I'd like to just replace the thing, but it is somewhat inaccessable. Are there any tricks for dealing with a funky input jack? How about pushing an alchohol soaked Q tip in from the front to try to clean it?
The alchohol soaked Q tip has worked for me, use rubbing alchohol, Jack Daniels will make it worse. Also if there is a service cover you might be able to bend the jacks tongs in a little. Are you sure it is not the cable or amp jack?
I'll try the Q tip thing. I agree that the Jack Daniels usually makes things worse. If there were a service cover or easy access, I would go right after the thing, but this input jack would be the last piece of a complete dissasembly. It's not the cable, it's definitely the jack. I wonder if it's possible to bend the prong in arthoscopically, like when the plastic surgeon installs breast implants through the belly button.
Try a .30 cal rifle brass bore brush dipped in alcohol! I've saved several jacks over the years that way, and it's cheaper than buying that $20 jack cleaning tool. Wally World (Wal-mart) has 'em for under $5...
I used the brass gun brush with the alcohol and my amp is good as new. Problem solved! Thanks for the great tip.
OH NO! I WAS JUST KIDDING!!!! Glad to hear it worked. I've done it that way for years - a lot of ham radio gear uses 1/4" jacks that require periodic cleaning. Just don't push it in too far - it's a pain to have to disassemble your gear after a quick cleaning goes awry.
