Input/output jacks

[snorky]

Hi All,

I've been having problems with flaky connectors on a few distortion pedals I've made.  One of
my favorites, a reboxed "Brown Sound" was making random pops and strangeness yesterday,
and I need to do something abotu this.   I'm using Switchcraft jacks - are they actually not that good? 
In one pedal, I swapped them out for some random plastic jacks I had, and the problem went away.

Thanks in advance!

- Mark

[BDuguay]

I seriously doubt it was the jacks. Make sure they're tightened securely and use locking washers to ensure good ground connection.
B.

[markm]

I've never had a problem with Switchcraft jacks.
I wonder if you had a problem with a solder joint that was then "corrected" when the other jack was installed.

[aron]

Yeah, Switchcraft are very, very good. It sounded like a solder joint.

[Mark Hammer]

Switchcraft have been an industry benchmark for quality for decades now.  It's not the jacks....or at least a jack quality issue.

Jacks vary in how much space they take up.  A lot of the "sins" they commit are very often ones we can't see after the chassis has been closed again.  When the phone plug is inserted, the jack contacts can short out against the case, against pot lugs, against the stompswitch, against the battery, against a lot of things.  Before you fire up the pedal, take a good look at what happens when you insert a plug.  The solution may be as simple as loosening the nut, rotating the jack a bit, and retightening the nut.  Amazing what a quarter turn can do to a misbehaving jack sometimes.