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Stupid question (input jack)

Gorn

Gorn

Inactive
Dec 15, 2011
17,698
62,683
Queens, NY
#1
So I have two basses sitting in stands next to my amp. I generally switch between one and the other for daily couch noodling and such, so I leave the cable plugged into whichever bass I'm playing. Neither of them or active so there's no battery to drain, but is there any problem leaving the cable in the jack? Can leaving it in do any long term damage?
 
#5
I don't mean to disagree with the above, but sometimes the active circuits have jacks where the positive (red) lead from the battery is not directly on the jack sleeve or tip, but is wired to a side finger on the jack that engages, like an on-off switch, when the cord is plugged in. If the cord is left plugged into the instrument, this will drain the battery eventually. No "harm" to the instrument, more like leaving a solid-state amp turned on, but if the battery is drained without checking it, the battery can corrode over time. Months, yes, but eventually over time.
 
#8
First off, The Jack on a Bass is not an input jack. It is an output jack. Amps have both input jacks(Bass in) and Speaker output jacks. I'm not busting balls but unless someone tells you you won't ever know. Secondly, there's really no harm to come from leaving you cord plugged in on passive basses.
 
#12
If you have barrel jacks. (the ones that mount on the edge of a bass rather than a control plate) and the bass is resting in the stand in such a way that there is pressure on the side of the plug it can wear those jacks out prematurely.

For me this usually happens when I lean my bass against a wall on the floor and the bass is kinda resting on the plug.

Its a bad habit to develop and It's why I hate edge-mount barrel jacks.
 
#14
Nev375 said:
If you have barrel jacks. (the ones that mount on the edge of a bass rather than a control plate)
Click to expand...

Not really adding to the discussion, but just for clarification sake:

Barrel jacks are not always mounted on the edge of a bass and not all jacks that are mounted on the edge are barrel jacks.

I've got a bass with barrel jacks mounted to the control plate and most of my edge mounted basses use standard jacks.
 
#15
worxforme said:
Good point yet I think he said neither are active.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's why I said there was no harm in leaving the guitar cord plugged in to the bass's output jack.

Others have made a good point about not leaving a mechanical stress on the jack--like when the bass is leaning on the plug. I use the Hercules stand, which suspends a bass from the headstock.
 
#16
bassgod0dmw said:
Not really adding to the discussion, but just for clarification sake:

Barrel jacks are not always mounted on the edge of a bass and not all jacks that are mounted on the edge are barrel jacks.

I've got a bass with barrel jacks mounted to the control plate and most of my edge mounted basses use standard jacks.
Click to expand...

HMMM. I see. Thanks for that. I guess I should have thrown the word "typically" up there in my previous post.

Cheers.
 

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