DIY: How to Wire a Guitar Output Jack

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In the video, Dave Johnson of Nashville’s Scale Model Guitars (scalemodelguitars.com) shows you the steps for replacing a standard 1/4" jack, with a boat-style plate, with a Pure Tone Multi-Contact Output Jack.
It has four points of contact, versus the OEM two, and dual tension grounds to hug the cable sleeve in place from both sides, providing more reliable performance and better tone. After explaining how a jack carries mono or stereo signal, and taking a sidetrack to detail how to solve the issue of a loose output jack with a severed ground wire, Dave relates how to remove the two jack plate screws, and then remove the output jack nut with a 1/2" nut driver. And then strip the wire-red is hot, white is ground-to prepare for soldering.
Dave takes a few minutes to teach the basics of soldering, with a Hakko soldering station-his preferred instrument. He also recommends Kester 60/40 rosin core solder, which is 60 percent tin and 40 percent lead, in .062" thickness. (Hint: Look for silver beads of solder, not gray, when soldering!) Before joining the wires to the jack connections, he slides some shrink tubing (from Harbor Freight Tools) on them.
After making the connections, he shrinks the tubing with a cigarette lighter, to preserve the integrity of those connections. A locking nut and the nut driver takes care of the next step, and after a quick test-plug in and hit the strings-it’s time to screw the boat plate back in place. Dave also shares a golden rule for working on guitars: always go slow. Think of the tortoise and the hare-although this entire process can be done in less time than it takes to watch this video.
For an in-depth written version of this jack replacement lesson, with photos, check the June 2023 issue of Premier Guitar or go to premierguitar.com.
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#guitar #diy #howto

[@alanpettibone]

I have the same soldering iron. It’s a beast. Got tired of the frustration of cheap irons. Temperature adjustment is a must. Great video and I hope it inspires people to work on their own guitars. Best way to know your instrument.

[@AndreaAustoni]

You got the iron with the worst temp adjustment system ever.

[@alanpettibone]

@@AndreaAustoni How is that? Seems pretty simple and accurate.

[@AndreaAustoni]

@@alanpettibone It's overly complicated to set the temperature with the Hakko FX888D

[@toddplager8676]

Yeah, my Iron came with a computer tool pack. The tip is destroyed, yet it can still melt solder... In chunks LOL!! I need temp control bad!! lol He had one that crappy one LOL!!

[@MarkMaysey]

You explained this very well. I will be replacing an endpin jack on a high dollar arch top guitar to accommodate a strap and will review this again before proceeding. Thanks for posting and you've got a new subscriber.

[@gregmckone]

Great advice on repair techniques as well as explaining the repair itself. Thank you

[@PaulC39]

Got a Weller 60 watt Soldering Iron to replace the 35 watt one I had since I found out it wouldn’t be hot enough. Much better result thanks to your input. I replaced the output jack on my Blue Jackson JS22 Guitar so it’s different than the Strat on the body. For someone like me that can build a custom Desktop PC it took some precision and good eyes. Steady hands. I nipped that in the bud.

[@BrentGodwin]

I cannot thank you enough for this video. It is surprisingly hard to find good videos here about soldering for guitar. This helps me so much.

[@grtchldy6561]

Thank you. I have a guitar that had a cheep jack that just kept spinning. After re-soldering it three times I finally but a SwitchCraft in and not a problem. But if it does go out on me I’m getting this new type of jack. Cool.

[@forceforgood4669]

Very helpful indeed. A new B I just discovered when my guitar refused to sound. I opened it up to see what was the trouble there it was both red and white disconnected. I am a rock guy, I can find you the metals of the earth, but I don't have a clue what you do with them. I will be taking it to a good guy like you.

[@EK_609]

Very nice, thanks. I'm helping a friend fix his and the heat shrink tubing was something I didn't know about.

[@dougmishoe1336]

Perfect timing! I just ordered a pre-wired HSS guard for my Strat, but plan to install it myself which basically means soldering the output jack. I’ve never soldered before, but hey first time for everything. Can a poorly soldered connection impact tone? I get that it could impact staying attached, but could I get a weak signal due to the soldered connection if not done well?

[@corycourtney8923]

You can also use the upper part of the soldering pencil to heat the shrink tube as well.

