Angled Jack or not?

BigMonka · April 2015

This seems like a bit of a stupid question but I'm ordering a new lead with Neutrik silent plug for use with my electro-acoustic. I've always used a lead with a straight plug into the guitar (socket is on the strap end pin), but I'm wondering whether an angled one might be better.

So my questions is whether people have found angled plugs to be annoying as it makes the lead drop straight down towards your feet, rather than the straight plug which moves it out from your body a bit.

(told you it was stupid question, I'm just not able to try one before ordering so trying to get your experiences instead)

Sassafras · April 2015

I prefer angled jacks, less chance of knocking it against something.

Roland · April 2015

Sassafras said:

I prefer angled jacks, less chance of knocking it against something.

This, plus on an electro acoustic with the jack socket in the end pin an angled jack means that you can put the guitar back on the stand without unplugging.

Many people run the cable between the strap and the body. This keeps it away from your feet, and also traps the cable if it gets snagged, and prevents damage to the guitar.

If you still have a problem with cable round your feet then hang a loop of it through your belt so that the slack end falls behind you.

BilliBob · April 2015

Angles for sure, as above, can put it on stand.

mart · April 2015

I always go for angled, except for Strat-style sockets.

But I'm very wary of the silent jacks. I've got one on one cable, and even though it's had very little use, it has cut out once or twice when plugged in, so I find it very hard to trust.

Danny1969 · April 2015

The silent jacks are great but they Do depend on the jack socket to pull them in properly . If one does cut out then it's probably because the socket is not holding on to the jack properly rather than the silent Jack being faulty

I also prefer angle jack plugs on an acoustic with the lead fed through strap so the cable drops just behind me

ICBM · April 2015

As already mostly said…

Angled always, except on a Strat.

Always run the lead through the strap to prevent damage to the jack or the guitar if you stand on the cable. The plugs are slightly less damage-prone usually too, because a pull on the cable doesn't bend them in the same way.

Silent plugs are a pest, can fail, and put a little more strain on the jack - which really matters with an endpin jack or other barrel type, since they are more failure-prone than a normal open-frame one. Learn to unplug at the other end first or use your tuner to mute the signal.

crunchman · April 2015

I'd add to what @mart and @ICBM have said about silent jacks. I've had them fail on me as well.

If you have a pedal tuner then use that to silence the guitar before unplugging. If you don't have one then they are a useful thing to have and a lot more reliable than a silent jack.

Frankieabbot · April 2015

I'm a Jack noob. I have a lead with one end straight and one end angled. Straight goes into amp and angled goes into guitar (not fender strat type). I nurdle while sitting on the bed.....angled end doesnt chafe the duvet!

DulcetJones · April 2015

I started using angled when I got my first electric nylon string because at the time I was sitting down in "regulation" classical guitar position and a straight jack would have been really in the way. I've since taken to using them all the time, except on strats of course.

Sassafras · April 2015

Angled jacks work OK with a Strat, makes it easier to thread around the strap.

Gagaryn · April 2015

Some angled jacks don't play nice with Teles though

ICBM · April 2015

Sassafras said:

Angled jacks work OK with a Strat, makes it easier to thread around the strap.

Be careful with 'pancake' angled plugs, they can sometimes jam in the jack plate recess and be very difficult to get out. Modern ones are fine though.

Gagaryn said:

Some angled jacks don't play nice with Teles though

That's a design fault with the Tele rather than the plugs

.

Sassafras · April 2015

Yes, I only use the pancake jacks on patch leads. They're good but I don't really trust them for instrument leads.

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Angled Jack or not?

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