How to Install a Fender Guitar Output Jack
After repetitively connecting and unplugging instrument cables from your Fender guitar, the output jack is likely to wear out. The output jack is the small, 1/4-inch plug near the base of your guitar. It is connected to the guitar's electronics by two audio wires that are known to wear out and break easily. This often affects your Fender guitar's audio output signal. Fortunately, you can fix a broken output jack without much electronics repair experience.
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Things You'll Need
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Socket wrench
- 1/4-inch socket
- Soldering iron
- Solder
- Wire strippers
Instructions
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1
Place your Fender guitar face up on a flat and padded work surface. Remove the two Phillips-head screws from the output jack's face plate.
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2
Pull the jack out of its slot slightly. Use a 1/4-inch socket wrench to loosen the nut attached to the output jack.
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3
Locate the two wires connected to the back side of the jack. Plug in a soldering iron, and let it heat up for 10 minutes. Touch the heated iron to each wire where they connect to the jack. Remove the jack from the guitar completely.
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4
Grasp each wire extending from inside the output jack's vacant slot. Use a pair of wire strippers to strip back the insulation on each wire 1/8-inch.
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5
Grasp the replacement output jack. Tighten the 1/4-inch nut on the jack with the appropriate socket wrench. Notice the two connectors on the back side of the jack: the smaller connector near the center of the jack, and the larger connection off to the side.
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6
Touch the red audio wire to the smaller connector on the jack. Place a fresh piece of solder where the wire meets the jack's connector. Touch the solder with your headed soldering iron until the solder melts and absorbs the wire to the jack's connector. Repeat this to solder the black wire to the larger connector. Allow a few minutes for the solder to cool down.
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7
Slide the output jack into the vacant slot. Attach the output jack to the guitar with the two Phillips-head screws included with the output jack installation kit.
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References
- Photo Credit James Woodson/Photodisc/Getty Images
