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Post subject: Loose input jack on Blues Jr.
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 9:40 am
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I have a new tweed Blues Jr. and noticed that the input jack is very loose - when plugging in a cable it was like hitting a moving target. I can tighten the locking nut with my fingers but the jack still moves around a bit. Should I use a nut driver to tighten this more or leave it alone? It looks like the jack body might be plastic so I don't think it can take much torque.

Thanks for any info!


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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:47 pm
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The jack is plastic and is soldered directly to the circuit board.

You can get some amp tech's to upgrade the jacks to metal switchcraft that are wired in instead of mounted to the circuit board.

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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 2:09 pm
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Thanks for the input peterp! I got similar info from billm's Blues Jr. mod page. Now the challenge is to find a good amp tech. nearby.


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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:36 pm
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I don't know if this helps now, but...

I think I had a similar problem with my HR Dlx. The 1st input jack kinda moved around even when the nut was tight. It wasn't a big deal, it just irritated the crap out of me, being a perfectionist with my electronics. What I kinda noticed is the screwing track on the top of the jack was a bit stripped. I'm not sure if that made sense. Basically the nut needed to be just a hair lower to get a good bite on the jack to screw in and get a tight hold. What I ended up doing was taking off the nut and removing the little washer between the nut and the amp. It holds tight in place now, despite having no protection between that nut and amp. Irritates me yet again, but it's a 6 year old amp and already has cosmetic flaws I can't help, so I just bit the bullet.

Perhaps if you got through my rambling and you don't mind the lack of the little washer (if indeed this is even the same problem you were having), you could save some money on that upgrade. Although, now I'm tempted....

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Post subject: Blues Jr. follow up
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:41 pm
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Just wanted to post a follow up on my Blues Jr. with the loose input jack. After input from the Forum I checked the jack and found that the plastic threads were well stripped. I located a couple of amp techs. locally and was about to bring the amp in for some work. Before I did I dropped by the local Guitar Center where I purchased the amp. They took one look and offered to swap out the amp! So, I've got a new tweed Blues Jr. with good jacks. Easy!

Thanks for all the advice - Chuck


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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:50 pm
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nice, lucky you!

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- TU-2 > Boss SD-1 > Blues Driver w/ Keeley Phat Mod > Jekyll & Hyde v1

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Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 6:55 am
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It really makes sense to replace the plastic jack with a Switchcraft, even though Fender upgraded the plastic jack some years back. A metal jack will last the life of the amp, and you can always clean the contact or bend the spring if it gets noisy. Not an option on the enclosed plastic jack.


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Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:15 pm
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Got to agree with billm. After the newness wears off I'd start planning on replacing those lousy plastic jacks, all of them, with something a bit more stout. A qualifird amp specialist should be able to handle it at a reasonable cost. Not sure if the nuts are plastic too. Some of Fenders amp have both plastic jacks as well as the nuts that hold them. If yours are plastic at least replace them with the metal ones for the present. But I really believe you have the metal ones on your model.


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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:50 am
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Billm wrote:
It really makes sense to replace the plastic jack with a Switchcraft, even though Fender upgraded the plastic jack some years back. A metal jack will last the life of the amp, and you can always clean the contact or bend the spring if it gets noisy. Not an option on the enclosed plastic jack.


Bill - Thanks again for the previous suggestions and this advice. I think I will check out the local amp techs who could do this work. While the jack is tight now it bugs me that it's a plastic piece. The power switch is all metal so I couldn't figure why Fender would put in a cheap plastic jack. I believe you explained that the plastic jack was to shield from ground loop hum. I think that a Switchcraft jack with shielding washers is a better way to go.


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