Plagued with Ibanez Barrel Jack Problems - What Can I do?

[JustForSport]

Well, unless @Flatwoundround gets back to us on this thread, we won't know if he has side-body mounted barrel jacks or the angled front-of-body type socket.
I only have one Ibanez with the angled front-of-body type socket and a panel jack may fit if the terminal tabs are bent up to parallel with the centerline- then there's nothing to mount it to in the hole. A regular football jack with angled socket won't fit that close to the edge of the body and likely won't look very good.
A side-body football plate/jack would fit with some drilling, but then what to do with the angled hole in the front- just leave it?

IMO good quality, properly installed barrel jacks while looping the cord under the strap for strain relief works pretty good.

 

[96tbird]

Well he named the models in OP. They both have the angled top mounted.

 

[JustForSport]

Missed it- Still don't see any models listed, only that one has a P p'up in it, and the 'media link' doesn't work.

Edit- found them in post #6. If they're newer, they have the shallow front-of-body socket.

 

[96tbird]

SR 500 and SR 650 models.

Sorry it was post 4

 

[walterw]

Well he named the models in OP. They both have the angled top mounted.

that means there's no practical replacement besides another barrel jack.

all you can do is swap it out for a better one like a switchcraft #152B; even then, plan on replacing it every few years.

 

[96tbird]

Walter, my bet is a regular jack will fit in these.

The nuts are no bigger than that flange and the wood is thin there.

 

[walterw]

View attachment 785208 View attachment 785209 Walter, my bet is a regular jack will fit in these.

The nuts are no bigger than that flange and the wood is thin there.

it's easily a half-inch of wood between the inside and outside of that hole, i don't see it without a whole bunch of weird surgery.

 

[mongo2]

I've used Ibanez with that type of jack for years with no issues with the jack, so have my two sons. We loop the cable between the strap and the body and that relieves any stress on the jack. We currently have 2 SR500s and 2 SR550s between us for quite a few years, all still with the original jacks.

Replace the jack and start looping the cable between the body and strap.

 

[walterw]

I've used Ibanez with that type of jack for years with no issues with the jack, so have my two sons. We loop the cable between the strap and the body and that relieves any stress on the jack.

+1, everyone should be doing that always anyway.

the barrel jacks will still wear out, but this will certainly prolong their life.

 

[wraub]

I have 2 40 year old Ibanez basses with edge-mount barrel jacks, and have not had issues.
If I did, I'd probably go with the electrosocket type.

 

[JustForSport]

I have 2 40 year old Ibanez basses with edge-mount barrel jacks, and have not had issues.

^^ ++

Same here, and a couple 30+ yr old Ibanez, and a Hohner made in the same factory, all with edge-mount barrel jacks, and none have had a jack problem.

 

[jd56hawk]

I had a problem with cables, but solved problem with this.

 

[JLS]

I've replaced those cursed barrel jacks with good Switchcraft jacks AND an Electrosocket.

 

[Nick-H]

I've replaced those cursed barrel jacks with good Switchcraft jacks AND an Electrosocket.

How well does the Electrosocket fit into the recess? Was any boring needed?

 

[byacey]

I don't know what brand of barrel jacks Ibanez uses, but if they are offshore junk, that could be a major part of the problem. I've been using a Switchcraft one in my daily player for 33 years without any issues.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

How well does the Electrosocket fit into the recess? Was any boring needed?

How well does the Electrosocket fit into the recess? Was any boring needed?

Most likely. A typical barrel jack needs a 1/2” mounting hole. If I remember correctly, the Electrosocket needs a 7/8” hole and the lip is 1” if you want to counterbore for that.