Jackin'!!!!

[millsbass5]

O.K.I've been playing bass for 30+ years.I can definitely hold my own.I'm a hardcore "bass/gearhead".Yes,I own my fair share of nice gear/basses.

I've ALWAYS tried to educate myself when it comes to anything to do w/a bass.

My question-I've pondered this for years:
What are the benefits of having the location of the jack on the front of the bass,as opposed to the "bottom/edge" of the bass body (MTD 535,for example.)I,myself can't think of ANY benefits.
To me,it just takes away from the lines/smoothness of a bass.Are makers just following Leo??

If you like your jack location on the front/face of your bass,please tell why.

Why don't I like that location(front),you ask???I 'll tell you why.Short story:

I was playing a friends used/newly purchased Alembic.Before you ask:Yes,I did have the cord running up'n'over my strap!!Well,I wear a size 14.5 shoe,for starters.Anyhow,I'm on stage,gettin' into the awesome groove me & the drummer were producing.In the heat of the moment,I step on the cord.What happens??A friggin' C-H-U-N-K of wood (along w/the jack'n'cord) gets jerked out of the bass,when I step on the cord!!!AAHHH!!!(As $$$$ run thru my mind!!)

Believe it,or not.He was cool about it!!Especially after we glued it back into place!!Couldn't tell it ever happened!!Thank the Lord...

Opinions???

 

[flipper_gv]

I know a lot of fodera had cracks on their tops because of the top loaded jack. I think Narud knows more than me on this subject.

 

[allotabass]

.

 

[Demonator]

my ML has a plug on the front below the volume and tone knobs. I like that one more than my Demonator which is on the side, because its easier access. If that is what you are asking man.

 

[J. Crawford]

Is there supposed to be an added benefit?

 

[bongomania]

I actually have a strong preference for having the jack on the front of the bass, because that way when I set my bass down on/in a stand, the plug and cable don't bump into the stand supports, and don't get tangled on them either. With a front-facing jack, angled plugs are "where it's at". They are far less likely to damage the bass if you step on the cord, because there's not so much of a lever there.

 

[Tommygunn]

I like it on the front because if I step on the cable it won't come out so easily

 

[evilgus]

From a manufacturer's POV, it's just cheaper to mount the jack on the front, but personally, I far prefer side-mounted jack. But then again, I'm a fairly "stationary" bassist and don't move around on stage much, so never a problem.

Cheers,

EG

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Not with a bass, but with the very first guitar my brother and I ever got, a guild X-79. Same thing happened. Stepped on the cable and the entire jack with half of the control plate got ripped out of the body. Good thing it was all plastics and we had a new one made up for us at 48th Street Custom.
After that, we learned how to runthe cord through the strap....

 

[EddieG]

I prefer a side jack, loop my cable through my strap at the side of the body, and its pretty unlikely it's going to come out.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Side jack. Makes the front of the bass look a lot cleaner and if you have a lot of electronics or knobs, it doesn't ever hit them or take away from that aesthetic.

 

[wvbass]

Front jack here. Side jacks can get in the way with some guitar stands, which has been mentioned. I also spend a fair amount of time playing bass while sitting on the floor in front of the tv - a jack on the edge of the bass means that a straight plug gets jammed into the floor. Plus, when you don't have a guitar stand, some edge jacks can't be stood up and leaned against the amp with the cable plugged in. Not that I'd ever do that and take a chance on my bass falling over...

 

[GlennW]

What are the benefits of having the location of the jack on the front of the bass,as opposed to the "bottom/edge" of the bass body (MTD 535,for example.)I,myself can't think of ANY benefits.

I can think of one benefit of having the jack in the top of a hollow body.

Careful with that axe, Eugene..."

 

[Luke666uk]

Looks cleaner in the side, and if you loop it thru your strap if you step on it the loop gets tighter rather than pulling the lead out, Simples.

 

[SpamBot]

It's a lot more convenient to have the jack on the top for me, but it looks better and is slightly safer to have it on the side. I could go either way, and do: Of my five basses, three have top jack and two have side jack. They each have their place.

 

[ashtray]

I'm not sure you you damage your bass if you loop the cable around the strap? I've stepped on my cable enough times to almost send myself to a faceplant, but the bass never experienced damage. Usually just the cable itself got stretched out a bit. The other side of that is you can accidentally unplug from your bass amp I guess- which isn't terrible. The bad part is if you're using a mini-head and you yank the entire thing down from your stack. That would be bad... (I like to tie my cable in a loop on the cab itself when using a mini-head that might get yanked by someone walking between me and my cab on the stage.)