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Audio Jack Too Small For Amp's Input

wistfulhum

wistfulhum

May 20, 2021
7
2
#1
I bought a Gorilla GB-30 bass amp and an instrument cable separate of each other and came to find out that the plugs on either end of the cable are too small for the amp's input. They're really loose and can go in effortlessly but fit in my bass just fine. It's a standard 1/4" thickness and it's too late to return either of the items. I've tried to scour the internet for possible solutions to this but I keep on drawing blanks so I really don't know what to do. I also read that I could solder on a bigger plug but the source didn't specify the thickness so that didn't actually amount to anything. Is there any way I could get it to fit?
 
#4
Unless the previous owner did some kind of wild modification, the input socket is indeed 1/4".
@kohanmike is in the right direction. If your socket looks like this:
364754.jpg

Gently bend the contact armature (in the middle in the photo) inward. Do not bend the tabs with wires soldered to them. This should hold the cable jack when inserted.
If the socket is a different form factor, it might not be so easy to access and bend the armature. It would be very inexpensive for a tech to replace the socket.
 
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#6
arbiterusa said:
Fits in bass, doesn’t fit in amp…amp jack is broken. Sorry. You can’t fix that. The plug size is standard; you can’t find one that is a “little bit bigger”. If it fits your bass it will fit a non-broken amp.
Click to expand...

I disagree, from the description of the problem, in my experience all that's needed is to bend the arm that presses against the plug.

Tighten socket.jpg
 
Last edited:
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#7
I have seen some off shore plugs and jacks that are obviously metric, and not exactly the equivalent to 1/4". Some plugs were tight going into a Switchcraft jack, and yet others rattle around loose in the same type jack.

Switchcraft also makes a military style plug that looks identical to a 280, but the diameter is .210"
but it's highly unlikely these got mixed up with some musical instrument gear. I've only run across these once or twice in 40 years.
Switchcraft : Product Summary
 
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#10
If I recall correctly, the old Gorilla amp input jacks are mounted to the PC board, so replacing them is a problem. If it's a regular panel-mount jack, replacement should be easy (assuming you know your way around amps, soldering, safety, etc.). But a PCB mounted one requires removing the whole board, getting the correct replacement, removing the bad one, and getting the new one in. I know how to do all that and I wouldn't waste my time on this amp.
 
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#16
Just a data point: I have no idea where I bought it, but I have a nice looking 15' tweed instrument cable . . . that fits loosely in about half the jacks I plug it into and doesn't make good contact in them. In fact I just looked, it's labelled Fender. Beautiful golden tweed with brown covered, well-made ends. It's worthless, and they do exist.
 
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#17
In my vast experience, I have come across tolerance differences in 1/4" male guitar cables that were so far off it wouldn't even plug into a known good female jack. I realize this is not your problem but I just wanted to agree with the other posters that the input jack in the Gorilla amp you have isn't the type that you can access in order to bend the "contact leg". It is most likely a PC mounted type and not very user friendly. I am sure the repair cost (if you had to pay a tech) is beyound the value of the amp.
 
#18
JTE said:
If I recall correctly, the old Gorilla amp input jacks are mounted to the PC board, so replacing them is a problem. If it's a regular panel-mount jack, replacement should be easy (assuming you know your way around amps, soldering, safety, etc.). But a PCB mounted one requires removing the whole board, getting the correct replacement, removing the bad one, and getting the new one in. I know how to do all that and I wouldn't waste my time on this amp.
Click to expand...
On occasion, I've removed the PC mounted jack, and installed a Switchcraft 12A on the front panel, with a couple short stranded wire leads that connect the jack to the PC board pads.

This assumes there is enough physical real estate to install the jack.
 
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#19
OogieWaWa said:
Just a data point: I have no idea where I bought it, but I have a nice looking 15' tweed instrument cable . . . that fits loosely in about half the jacks I plug it into and doesn't make good contact in them. In fact I just looked, it's labelled Fender. Beautiful golden tweed with brown covered, well-made ends. It's worthless, and they do exist.
Click to expand...
If the cable is good quality, chop the ends off and install Neutrik NP2Cs.
 
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#20
DanDBassist said:
In my vast experience, I have come across tolerance differences in 1/4" male guitar cables that were so far off it wouldn't even plug into a known good female jack. I realize this is not your problem but I just wanted to agree with the other posters that the input jack in the Gorilla amp you have isn't the type that you can access in order to bend the "contact leg". It is most likely a PC mounted type and not very user friendly. I am sure the repair cost (if you had to pay a tech) is beyound the value of the amp.
Click to expand...
So the best thing I can do in this case is buy a new amp? It's not like it doesn't work, I bought it off of eBay and when I went to the guy's house he had it set up in his garage and let me test it out. It played without a problem so that's mainly why this has been so confusing.
 

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