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Extremely bizarre behavior of my StingRay Special
- Thread starter Hypercaffium
- Start date
Turnaround
Commercial User
I'm no expert but I have seen a lot of contact problems with the variable sized plugs being used on cables. They are supposed to be 1/4 inch jacks but I think that many manufacturers are using a metric equivalent size that is not consistent. The same can be said of jacks ( female ends). This is very frustrating for a lot of players inc. myself. It really depends on which cord you select and how it matches the size of the output jack on your bass.
My Dad is an industrial chemist with letters after his name up the wahoo. This is one of his pet hobby horses. Chemistry as is taught in academia is full of gross simplifications until you get to the point it is all quantum. The reactivity table they use in schools is simply wrong. It deals with how metals behave in an atmosphere, it is different in a vacuum. As I said, pedant alert. The academic way of looking at it is probably more useful in practise but reality is a little more complicated.
Nothing to sweat about.
Ok, I'm back with the pictures.
First of all, let me say that I somehow solved the problem. I'm not 100% sure that it will not happen anymore in the future, but for now everything seems to work with both chrome and gold plated jacks. I will get a replacement jack from EBMM in any case and replace it if the problem will appear again.
I opened the jack and despite it was boxed and not open, I was able to reach all the internal parts from the bottom side (see pictures). I did exactly what has been suggested here, so:
It's too early to claim victory in my experience, so please check the pictures and see if something doesn't look right. All the pictures were taken before my intervention.
First of all, let me say that I somehow solved the problem. I'm not 100% sure that it will not happen anymore in the future, but for now everything seems to work with both chrome and gold plated jacks. I will get a replacement jack from EBMM in any case and replace it if the problem will appear again.
I opened the jack and despite it was boxed and not open, I was able to reach all the internal parts from the bottom side (see pictures). I did exactly what has been suggested here, so:
- I cleaned the jack's barrel and all the internal metal parts that make contact with the jack cables using a cotton swab and contact cleaner
- I cleaned all my jack cables with the same contact cleaner and cloth
- I checked all the solderings inside the jack and nothing was loose
- I checked how both jack cables (crome and gold plated) make contact when inserted and I didn't notice any difference. Both remain firm when inserted and make contact just fine (see pictures)
- I checked the cotton swab after cleaning and it was pretty clean, no gold or chrome dust on it
- I carefully bent both the metal parts inside the box to make tighter contact with the jack cables
- I carefully put everything back together making sure to not bend any wire
It's too early to claim victory in my experience, so please check the pictures and see if something doesn't look right. All the pictures were taken before my intervention.
don't you hate it when you "make the problem go away" as opposed to actually fixing it?
that said it seems reasonable the the problems would indeed be traced to contact issues with the jack, especially the music man "black box" jack where it uses a separate switch to connect 9V+ to the preamp rather than the far simpler, more robust (and vastly more common) setup with a regular stereo jack to ground the 9V- when plugged in.
i've converted lots of MM basses to ditch the fragile plastic box and use a regular switchcraft # 12B instead, because of problems just like these.
Nobody said that the problem isn't fixed, at least not me. I just said that the cutoff isn't happening anymore but in my experience it's too soon to claim victory. Maybe it will happen again, maye not.
If with "fix" you mean replacing the jack, it can be a good idea of course. I'll wait for now, but I'll definitely replace it if I have more problems.
If with "fix" you mean replacing the jack, it can be a good idea of course. I'll wait for now, but I'll definitely replace it if I have more problems.
No, it's silver, then copper. Gold is third, then aluminium.
Gold is used (as a thin coating) on contacts because it doesn't tarnish.
Turnaround
Commercial User
Someone, in an earlier part of this thread, suggested that gold actually does tarnish. But I think that the problem with gold plated plugs is the problem of galvanic reaction between two dissimilar metals. The reuslt seems to be this "gold dust" I find adhering to the inside of the jack. When it is cleaned off the jack works much better.
Turnaround
Commercial User
Haven't tried Deoxit Gold. I wonder if it removes that gold dust accumulation.
Best stuff I've ever used, except for Cramolin which you can't get anymore. But works pretty good. Cleaner, preservative, and lubricant. What more can you ask for?
Cramolin was used for decades on industrial contacts, I had a bottle I rat-holed several years back. In fact still have some, but for all that are looking, the De-Oxit Gold is the next best thing, and available.
Cramolin was used in esoteric audio circles also, and reviewed in several prestigious mags and journals.
Wow. I'm learning a lot of new stuff here.
I'm almost happy that my bass started to give me problems. Almost...
I'm almost happy that my bass started to give me problems. Almost...
I have the same issue with my stingray special. Works fine with the three cables I own, but when I use something different it seems to cut out. Replaced the jack and it did not fix the problem.
The new jack was original?
I guess there's something wrong in the jack design. I recieved a new jack from EBMM but didn't replace it yet, since I changed cable and it's working.
Yes it’s original. It’s a strange problem. The cutting out happens Intermittently with certain cables. Ironically the problem cables for me are brand new Mogami cables. I also had trouble with a mogami with a silent plug that gave me no signal. My $30 cheap cable works with the bass just fine, however I would say the problem isn’t solved. The bass should work with any cable I feed it.
I agree with you. As much as I somehow "solved" the problem using a different cable, I'm not putting too much trust in my SRS when playing outside due to that problem.
