1/4" plug stuck in cabinet...

[timmerz]

Anybody heard of this?? Been playing since I was a pup and have never seen a 1/4" speaker plug get stuck in a cabinet's input before...maybe I've just led a sheltered musical life?? Plug comes out (grudgingly) about an inch and then is stuck tight, no further movement outward at all...

 

[Foz]

 

[Foz]

and then

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Good call on the Speakon connector. I like the ones on my Markbass cabinet.

 

[RustyNails]

Never seen that but I had a combo amp once that the 1/4" input sunk into the cab itself and I could never get it out. (Luckily this was just the active input and the passive input was still available)

 

[Downunderwonder]

Time for Dr Bob.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[agedhorse]

I have seen this before, almost always caused by the plug being damaged (bent or the tip is broken off and has jammed) or from the use of a plug that does not meet the spec for a 1/4" plug (like many of the counterfeit and low budget parts from China specifically). What happens is the tip doesn't have adequate radius on the back side of the recess which causes the receptacle's tip contact to get caught and fold over on itself (specifically the Switchcraft straight PCB style) effectively wedging itself tight against the sleeve.

If this is the case, it may get ugly before it can be fixed properly. If possible, this would be a good time to change over to Speak-Ons.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

IMHO the best way to remove it is to pull it back as far as you can & cut the end of it off. This would only work if you can get inside the cabinet though. Then you can extract the remaining bit of the end.
You'll need a pair of these.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Then again, if you can get your hand in the cab, you can probably figure out what's holding it in place & release it.

 

[agedhorse]

Chances are the internal contacts of the jack are completely trashed, so plan on replacing the jack as well.

 

[Foz]

Chances are the internal contacts of the jack are completely trashed, so plan on replacing the jack as well.

With a Speakon!

[see above]

Also... clip the end off your speaker cable and install one of these and you be good to go.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Sometimes twisting it allows the tip to clear the obstruction. But as was mentioned, the jack might need to be replaced. If the back panel can't be removed to get at it, you might need to remove a speaker and reach in. A big job for a little problem.

 

[tjh]

... times like this is it is nice when the cab has recessed handles and one of them can be taken off so you can reach in ...

 

[buldog5151bass]

If you are relacing the input, consider one of the hybrids that accepts both speakon and 1/4". Gives you more options if you need to replace a cable at a gig.

 

[timmerz]

Thanks, y'all...I'm sure that's what happened...no clue where I picked up that speaker cable, but I'm sure (positive!) that it was a cheap one! Ironically, this cab HAS a speakon plug, just happened to be using the 1/4" this time! I'll clear the plug out and then just start using the speakon exclusively...just blew my mind that a 1/4" plug could fail!

 

[Killed_by_Death]

The newer speakon connectors will accept 1/4" plugs, if you're in a pinch.

 

[agedhorse]

You need to be sure the 1/4" jack's tip has not shorted to the sleeve internally, or when you use the SpeakOn, the cabinet will look like a short circuit to the amp and the amp could be damaged.

Really, this repair needs to be done right.

 

[dheafey]

Thanks, y'all...I'm sure that's what happened...no clue where I picked up that speaker cable, but I'm sure (positive!) that it was a cheap one! Ironically, this cab HAS a speakon plug, just happened to be using the 1/4" this time! I'll clear the plug out and then just start using the speakon exclusively...just blew my mind that a 1/4" plug could fail!

I'd suggest trashing the 1/4", re-drilling the hole to accept another speakon, and installing 2 combo speakons as suggested above.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Most of the cabinets I have come across the connectors are mounted to a plate screwed in. If this is the case carefully undo the mounting screws and gently pull out the plate. You should be able to see what the problem is and rectify it.

 

[wcriley]

Combo Speakons are not a good idea unless you want the cab to whistle a tune while you play.