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1/4 inch jacks

Posted by Dan Sleep on October 17, 2009 at 1:27pm
Does anyone have a good technique for using the common Radio Shack jacks on the boxes that have thick sides? I hate to keep buying the long jacks for 6 bucks apiece, but I haven't really found a good technique for recessing the cheap jacks enough to make them reach so I can screw them on.

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Replies

  • Dan Sleep October 17, 2009 at 8:50pm
    Lots of good ideas. I had a hard time routing out the inside of the box wall, too tight for my Dremel. But, I think I figgered out what I am going to do.

    Thanks for the suggestions.
  • Mark Werner October 17, 2009 at 4:30pm
    I've used the "sliding door pull" thing too, works well and if you get brass ones they look pretty good.
  • Ben October 17, 2009 at 3:40pm
    I drill the hole for the jack to stick through. Then I take a Dremel Tool sanding wheel to the inside of the box and thin it out. I just got a pretty nice wood working set, so I'm hoping I can just do the same thing by cutting it out.
  • Tres Seaver October 17, 2009 at 3:18pm
    I've used "sliding door pulls" as jack plates: cut a hole big enough to seat the pull in the side of the box, then drill out a 5/16" or so hole in the thin back of the pull for the jack.
  • David L. October 17, 2009 at 2:36pm
    Hi Iggy, I use the back bottom right with the guitar in the playing position and an amp lead with a right angled jack plug on one end . I find the lead sits snug against the CBG and causes no problems. The amp leads are cheap and I bought several off ebay previously like these ones (different seller but this one has 100% feedback and charges $3.39.)
    http://cgi.ebay.com/Guitar-Electric-Patch-Cable-AMP-Amplifier-Lead-.... I found some at a guitar fair in the UK recently for £1 so you might find them cheaper locally. The back of the box I find is thin enough for a standard jacksocket.

    Regards, David
  • Paul Doug October 17, 2009 at 2:36pm
    I do what c merle said only from the out side. Drill a hole big enough for the jack nut/washer to fit in, 1/2 or so the way into the box. Than drill a smaller hole all the way through the the jack neck will fit through from the inside.

  • c# merle October 17, 2009 at 2:11pm
    you could always counter-sink the hole on the inside with a bigger drill bit, so the short jack clears the box.
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