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WHY ARE WE STILL USING 1/4" JACKS!
- Thread starter georgiagoodie
- Start date
but wouldn't it eliminate the momentary short caused when plugging\unplugging a traditional 1/4" ?
davec
Supporting Member
- May 4, 2006
- 1,891
- 878
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- Owner; Cody Electric Basses ( Now Closed) sales @ Sweetwater
I remember years ago talking with some engineer type when I was working a second job at a Circuit City in the audio dept. The guy was smart as hell and I understood about 30% of what he was talking about. He had re-wired a Strat, I don't even remember what kind of cable he was using, but the output on the guitar was super high and the THD was almost non existent. I swung by his house so that he could show me how much better it sounded....
It sounded awful, like a 90's synth guitar incapable of sounding like a Strat. It was too clean, too clear, too not everything I had ever experienced up to that point a guitar should sound like....
We like the short comings of our instruments, is there better tech than 1/4... why yes there is.
Do most of us want or need it? no...
It's great that there are those who try new things and push the norm, but YOU are the exception...
It sounded awful, like a 90's synth guitar incapable of sounding like a Strat. It was too clean, too clear, too not everything I had ever experienced up to that point a guitar should sound like....
We like the short comings of our instruments, is there better tech than 1/4... why yes there is.
Do most of us want or need it? no...
It's great that there are those who try new things and push the norm, but YOU are the exception...
Can't say I do, they seem to do the job quite well. But please enlighten me on better options, I'm always willing to learn about better ways of doing things.
I really don't want a locking jack on my bass, that's just an accident waiting to happen.
At best a broken cable, at worst wood ripped out of the body or the bass broken from falling to the floor.
At best a broken cable, at worst wood ripped out of the body or the bass broken from falling to the floor.
Gibson tried XLR, if my memory is correct , on their recording Les Pauls many decades ago.
Went over like a lead balloon.
Went over like a lead balloon.
No thanks on the XLR... I never have enough at a pickup gig where my trailer isn't there.
I will stick with 1/4 inch.
I will stick with 1/4 inch.
No problems with jacks at all.
I have the same Funkmaster cables since 2006 and never had problems with them. Countless gigs, they are still going strong. In fact I don't use speakons cabinet cables - only jacks. No problem at all. Never.
I have the same Funkmaster cables since 2006 and never had problems with them. Countless gigs, they are still going strong. In fact I don't use speakons cabinet cables - only jacks. No problem at all. Never.
anything more from the OP?? I don't understand exactly what the OP means by a "Stereo" jack, but I can figure a TRS, which all of my active basses have TRS Jacks in them as a battery shut off.
Yes. The fact that a 1/4 plug will pull out of a jack when the cable is stepped on is a FEATURE. That force has to go somewhere. It could damage the amp jack, the bass jack, or the cable itself. It could pull the amp over and topple it on the floor, or it could pull the bass out of your hands.
I am imagining the Foghorn Leghorn cartoons where the rooster aggrivates the dog to chase him past the length of his leash. The leash pulls tight and the dog gets his neck yanked.
Fat Steve
The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
I used an instrument cable as speaker cable for about 5 years. Had no problems, and didn't notice any difference in tone when I did eventually replace it with a speaker cable.
As to the OP, masterful troll with that post. Really, well done. You got a lot of responses.
This. If anything, they're probably one of the more simpler things associated with owning an electric musical instrument. Last thing I want is a big honkin xlr sticking out the front of my boom-stick.
I've used the same two cables in my gig bag for over a decade. I gig 2-3 times per week and I used to teach 3-4 days per week also. I made them myself with neutrik plugs and canare cable. I replaced the cable a few years ago (although they hadn't broken), but I'm still using those original four plugs. I also use switchcraft sockets in my basses. I also use bright red cable because it's less likely to be troden on on-stage. (Not to mention, less likely to be nicked or mixed up with someone elses gear.)
As for 1/4" jacks for speakers. Yes they have been superceded for sure by speakons which out perform them in every way. The main problem for 1/4" jacks on speaker cables is that if you don't turn off your amp, and then pull the plug, you run the risk of shorting your amp. I've seen sparks as people pull leads from speaker boxes like this...
As for 1/4" jacks for speakers. Yes they have been superceded for sure by speakons which out perform them in every way. The main problem for 1/4" jacks on speaker cables is that if you don't turn off your amp, and then pull the plug, you run the risk of shorting your amp. I've seen sparks as people pull leads from speaker boxes like this...
The XLR wasn't the main problem with those, it was their need for an outboard impedence matching transformer. Or a special amp designed to see the kind of impedence they were putting out.
Not that I'm saying XLR is automatically better than 1/4", but it's a viable option that is already in use on some instruments.
Since the only pedal I use 99% of the time is a BDDI, I've always wanted to put the guts from one in a P bass and have an XLR out so I could plug directly into the board without having to bother with any outboard gear.
First off, I am no troll. I just wanna know how other folks think about this. Isn't that what this site is for?
Why do so may people have to personally attack OPs on this site. We are all bass players. Why all the negative energy?
Come on guys....You have NEVER had your bass/cable connection crackle and pop?
You must be living right.
Over time oxidation forms on the female jack and the cable male plug, the plug moves around a bit, the jack wears, etc., and the circuit is not as it should be.
I know about Deoxit, and have used it but....The whole 1/4" plug/jack concept is just so mid-20th century. Can't we move on to something that works better?
As far as using the stereo guitar jack on the guitar. I use them so the cable plug has another piece of metal holding it in more stable, as opposed to the just one piece of metal holding it in on the mono jacks. That's all.
Why do so may people have to personally attack OPs on this site. We are all bass players. Why all the negative energy?
Come on guys....You have NEVER had your bass/cable connection crackle and pop?
You must be living right.
Over time oxidation forms on the female jack and the cable male plug, the plug moves around a bit, the jack wears, etc., and the circuit is not as it should be.
I know about Deoxit, and have used it but....The whole 1/4" plug/jack concept is just so mid-20th century. Can't we move on to something that works better?
As far as using the stereo guitar jack on the guitar. I use them so the cable plug has another piece of metal holding it in more stable, as opposed to the just one piece of metal holding it in on the mono jacks. That's all.
the stereo jacks make your instrument cable harder yank out. as the recess in the tip of the male end has to pass by 2 of the conductor "bumps". it is not a hell of a lot better but I have them around so whenever i am doing wiring changes I go ahead and pop one in.
