jack plug woes

[makaze808]

  Maaaaaaan, OK. I've made a batch of patch leads but I am getting very crackley goings on. The jacks have an eyelet for soldering the tip but there is only a crimping clamp for the ground....should I be soldering this connection too?

I had the same experience with my speaker jacks, only one solder eyelet and just a crimp for the other wire, as I am totlally using tubes amps I'm worried a lead may fail and lead to damage on my amps.

HELP

[KazooMan]

I always solder the ground wire, but I am a bit surprised that the crimp connection doesn't suffice.  Check to be certain that there is no way the connection to the tip eyelet can short out to the ground side either through the long crimping connector or directly to the shell of the plug. 

[PRR]

> crimping clamp for the ground....should I be soldering this connection too?

Of course. Solder first, then crimp.

I do not know what exact plugs you use. On SwitchCraft 1/4", especially in recent years, I also solder the center-lug to the center post, because their crimp can fail. And I file where the ground-lug touches the body and solder that, because this connection may be totally fake. Since they use an oily chrome (nickel?) plate, I have to file through to brass.

[makaze808]

Thanks.

Should I be just crimping the ground wire or shouyld I be also rimp to fasten the whole cable which is what ive been doing.

Man I feel a right plonker.

[KazooMan]

Solder the ground and then crimp the entire cable.  You need a sound mechanical connection for the assembly to take the strain of pulling on the cable.