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barrel jack - how to make it last?

Would leaving it plugged in constantly help it last longer?

  • Yes

  • No

  • carrots - unsure

Results are only viewable after voting.
#21
I've never used the Neutrik barrel jack, but have been using the same Switchcraft one in one of my basses since 1988 without any issues. I believe what kills them is using non-standard off shore plugs that are shaped slightly different, causing the tip and ring contacts to be bent out of shape.

Use only Neutrik or Switchcraft plugs, and they should last for years.
 
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#22
RobbieK said:
As a tech, I could probably fill an olympic swimming pool with all the barrel jacks I've replaced over the years...
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Word. Lately I've been observing that compatibility between any two given brands is even a crapshoot. Could easily just be a counterfeiting issue though. My results with the NY series Neutrik stuff (aka Rean) have been fairly spotty in any case.

I hate barrel jacks so much that I used a 4 pin XLR on my newest bass instead. So much for compatibility...
Yel_wink.gif
 
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#23
RobbieK said:
Interesting question. I wonder if there's actually any studies on this. And I wonder if you could email switchcraft or something.
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The connector companies publish use life data in their product specifications. Switchcraft's [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] have a minimum use life of 10,000 cycles (insertions and removals), and twice that for their mil spec version. If you plug and unplug your bass once a day, that's good for over 27 years. You should be able to find similar data on Neutrik's website.
 
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#24
To be sure, that's different from the wear-and-tear the connector will be exposed to, for example, stress caused by the plug being yanked on at an angle. A solid sidelong whack on a full-length straight plug housing is going to weaken any socket and make it more likely to break free of its mount.
 
#26
ardgedee said:
The connector companies publish use life data in their product specifications. Switchcraft's [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] have a minimum use life of 10,000 cycles (insertions and removals), and twice that for their mil spec version. If you plug and unplug your bass once a day, that's good for over 27 years. You should be able to find similar data on Neutrik's website.
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Yeah, and while we're at it, I want a pony.
 
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#30
micguy said:
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.
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This, from an ME by degree, EE by trade. EE perspective here and totally accurate.

From an ME perspective consider spring tension and fatigue life. Some of where the 10k cycle life comes from, the rest from contact plating material.

FWIW I leave mine plugged in most of the time. Once a week or so I unplug/plug to wipe the contacts.
 
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#31
My solution to barrel jacks FWIW is to just buy a bunch and replace them when they start misbehaving.

Mike Pope has a big thing against them (rightfully) and just advocates sucking it up and drilling the bass out for a standard jack w/plate. I get his point; but, that can be a tough call on a vintage Tobias / Pedulla etc.
 
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#32
Doc Blue said:
This, from an ME by degree, EE by trade. EE perspective here and totally accurate.

From an ME perspective consider spring tension and fatigue life. Some of where the 10k cycle life comes from, the rest from contact plating material.

FWIW I leave mine plugged in most of the time. Once a week or so I unplug/plug to wipe the contacts.
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Generally speaking, the engineering that went into the 1/4” jack and plug took ALL of the materials and reliability aspects into account. The jack in my ‘62 Jazz still works as well as the day it left Leo’s Shop; and it’s been around the block more than a few times. Point is, there aren’t any significant reliability issues for the standard jacks. They were designed for repeated contact cycling.

The barrel jack is a different beast. The barrel potting changes some of the contact cycling reliability factors for the worse. My guess is due to metal fatigue; but could also be due to the potting support degrading. In any case, they are a three dollar part, and relatively easily replaced with low to moderate soldering capability. Not really worth a whole lot of brain waves, IME. YMMV
 
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#34
bucephylus said:
Generally speaking, the engineering that went into the 1/4” jack and plug took ALL of the materials and reliability aspects into account. The jack in my ‘62 Jazz still works as well as the day it left Leo’s Shop; and it’s been around the block more than a few times. Point is, there aren’t any significant reliability issues for the standard jacks. They were designed for repeated contact cycling.

The barrel jack is a different beast. The barrel potting changes some of the contact cycling reliability factors for the worse. My guess is due to metal fatigue; but could also be due to the potting support degrading. In any case, they are a three dollar part, and relatively easily replaced with low to moderate soldering capability. Not really worth a whole lot of brain waves, IME. YMMV
Click to expand...

Excellent point.
 
#36
Every jack and port of every kind has an engineered lifespan in terms of number of insertion cycles. The more times you insert something into any jack or port the closer it gets to reaching the end of its lifespan and failure.

Whether or not it is a good idea to leave something plugged into a jack at all times is another issue and one that could lead to an early failure if you're not careful to keep from damaging the jack.
 
#38
Killed_by_Death said:
Wouldn't unplugging & re-inserting it stress it more than leaving it plugged in?
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IME: it depends. i have better luck with barrels when they are very secure in the base/bass/wood/metal/etc. --- so that there is no chance of wiggling/toggling the wired end (of course we never see that end!). also, IME, the manufacturer does make a difference. avoiding them altogether is the best solution. i have one ax for which there is no better option = i've replaced the jack twice in 25-30 years. it can get loose and wiggle, i get into the control cavity and tighten, use a thread lock, use for a while, it gets loose, repeat, etc. cable strain relief helps of course but it's not a panacea with that jack.

good luck with your barrel jack, KBD! :thumbsup:


Paulabass said:
Barrel jacks are the devil's ovenmitts.
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:laugh: hope you get that pony!
 
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#40
Pony is good, coffee is better. Share the coffee with the pony.

Ad redirects are the devil’s ovenmitts.

I haven’t had any problems with Switchcraft barrel jacks. Yet. My solution involves having enough basses in regular rotation to delay the inevitable.
 
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