Broken Jack Connector inside a GNX4 - Need advice !!!
Hi everybody!!
I'm new to the forum and i've registered hoping that you can help me.
I'm using a GNX4 and this afternoon i was practicing with my band when someone unintentionally stepped over the connections of the GNX4 resulting in a broken Jack that was connected to the 1/4\" Balanced output (left channel).Tragically the connector broke at the tip (I know it's quite strange, but happened), so when i took it out, the tip remained inside the GNX4. The path to that little piece is too narrow to try to catch it with tweezers.
I'm playing live in less than 2 weeks and I'd like to use my GNX4 on stage. So though I know I could bring it to official service, I'm afraid it would take too long until they give it back to me.
Has this happened to anyone of you? How did you solve it? Even if this hasn't happened to you, can you give me a piece of advice on how would you solve it?
Thank you, very much.
From now on, let no one get close to your workstation!! :evil:
PS: I'm posting this in this general forum because though the problem is with a GNX4, it really applies to any device with a Jack connector.
I'm new to the forum and i've registered hoping that you can help me.
I'm using a GNX4 and this afternoon i was practicing with my band when someone unintentionally stepped over the connections of the GNX4 resulting in a broken Jack that was connected to the 1/4\" Balanced output (left channel).Tragically the connector broke at the tip (I know it's quite strange, but happened), so when i took it out, the tip remained inside the GNX4. The path to that little piece is too narrow to try to catch it with tweezers.
I'm playing live in less than 2 weeks and I'd like to use my GNX4 on stage. So though I know I could bring it to official service, I'm afraid it would take too long until they give it back to me.
Has this happened to anyone of you? How did you solve it? Even if this hasn't happened to you, can you give me a piece of advice on how would you solve it?
Thank you, very much.
From now on, let no one get close to your workstation!! :evil:
PS: I'm posting this in this general forum because though the problem is with a GNX4, it really applies to any device with a Jack connector.
Comments
Call around to your local guitar repair shops. This fix would take about 15 mins, even if they decided to replace the jack. No doubt there is a minimum charge for service....but you should be able to walk in and browse a few guitar strings while they fix it for you.
I would open it up, remove the piece and solder on a new socket (if necessary).
I finally fixed it!!
Since it had still almost 2 years of warranty, I didn't want to open it, because it would be automatically lost.
So I chose \"the craftsman way\" ...
I picked a thin but strong wire and attached a drop of glue on the tip of the wire and veeeeery carefully placed it into the hole until it attached the tip of the broken connector... Then when both elements had sticked each other, i had to push with another wire the side contacts of the female connector to let \"the intruder\" go out... and it worked!!
it was a risky deal, because if the glue would've gone out of the broken tip, the connector would be doubtlessly lost forever. But anyway, as the other option was to replace the whole connector... I had nothing to lose !!
Thanks for your help!!
(Ingeniusi GNXticus Vulgarious)
Now...onto the NEXT challenge.....
....is anyone interested in a slightly used Acme GNX4
...still under warranty? cof..cof..snif...smolder
Just so you know...nobody admits to opening a unit...
Opened up GNX4 (take all black star-shaped screws off top. Also unscrew single screw on middle of bottom)
For each 1/4\" jack, there are three copper contacts that sort of spring into place; this is the click you feel with you plug/unplug one of these jacks. These were holding onto the tip of my jack that had broken off.
I bent these contacts up until I could use a small screwdriver to flick the tip out. Bent them back into place. Tested and resassembled.