barrel jack - how to make it last?

[Killed_by_Death]

Another thread got me thinking that leaving the thing plugged in ALL the time might make it last longer.
True or False?

Wouldn't unplugging & re-inserting it stress it more than leaving it plugged in?

 

[RobbieK]

Interesting question. I wonder if there's actually any studies on this. And I wonder if you could email switchcraft or something. My gut says leaving in would give you a shorter jack life. But I'm really not sure. And for me a moot point. All but one of my basses are active...

 

[Clark Dark]

I have one bass with a barrel output. I switched to Nuetrik, three years now, no static, positive contacts, switches on the pre flawlessly.

 

[Roland GR 88]

I would avoid it because of the possibility of corrosion between the contacts and the certainty of hooking your shoe on the cable one day and knocking your guitar over.
Disclaimer; I'm no metallurgist but I've been known to trip over cables...

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I have one bass with a barrel output. I switched to Nuetrik, three years now, no static, positive contacts, switches on the pre flawlessly.

Which Neutrik did you install? (Asking for a friend)

 

[Clark Dark]

Which Neutrik did you install? (Asking for a friend)

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The shortest of the two center lugs is the tip contact, the longer of the two center lugs is the ring and the largest strain relief is the sleeve.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

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Thank you, sir.

Ah, took a minute for the page to load. I did not know they made a barrel jack also. When I think of Neutrik I think of their locking jacks. That’s why I was curious which one fit for a barrel jack.

 

[Clark Dark]

Are you referring to the contact info? It's in the reviews near the bottom of the page. I thought I'd paste it.
Commission generating redirect link ???

EDIT: when I click on any of those "links" you posted I see the same thing because I have an account with Parts Express as a customer not as a vendor. I'm not getting a commission.

 

[RobbieK]

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Nice one. I had no idea that Neutrik made guitar barrel jacks. Their other phono connectors are top notch. Been using them for 20 years...

FWIW, whether you leave it in or not, you should definitely use a genuine Switchcraft or Neutrik jack, and be careful not to bump it if you are playing seated. Plus be sure not to bump it or let the bass rest on it if you lean the instrument on something or put it in a stand.

As a tech, I could probably fill an olympic swimming pool with all the barrel jacks I've replaced over the years...

 

[Kro]

If you’re going to include a commission generating referral link instead of a direct web link in a post, it might be nice to at least mention you’re doing that.

@40Hz , I don't see that dotomi portion of the URL included in @Clark Dark 's original post. You may have some adware on your device that is inserting that portion.

Or, more likely, TB is inserting it to monetize outgoing traffic. I still can't see it on desktop, maybe it's a mobile thing.

 

[micguy]

The general wisdom about contacts like this ( I once worked at a switch company) is you either want them self wiping (meaning when you plug them in and out, they should mechanically remove the oxide layer by friction), or you want gold plated contacts (which don't oxidize). So, if you want to leave it plugged in, get gold contacts on both the jack and plug, don't ever trip over the cable, and you'll be fine.

 

[40Hz]

How about if you're going to write a post like this you should know what you're talking about. Just seeing a UTM doesn't equal commission generating link. Parts express is running CPC ads including for that connector. I just did a search myself and saw it. That's the link that @Clark Dark used and at one point was copied from the google search result - easy as that.

I’ve spent over 30 years in IT so I think I might occasionally know a tiny bit about what I’m talking about. But to your point, my earlier post was a definite mea culpa on my part since it’s early and I was thinking of the cj.dotomi<dot>com (malware redirects) rather than plain old dotomi.com.

So my apologies to @ClarkDark. I’ll delete my earlier post to avoid further confusion. Thank you for catching it.

 

[Kro]

I’ve spent over 30 years in IT so I think I might occasionally know a tiny bit about what I’m talking about. But to your point, my earlier post was a definite mea culpa on my part since it’s early and I was thinking of the cj.dotomi<dot>com (malware redirects) rather than plain old dotomi.com.

So my apologies to @ClarkDark. I’ll delete my earlier post to avoid further confusion. Thank you for catching it.

My apologies as well for hitting it so hard. I actually edited my post before I saw your last one. Hard to tell if I should blame too much coffee or not enough, or me just being a jerk today. Probably all three.

 

[40Hz]

Are you referring to the contact info? It's in the reviews near the bottom of the page. I thought I'd paste it.
Commission generating redirect link ???

EDIT: when I click on any of those "links" you posted I see the same thing because I have an account with Parts Express as a customer not as a vendor. I'm not getting a commission.

Apologies. My mistake. See my post to @Kro

 

[40Hz]

My apologies as well for hitting it so hard. I actually edited my post before I saw your last one. Hard to tell if I should blame too much coffee or not enough, or me just being a jerk today. Probably all three.

Nice of you to say so. But it doesn’t excuse my earlier mischaracterization. Which I have zero excuse to offer for. I’m already on my sixth cup of coffee for the day.

Thanks again for catching it.

 

[cataract]

Have two!

 

[Clark Dark]

it's all good
I've read posts about tripping over the cable which I did and thankfully the plug broke and not the jack so at the same time I ordered two Nuetrik barrel jacks I also ordered two of these although when I bought mine back in 2013 they were under $9 each. SMH

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[Relsom]

I would avoid it because of the possibility of corrosion between the contacts and the certainty of hooking your shoe on the cable one day and knocking your guitar over.
Disclaimer; I'm no metallurgist but I've been known to trip over cables...

Me either/too.

 

[Paulabass]

Barrel jacks are the devil's ovenmitts. I've never found one that last more than a couple of years.

 

[Relsom]

As I primarily gig active basses, I've been in the habit of unplugging, even for a few minites of non-use. I've not had a jack fail me. Damn.... there I go..... jinxed. Thanks a lot Talkbass