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leaving instrument cable plugged in on an amp - any problems?

Do you leave it plugged in?

  • Yes, and I've had issues

  • Yes, and no issues

  • No, just like you I always unplug

  • Constantly unplugging it can actually be a bigger issue than leaving it plugged in

Results are only viewable after voting.
#67
As you can surmise from the posts here, all approaches damage the amps and guitars and relationships while, OTOH, all approaches prevent said problems. Whichever side you're on, you'll find support.

I unplug from both instrument and amp when I'm done for the day but that's mostly because the plug gets in the way of the amp cover, which I use, and the bass goes into a wall-mounted rack, which is easier with no cable hanging from it. This is what I do and why; do whatever floats your boat, it does not bother me and I do not care. FWIW inserting and removing the plug keeps the contact surfaces clean and corrosion free. That's part of the design. I don't buy any reason except convenience for leaving a cable plugged in.

I like my Neutrik right angle phone plugs. I've used nearly all brands through the years since 1962 when I started in electronics. Since discovering Neutriks a couple years ago I've been cutting the others off my premium cables and installing Neutriks. I still unplug 'em.

The jacks in our amps and instruments are rated by the manufacturers for hundreds of thousands of insertions, so you won't be wearing them out unless you give up playing to take up poking and pulling the plugs. (e.g. Insert/disconnect once per second, eight hours per day, five days per week with no breaks will get you to a half million insertions in about a month. Bor-r-r-ring. The higher quality jacks are rated for two million insertions. You're going to damage them through abuse but you're mighty unlikely to wear them out.)
 
#69
I have amps and Basses that never leave my music room. Just to make sure the connections are good, I removed the Jacks and plugs and soldered them all together. Now I won't have to deal with that annoying pop from plugging in since I never turn my amps off anymore either. I've gone from plug-and-play to just... play.
 
#70
No issues I can remember since 1967, except for dumbasses tripping over stuff in the dark (like me)-- but I just don't like the extra compression of a wireless, but now I own a flashlight--
 
#73
Both my GF and self leave a cable plugged in and neatly coiled on top of our music room amps when not in use. Never had an issue. Been doing that for as long as I can remember.

We try to leave things pretty much set up and ready to go for whenever inspiration or restlessness strikes.
 
#74
I always unplug but only because i had an old amp years ago get torn up pretty bad when a bunch of us kids were rough housing in the play room and someone fell and hit the plug on the way down. It tore up the face plate pretty bad and ripped the jack out of the amp. It also ganked up the plug on the cable when the nearest source of replacement was the next town over and we only went a few times a year. My dad and i glued up the broken face plate as best we could and resoldered the jack back in place and glue/taped it back in place. My dad had an old cord for his guitar that had quit working so we took one of the plugs and fixed my cable so i could keep playing until i saved enough for a new cable and my dad and i made a trip just to get me a new cable. I felt really special that day.
 
#75
I heard an old musicians tale that leaving a cord plugged into an amp with the other end left on the ground or in the air, could mess the amp up due to static electricity in dry climates, this was when I lived in Santa Fe. A teacher actually told me that. No idea if it's possible.

I absolutely had a band mate trip on one of my cords while we were on a break, which broke out the plastic nut on the input jack, what a brilliant idea plastic jack nuts were.

So now I just take 5 seconds to unplug and coil the instrument cable when I'm done for the day.
 
#77
Since I don't have an amp setup in the house full time, I don't have anything plugged into one. I practice mainly on a Pod or a multi fx pedal with headphones. My only worry with leaving it plugged in always would be if it took a hit. Damaging the cord itself or the amp input Jack. If it's in a secure location that shouldn't be an issue though. A bunch of my instruments are out on stands in a relatively secure location. So what do I know.
 

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