Monster cable too big?

lavmonga · #1 02-19-2009, 09:39 AM

For some reason my Monster Bass Cable won't fit into my P bass jack. All my other cable fit fine, anyone else every experience this? It's not a huge problem, I just run the monster from my pedals to the amp and it fits fine there. Just kind of odd.

bongomania · #2 02-19-2009, 09:46 AM

If it's an older one, then they did in fact use a larger diameter plug on those cables. They later switched to a "normal" diameter after customers and amp repair centers complained that the Monster plugs were damaging input jacks.

Mingo Sanders · #3 02-19-2009, 09:59 AM

I don't know much about Monster brand cable, but I think they may have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. I'd contact a Monster retailer to see if they'll exchange it for a new one, or you might try just sending it straight to Monster to see what shows up in your mail. Good luck!

alexclaber · #4 02-19-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

If it's an older one, then they did in fact use a larger diameter plug on those cables. They later switched to a "normal" diameter after customers and amp repair centers complained that the Monster plugs were damaging input jacks.

At last, Monster doing something intelligent! When did they change? About ten years ago it was a Monster cable that broke the input jack on my SWR Grand Prix...

Alex

lavmonga · #5 02-19-2009, 01:42 PM

Yea I have an older cable, it's gotta be at least 10 years old. I wonder if they'll exchange it at GC?

hasbeen · #6 02-19-2009, 01:44 PM

bongomania is correct. Still though, even after "shrinking" the plug, it is still nominaly bigger than "standard".

T-MOST · #7 02-19-2009, 02:10 PM

I've used Monsters exclusively for the past 3 yrs and I've never noticed any problems with any of my gear.

lavmonga · #8 02-19-2009, 02:30 PM

The weird thing is, in the 10 years I've had it, I've had no problems plugging it in, just the new P bass I have.

Skarekrough · #9 02-19-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lavmonga

The weird thing is, in the 10 years I've had it, I've had no problems plugging it in, just the new P bass I have.

The jacks you were using probably had some wear and tear on them.

The older ones were slightly larger. I had one mung up a jack on a Jazz Bass in 1998 or so. Bass was all of 10 years old without a single thing replaced on it.

Monster....it's French for "Douchebags!"

Silas Martinez · #10 02-19-2009, 02:37 PM

I've had a monster cable mess with input jacks on a few pieces of gear. My problem hasn't been in using the monster plug, but in using something else after, when connections are no longer as solid as they might be.

Almost enough to get me to stop using monster. Almost.

Madcity Fats · #11 02-19-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khaspir

I've had a monster cable mess with input jacks on a few pieces of gear. My problem hasn't been in using the monster plug, but in using something else after, when connections are no longer as solid as they might be.

I've had that problem, but I've also had a problem with a monster plug becoming stuck in a standard jack. Never had that happen with any other cable.

Quote:

Almost enough to get me to stop using monster. Almost.

Here's where we differ. I cut the ends of that cable and soldered on some Switchcraft jacks. Did I destroy the Monster mystique? Probably. But the damn cable won't pose a threat to my input jack anymore. And you know what? Sounds like the same damn cable to me.

Heresy, I know. As always, your opinions and mileage may vary. Use what works for you. Just be careful out there.

ko stradivarius · #12 02-19-2009, 03:01 PM

I have a monster cable I bought with my Curbow back in '96. I used that cable on/off since then. Last year I finally bought some new, quality cables, and had to replace the jack on my Curbow because the cable kept falling out!
Stoopy poopy monster cable!

RickenBoogie · #13 02-19-2009, 03:25 PM

Lifetime guarantee. Take it to GC, throw it on the counter, walk out with a brand new one. Done.

Bongolation · #14 02-19-2009, 03:31 PM

I have a ton of cables here, so I thought I'd check. A modern Monster cable's 1/4" plug is .001" -.0015" larger in diameter than anything else I could find here, including other gold-plated plugs -- by actual measurement.

Should that make a difference? Maybe. [shrug]

What I hate are those Planet Waves plugs with the expander sleeve around the shaft.

JZQuantum · #15 02-21-2009, 07:46 AM

Yeah, I have a similar problem. My cable goes into my M-Audio interface ok, but it is very difficult to pull out. I forgot about the lifetime warranty. I'm taking it back to GC.

fourstringbliss · #16 03-09-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lavmonga

For some reason my Monster Bass Cable won't fit into my P bass jack. All my other cable fit fine, anyone else every experience this? It's not a huge problem, I just run the monster from my pedals to the amp and it fits fine there. Just kind of odd.

I just got a new Monster Bass Cable in the mail and the jacks are normal size.

Bardley · #17 03-09-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skarekrough

Monster....it's French for "Douchebags!"

LOL!!

Jeff K · #18 03-09-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lavmonga

The weird thing is, in the 10 years I've had it, I've had no problems plugging it in, just the new P bass I have.

That's kind of funny. I have two Monster cables that I use regularly. I keep one in my gear bag for gigs and practices, and one in my rig at home. I've had them both for at least 6 or 7 years. Many basses, never a problem.

Late in '08 I bought an '08 Am. Std. P and an '08 Am. Std. Jazz. No problems with the P, but the output jack in the Jazz is very tight. Takes a pretty decent tug to get the cable out. I just figured it'll loosen up with time. I've never had a 1/4 inch cable (of any brand) totally fail to fit into the jack though.

**embellisher** · #19 03-09-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

What I hate are those Planet Waves plugs with the expander sleeve around the shaft.

Yep. I bought one of those once. It worked pretty good in my inexpensive basses. In my Zon, Cirrus, and the Pedulla I used to own, it crackled very badly. Guess it was made for inexpensive basses.

Roger Mouton · #20 03-24-2009, 01:26 PM

My Monster Bass cable has seemingly been shorting out for years. I finally figured out the shorting was related to the cable and not an input jack or some other interface problem. It's been intermittent and thus difficult to isolate. I estimate the cable is 8-10 years old, maybe more. I think I bought it just after they came out with those fatter, less pliable Bass Cables, the ones with gold plated plugs and a red band around the connector housing.

I play mostly upright bass, Underwood p/u, first went straight into a Polytone MiniBrute III, then into a Fishman Model B Preamp before the Polytone, later straight into an AI Clarus III. Don't know if the shorting is the connector or the cable or really when it went bad. A good friend that's worked many, many band jobs over the years has said that the best cables can get inadvertently trampled, stepped on by a heel, rolled over by a heavy cart, etc. I was stubborn about this one because it cost so darn much. I finally dumped it for a competitive cable. The plug seems to fit so easily and all shorts are gone.

Relative to the parts of this thread that address the earlier Monster plugs damaging input jacks, certainly there must be a "size" standard. I've worked in the plating field all my life and surmise that the Monster plugs may have been overplated at one time. It's certainly measurable. The bulk of the deposit on that plug is most likely nickel. The gold is just a flash if you compare the relative deposit thicknesses of the two metals. Because gold is so expensive manufacturers control it's thickness much more closely.

Whether this thread triggers any replies or no replies is OK with me. Reading the threads has been tremendously insightful. FYI, I have not pursued the Monster customer service route or a retailer yet. I believe I bought it at GC. Will ask Monster and see what they say.