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Wierd Cable Thing

freshmeat1989

freshmeat1989

Feb 4, 2004
1,512
4
36
Greenville, South Cackalacky
#1
I have this cable that is pretty crappy, and staticky when you touch it, but i received a new planet wasves one in the mail from MF today. Its awesome. The tone is better when i used it the first two times and was clear and stuff, but after turning my amp on twice the tone of my bass got much deeper and fatter, and it doesn't pick up my hands sliding on the strings at all, and i switched to my old cable and it was the same as the new one. This is not bad, i like it like this but i was wondering what made this happened, if its an effect of the new cable that did something with the amp, or what is goin on since it does it with both cables now.
 
#5
bimplizkit said:
You can buy a little device called a "ConducTool" that cleans the male and female 1/4" connections. About $20.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately I can't say much good about these. I had one and it stripped all the gold plating off of my Monster cables, but as far as cleaning female jacks it did pretty well.
 
#8
Your input jack is probably oxidized.

Your old cord just slides on in and rides the oxidation.

New Planet Waves jack with spring-load expansion, moves
some of the oxidation temporarily aside allow some clean contact.

This cord and that into the input smears oxidation around some more.

And the contact can go bad again.

As bimplizkit suggested, the "ConducTool" will clean female 1/4 input connection.
No one needs to use the 'male' phone jack cleaning feature, especially with a P.W. cable.

Anywho, there are other ways to remove the crud that builds
up over time inside input jacks.

YMMV
 
#12
Suggestions:
  • Take it to the shop; the cause maybe something completely unexpected.

    If your sure it's the head's input jack:

  • Have a shop fix or replace the jack.

  • Try a good quality 'lubricated' contact cleaner: Invalid Link Removed

  • Replace jack the yourself

  • Abrasion Cleaning using a "Twisted in Wire Brush."
YMMV

Tool Example:
Single Spiral, Single Stem, Brass, Stainless Steel,
3" brush part with long handle, filled with medium stiff wire.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

USING TWISTED WIRE BRUSHES
Remember, it is the tips of the wire filament that do the work.
Excessive pressure bends the filament.
When using twisted brushes with wire bristles,
rotate the brush as if tightening the brush construction.
Most brushes are made to be rotated clockwise
when the brush points away from the user.

GOOD IDEA
Pop the top of the amp before you clean.
It's usually best to have a helper hold the amp with the
jack pointed towards the ground while you clean with the
wire brush tool.
This helps the dust to fall away from internal parts.
Check inside the amp and clean away any dust that
may be present.
Use rubbing alcohol on a 'Q-Tip' to clean the inside of the
jack contacts after the procedure.
With the top still off, insert cable phone jack and make sure
that the contact is tight and soldier points are clean and solid.
 

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