Question for Enzo on Fender Frontman 25R

[Slobrain]

Hey Enzo,
I need to replace a input jack on a Fender frontman 25R amp. The current input jack is cracked and no more good. I want to use the switchcraft input jack like the ones used on the Fender tube amps that switch the input to ground when not in use. Will this work or is there any grounding issues by using this type of jack as opposed to the plastic jacks that are not grounded to the chassis used on these little practice amps?

Thanks

Slo

[bnwitt]

Well, I'm not enzo but .. the pcb jacks serve the same functions as the old switchcraft jacks and are indeed grounded. They are just grounded through the pcb. If you put in a normal shorting switchcraft jack, you'll need to wire the ground tab, the tip contact tab and the shorting terminal tab to the proper pcb points. I doubt having the new jack contacting ground from it's face to the chassis will cause any ground loop issues, but if it does, you could use an isolation washer to limit its ground point to the pdb pathway.

The Bassman reissue uses the old style jacks and they are grounding at their faces to the chassis and via a wire to the control ground buss on the control PCB. Works fine.

[Bear1484]

HI,

New guy here, and I am not sure if I am posting correctly, but I have a question related to a Kay 703-C amp. I found an old 2006 post that Enzo was part of about the Kay 703-C, and the chassis being hot, and what to do about it. I just got a Truetone amp (understand made by Kay) with a schematic indentical to that of the Kay 703-C. The schematic shows it has an isolation transformer. Does that mean it is 100%, safe - no shock hazard from a mic, etc? I have been reading conficting information that this might not be all the amp needs. A 3 wire power cord for one.

Thanks!

Bear