How many of you leave the 1/4 inch cables plugged into the back of your amp and cab all the time? Is it bad/neutral? I leave the speakons connected as they attach differently, but I'm very curious as to how much the 1/4 inch input plugs will be affected(longevity), or if it even matters. I apologize for the question if it has been discussed before(I couldn't find anything doing a search). Thanks.
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Leaving cables plugged in
- Thread starter rochishin
- Start date
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
The speaker cable, from the amp to the speaker? There's no need to ever unplug those (if it's a combo - for a head/cab, the only reason to unplug it would be during transportation). If you plug & unplug them, you'll only wear them out faster (it will still take many years to do so).
bongomania
Commercial User
With a heavy/long cable, in the long run the weight of the cable will tilt the plug like a lever, making the flexible contact-tab inside the jack bend out of place a bit, just enough to cause intermittent connections. It's usually a simple fix, no big deal, but something to be aware of.
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
Are you talking about these?
The black & white braided cable, I mean - that is designed to remain there for decades with no problems.
The black & white braided cable, I mean - that is designed to remain there for decades with no problems.
So one yes and one no. The cable weight seems to definitely be a factor(know that you mention it 
). So I guess you should always unplug your cable? Just wondering but how heavy would too heavy be? Again sorry for the vague(clueless) question.
P.S. Bongo, I bought an EBS multicomp(over the net, faith, my brother faith, based on your review, never thought I'd do that!). Two words: Thank you! Excellent pedal and even better advice for fartin' around with it once I recieved it. I noticed your web page while ago over at the Gearslutz forum(what a cranky bunch
, engineers eh!). Again, thanks, very, very good stuff on that page of yours.
). So I guess you should always unplug your cable? Just wondering but how heavy would too heavy be? Again sorry for the vague(clueless) question.P.S. Bongo, I bought an EBS multicomp(over the net, faith, my brother faith, based on your review, never thought I'd do that!). Two words: Thank you! Excellent pedal and even better advice for fartin' around with it once I recieved it. I noticed your web page while ago over at the Gearslutz forum(what a cranky bunch
, engineers eh!). Again, thanks, very, very good stuff on that page of yours.Are you talking about these?
The black & white braided cable, I mean - that is designed to remain there for decades with no problems.
I meant(in my case) from the back of the amp head to the back of the cabinet. Not like the one in your picture or say a walkabout scout. More like a LMK II to a 210/410 etc... cabinet.
if the old Mars music store 1/4" speaker cables I have are worn, too heavy, the input is worn in my GB Neox 212T cab, shouldn't be, cabs are new but at a gig recently I vibrated the 1/4" jack out of my cab twice while playing loudly and with alota lows. I thought it was rather funny, I'd just slip the jack back in and keep playing. But to be safe I now have 2 new quality speakon speaker cables from Bayoucables and the 1/4" Mars cables are just backups or use em on the PA. So maybe best to pull em when not in use to keep from wearing out the input of the cab, I guess.
- Dec 15, 2007
- 556
- 45
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ashdown/ESP/Dunlop/Line 6/Normandy.
You must know me, as I am now officially confused(what?). I guess to be safe I should just unplug it unless I'm moving?
Mano'man decisions, plug, unplug....
in my case I was not trying to confuse the issue. Just wierd that I pushed enough volume to work the 1/4" plug out of my cab jack, figured something was worn somewhere in the mix, cable or input jack or what else might cause that.
Don't know what kind of speaker cables you guys are using. I have played for years and only unplug to transport and never had a problem ever. IMO the more you plug and unplug anything it will wear out quicker, kinda like a hooker "make sense"
No need to be sorry! My thinking in all of this is; would the tab on the inside of the input plug be worn out from being snapped, once in/once out al the time or would it be worn out from the constant pressure of the jack being there? The same goes for leaving the patch cord from the bass to front input jack. Hmm.
- Dec 15, 2007
- 556
- 45
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ashdown/ESP/Dunlop/Line 6/Normandy.
You must know me, as I am now officially confused(what?). I guess to be safe I should just unplug it unless I'm moving?
Exactly OPPOSITE of what I said...
Maybe the jack tabs need to be bent in a bit to snug up to the plug. Should be an easy fix. Who know what happened during construction. If the warranty is still good, should be covered.
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
Leave it IN unless transporting!!!!! Or moving it across the room etc... NO harm done EVER to me by doin this-in 35yrs anyway!
Thank you all! I can get a little(okay a lot) anal and start to obsess over small trivial things. It's good to know the way other people view and do things sometimes. It helps to keep things in perspective and/or shine new light on things for me. Again, thanks everybody.
Canshaker, I was just kiddin,
Canshaker, I was just kiddin,
Go ahead and leave them plugged in... just don't trip over them. Cables... not hookers.
I would NEVER recommend leaving your plug in a hooker!
But I'll second your other point - I've only ever removed a 1/4" for travel.
Mine have been in for years, and are still going strong. I agree with Dave. I think unplugging them all the time would wear them faster.
