Warwick Input Jack Replacement

[mike f]

Can anyone recommend or give me a link to the best one I can get and put in my 97 Streamer?

 

Thanks 

[nige1968]

Aren't them barrel jacks all much of a muchness? A bit of a flawed design that always goes wrong eventually? So luthiers have told me, anyway.

 

Anyway, last time I got mine replaced, it turned out it was actually a dead battery causing the cut-outs and funny noises, so just posting on the off-chance you could save a few quid.

[mike f]

@nige1968 thanks man. I’ve checked the battery and wiring and it’s all good.

Yeah it seems that there’s more than few people who get them swapped out quite regularly. It’s an active bass so that’s a lot of in and outs.

I think it’s more of a mechanical issue; the lead goes in and out too easily and the signal cuts out with only a little lateral force. I’m guessing at 27 years old it’s just worn out.

Ive ordered a Switchcraft barrel jack today. Only 3 wires to solder so it should be relatively straight forward.

And it’s a gold one replacing a chrome one which will match the rest of the hardware!

Edited August 29, 2024 by mike f

[prowla]

OUTPUT!!!

[mike f]

7 minutes ago, prowla said:

OUTPUT!!!

Bless you!

[tauzero]

If you can't pull the jack far enough out of the body to be able to unsolder the wires with the jack out of the body, you will make life much easier for yourself if you extend the leads so that you can - just don't forget to thread the leads through the nut before putting them through the body. Barrel jacks are consumable items - you're lucky at 27 years, my quite infrequently used 2000 Thumb is in dire need of a replacement (the fact that it's infrequently used does mean it's not a priority) and I have a far more recent Ibanez that needs it.

[basstone]

It's hard to tell the quality of these enclosed barrel jack sockets. Switchcraft branded should be as good as any available.  I've replaced quite a few including Warwick basses. 27 years is good going and the new replacement will not likely last as long! You can't open them up to inspect or repair them and peering inside with a torch, it looks like the contacts are very narrow and likely loose their springiness over time which results in intermittent connection. Access to the barrel securing nut is usually the biggest issue, finding a suitable spanner the correct size that you can actually get in the control cavity. Make sure the soldered connections are good and some insulating sleeving is a good idea which also provides some mechanical strain relief, especially for the wire going directly to the battery clip. 

 

[mike f]

@tauzero thanks. The East preamp that has been fitted has added to the wiring but it’s all been neatly done. There’s one zip tie I’ll have to cut (and replace) to give me the required length to pull the barrel completely out. Shouldn’t be an issue.

@basstone thanks to you too. Some good points reaffirming what I’ve been thinking, ie a mechanical issue with a loss of, as you say, springiness. I’m twice the age of this bass and much of my springiness has gone!

 

It’s been a few years since I’ve done any soldering but I used to be quite good at it. I’ll send a panicked message to this thread should I become unstuck!

Edited August 30, 2024 by mike f