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Stingray jack problem?

M

Matclip

Mar 1, 2004
10
1
Texas
www.myspace.com
#1
I've had my stingray for about 5 years now, and recently it started acting up. It seems like the typical bad cable problem, where it starts cracking out/squealing at you. However, I had used several different cables, from high end monster cables to a handful of other high dollar cables.
I can loop the cable through my strap and it as long as it doesn't move around much it works fine....but I play in a rock band and I move around on stage, and every now and then my leg will kick the cable or I'll step on it and the problem happens...which results in me slapping the end of my cable until it kicks back in.

Anyone had a similar problem? Is this an input jack problem, or is every cable I've tried just garbage?
 
#3
Matclip said:
I've had my stingray for about 5 years now, and recently it started acting up. It seems like the typical bad cable problem, where it starts cracking out/squealing at you. However, I had used several different cables, from high end monster cables to a handful of other high dollar cables.
I can loop the cable through my strap and it as long as it doesn't move around much it works fine....but I play in a rock band and I move around on stage, and every now and then my leg will kick the cable or I'll step on it and the problem happens...which results in me slapping the end of my cable until it kicks back in.

Anyone had a similar problem? Is this an input jack problem, or is every cable I've tried just garbage?
Click to expand...


yep, same on mine. its the jack. i've used the same dimarzio cable for over 10 years, and it certainly aint that.
 
#8
Does anyone here know if the Musicman 4 prong jack socket, can be changed out for a standard 3 prong stereo switchcraft type?

It appears to me that Musicman wire their plug like this:

1) The black negative battery wire directly to the circuit.

2) The red positive wire from the battery is split in two with each half wired to a special separate terminal on jack socket. When the guitar lead is plugged in, these two halves meet together and power the circuit.


Is it not possible instead to wire?;

1) The red positive battery wire directly to the circuit board.

2) The black negative battery wire to the third prong of standard switchcraft stereo jack? Like all other active basses are!


This means that only 3 terminals would be needed and not four.

I can only think Musicman do it their way to prevent the audio negative and positive leads ever sharing battery power terminals, (i.e. the audio and power paths are completely separate).

But is this truly necessary with their circuit? It makes finding replacement jack sockets a real pain! Many thanks, Rob.
 
#9
Odd that you mention it, I've never had the gumption to post on it, but... my Stingray has always, since I bought it about 3 or 4 years ago, let rip a painful high pitched squeal if the cord is bumped. Keeping it looped in the strap fixes this (unless you sit down).

It's pretty annoying! I have no idea what would cause this; I haven't taken it apart yet, but I wonder if anyone else has ever noticed this?
 
#14
HalfManHalfBass said:
Does anyone here know if the Musicman 4 prong jack socket, can be changed out for a standard 3 prong stereo switchcraft type?

It appears to me that Musicman wire their plug like this:

1) The black negative battery wire directly to the circuit.

2) The red positive wire from the battery is split in two with each half wired to a special separate terminal on jack socket. When the guitar lead is plugged in, these two halves meet together and power the circuit.


Is it not possible instead to wire?;

1) The red positive battery wire directly to the circuit board.

2) The black negative battery wire to the third prong of standard switchcraft stereo jack? Like all other active basses are!


This means that only 3 terminals would be needed and not four.

I can only think Musicman do it their way to prevent the audio negative and positive leads ever sharing battery power terminals, (i.e. the audio and power paths are completely separate).

But is this truly necessary with their circuit? It makes finding replacement jack sockets a real pain! Many thanks, Rob.
Click to expand...


Is this correct?

My Stingray jack just crapped out....:(
 
#17
HalfManHalfBass said:
Does anyone here know if the Musicman 4 prong jack socket, can be changed out for a standard 3 prong stereo switchcraft type?
Click to expand...
yep, i do it all the time. the battery negative goes to the ring, all other grounds go to ground, and the two red battery positive wires get connected straight together.

it works just fine, except that sometimes right when you plug in to the bass you get a momentary squeal as the preamp powers up. (not a big deal, as you shouldn't have the sound on when plugging in the bass anyway.)
 
#18
Ernie Ball Customer Service sent me this diagram which ought to be helpful:

ernieball4prong_to_3prong.png
 
#19
Yeah I have this problem with my stingray special. Changed the jack and it still does it with certain cables. If it gets bumped ect. Extremely finicky bass and kind of embarrassing when your on stage and you lose signal.
 

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