[@tSxO44]

Great i just bought a 25 watt back 2 the Home Depot i go...thank yoU so much sir Dave such a good explanation & helpful video🎸

[@premierguitar]

Glad to help

[@michaelsouther7308]

My daughter and friends removed the outputs jack. So i got a replacement. Ready to solder white to ground and black to hot side? Im not sure if they thrashed the Amp yet

[@roberttelthorster6924]

Sometimes when you don't give up, and keep looking, you find one of the better presentations -- like this one about wiring a guitar output jack. Thank you, first of all. I have just ordered the PureTone jack as suggested, but I might still have a problem. I offered to attend to my brothers 1967 Fender Mustang guitar that was in pretty bad shape, with switches wrong and buzzing and honking from the output jack. But the thing that has me baffled is WHERE and HOW to ground the new jack. The current jack doesn't have a ground wire connected to it. It seems to somehow rely on the shielding (which is only placed on the bottom of the pickups and controls cut-outs); either that, or by having a very thin wire clamped under one of the screws to the control plate and also attached to the bridge plate. I'm too much of a novice for this situation, and would surely appreciate some direction.

[@double-0-soul936]

Good stuff Dave thank you !

[@zicowilco60]

Thanks very much ..I learned quite a bit ...subscribed 😂

[@p25h76l]

Thank you, Sir.

[@ej1_drew]

thank you very helpful

[@Lahdo]

Thank you for your video.☝🏻

[@cmanpatrick]

So, i have an acoustic pickup. The output jack needs re-soldering, but inside there are 4 wires. i can see of the 3 pins, only 2 had prior solder. there are basically 4 wires. 2 central ones adjacent to one another (white and black cables - one has has black or burn wires). these central 2 are the ones not attached to anything. Then i have 2 wires which are woven around the central 2. Bronze + silver, no casing of their own. These two are together woven onto one of the pins, which is obviously fine. All of this contained in an outer casing/wrap/cable. All this to say: can i assume that the 2 central wires were together soldered to the other pin with evidence of prior solder?

[@starcastleLomitas]

This is one of the DIY videos that confirmed it's to hard LOL

[@Stsanchman]

Would you wire the jack differently if you have an active EQ

[@rareform6747]

Good post ! Still that Jack Plate rides the cable high ?

[@LeftoversLover]

My Strat only has one yellow wire I split the red from the loose metal strands twisted up as the black and now attempting to solder it back on

[@waynegram8907]

It would have been nice to go over what types of metals used in various jacks because the metal materials is what makes better connectivity to ground and to the Tip. What would you recommending using to measure connectivity of various guitar jacks?

[@chandlermason1796]

A multimeter is nice to test conductivity and resistance

[@waynegram8907]

@@chandlermason1796 DVM won't tell you the conductivity UNITS. That is the problem I'm mentioning

[@theRodofwar]

question. would it be OK to twist the red and white wires together for NOISE CANCELLATION ??????? Asking for a friend !!!!! LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@kenturftechnologysolutions3381]

My bass guitar has 3 wores red white and yellow. Can you help me where the yellow cable should go

[@seeya205]

You need a stereo jack. He used a mono jack.

[@Phdintheory]

My electric also has three. One single strand wire and one two strand wire.

[@dr_3vo]

are we talking degrees fahrenheight or celsius here 09:30?

[@ramon4545]

lol pretty sure it’s Fahrenheit

[@officialpoa3171]

*You forgot to tell them to ALWAYS WEAR EYE COVER! Because the solder can and will pop, from time to time!*

[@creationinspired200]

What about the lead and ground wires where do they go not very helpful

[@justinaskins2156]

I think that's probably most of my problem is a cheap soldering iron

[@masterlangley3869]

Too far away. Can't see what your doing.

[@samuelwynn737]

Skill issue

[@DelldingerTV]

@@samuelwynn737😂

[@ryansaper]

It's exactly what happened to me lol

[@officialpoa3171]

*ALSO, you forgot to tell them to ALWAYS HAVE proper ventilation!!!! Use a slow running fan at least to make sure the solder smoke, blows AWAY FROM your face! Inhaling solder smoke will give you severe sinus, respiratory and even brain damage!*

[@premierguitar]

More DIY Videos: bit.ly/DIYPremierGuitar Subscribe to PG's Channel: bit.ly/SubscribePGKZbin Win Guitar Gear: bit.ly/GiveawaysPG Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Merch & Magazines: shop.premierguitar.com Shop StewMac parts, tools, and supplies!: stewmac.sjv.io/Py0nBq

[@manuelpachuca4222]

♍️📐🤘🕊️

[@ryanc2465]

This is the worst instructional video on KZbin

[@premierguitar]

More DIY Videos: bit.ly/DIYPremierGuitar Subscribe to PG's Channel: bit.ly/SubscribePGKZbin Win Guitar Gear: bit.ly/GiveawaysPG Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Merch & Magazines: shop.premierguitar.com