Guitar Jack issue

[ericjay]

Wiring a new guitar. It works fine with the input jack partially inserted, but nothing at all when pushed in all the way. I've changed jacks twice thinking the problem might be there, but it's the same thing all over again. Can anyone identify the problem? No doubt I blew it somewhere in the wiring. Thanks for any help!

[Enzo]

SOunds mis-wired. You have ground and hot wires coming to the jack, right? Look closely at the jack. See how it is constructed. One springy contact will press against the tip of the plug, when the plug is inserted. Follow the metal of that contact and see which solder terminal it goes to. COnnect the hot wire to that. The sleeve or barrel of the plug fits through the metal bushing and makes contact there. See which terminal connects to that and connect the ground wire to it.

Other possibility? Maybe where the jack mounts, the tip contact is touching something grounded inside the guitar? If that might be it, demount the jack and let it hang by its wires outside the guitar. Now does it work right. If so, that was what was wrong. Remount the jack so as not to touch.

[David Schwab]

Sounds like you are using a stereo jack (three lugs) and have the tip and ring mixed up.

Is it a panel (barrel) jack?

[ericjay]

SOunds mis-wired. You have ground and hot wires coming to the jack, right? Look closely at the jack. See how it is constructed. One springy contact will press against the tip of the plug, when the plug is inserted. Follow the metal of that contact and see which solder terminal it goes to. COnnect the hot wire to that. The sleeve or barrel of the plug fits through the metal bushing and makes contact there. See which terminal connects to that and connect the ground wire to it.

Other possibility? Maybe where the jack mounts, the tip contact is touching something grounded inside the guitar? If that might be it, demount the jack and let it hang by its wires outside the guitar. Now does it work right. If so, that was what was wrong. Remount the jack so as not to touch.

Will investigate in the morning. Thanks VERY much!

[ericjay]

Sounds like you are using a stereo jack (three lugs) and have the tip and ring mixed up.

Is it a panel (barrel) jack?

Yes, there are 3 lugs(flush mount long barrel). Will rewire in the morning. Sounds like you're right on. Thanks for your analysis.

[David Schwab]

Yes, there are 3 lugs(flush mount long barrel). Will rewire in the morning. Sounds like you're right on. Thanks for your analysis.

Plug a cord into the jack and take a reading with a meter. It's hard to tell which lug is which on some of them.

[ericjay]

Plug a cord into the jack and take a reading with a meter. It's hard to tell which lug is which on some of them.

Thanks David. It works!

Eric