what you need..and then some.
and forget wireless, not for me either!

agedhorse · #10 11-11-2011, 08:18 PM

It is possible that a very undersized plug could come loose, there's all kinds of mean ings for 1/4" measurement in low budget cable land... I have seen some so large in diameter that they won't fit in the jack, but never heard on one coming out on it's own.

dog1 · #11 11-11-2011, 08:20 PM

Well Ray, my man, we seem to be speaking the same language. Your input jack thing is probably one in a million. But, who wants to be the first!!? Too bad you had to use a cheap cable. But, I have come up short before myself.

JimmyM · #12 11-11-2011, 08:32 PM

Cheap cable...LOL! I use cheap cables and have never had that happen unless the jack got pulled out. Those jacks don't vibrate loose.

Aguilar/Dave B. · #13 11-11-2011, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicRay

To dog1 - here's the thing, I always use Monster bass cables BUT
last night I failed to pack it after a spontaneous rehearsal, so I had to use a cheap cable that I borrowed from the sound man.
I usually travel with spares, but last night was supposed to be an
easy acoustic gig, so I went real light.
Lesson learned - ALWAYS make sure you have what you need..and then some.
and forget wireless, not for me either!

Well.....some cables manufacturers have been known to have way oversized or misshapen jacks. I'm not sayin' who! It is possible that your (possibly) oversized jack loosened the tension on the clip part of the input jack. Then when you used a (possibly) undersized cable it simply fell out, or you pulled it out very easily. It's a simple matter to have a qualified person re-tension the input jack.

Dave B.

beans-on-toast · #14 11-11-2011, 08:41 PM

When you plug in, you should feel it snap into place. If it doesn't make a good contact, either the cable is bad or the jack could be defective. If the connection feels good with your monster cable, chances are you are fine.

Maybe you didn't push the plug in all the way and it popped out. Or someone is messing with you.

JimmyM · #15 11-11-2011, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aguilar/Dave B.

Well.....some cables manufacturers have been known to have way oversized or misshapen jacks. I'm not sayin' who!

Does their name rhyme with "Schmonster"?

Joe Louvar · #16 11-11-2011, 09:00 PM

May be the venue was haunted and a ghost pulled the cord out.

T-Bird · #17 11-11-2011, 10:11 PM

Hi.

The only way I could see that happening is if the tip-tang of the jack somehow snapped partially, but that would mean it wouldn't hold any plug anymore.

However, I had that happen once, a long time ago, but the reason was a cheap plug that "shortened" when the shaft sunk into the body, and naturally the jack didn't lock the plug anymore.

Regards
Sam

agedhorse · #18 11-11-2011, 10:25 PM

The drummer did it...

Jim Carr · #19 11-11-2011, 10:35 PM

I used to have trouble with a fuse holder coming lose. Once I quite that band, it never happened again...just sayin...

CosmicRay · #20 11-12-2011, 07:06 AM

Thanks for all your comments and ideas as to how this could have occurred.
Just for the record, the plug didn't shoot out of the input and land across the stage, it just somehow backed out enough to lose the connection.
I'm playing the same venue tonight, with the same set up. But with my usual cable.
I'll keep you posted as to impossible and supernatural events!