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Topic: Amphenol Dilemma |
Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
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Posted 18 May 2007 10:24 am |
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I have a Supro Comet that I love but I've been having problems with the amphenol connector. I had several of the cords go bad on me within 6 months so I bought a few of the 1/4" adapters. These worked great for a while but now I'm finding that the connection cuts out at random times - no matter how careful I am. For example, my signal cut out two times at my gig last night  .
I am seriously considering having it converted to a 1/4" plug. I'm just wondering if you feel that the instrument would be de-valued if I do this. In other words, if you saw a lap steel for sale where the jack had been changed to a 1/4" jack would you insist on paying less for it or would you be thankful to not have to deal with an amphenol cable? Just curious. |
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Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Posted 18 May 2007 10:32 am
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Hi!
From what I remember reading here, the general concensus is that changing the plug would reduce the guitar's value as a vintage instrument. But from a player's point of view, if there's something wrong with the actual amphenol connector on the guitar, having a reliable instrument would be a priority.
But I'm sure more knowledgable answers will follow. 
Fred
_________________
www.fredrikkinbom.com - New lap steel album out now - listen here: fredrikkinbom.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-lap-steel-and-harmonium |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 18 May 2007 10:40 am
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Michael,
I had the same problem and answered it
by taking the 1/4" jack off one end of
a new guitar guitar cord and soddering
the amphenol connector on.
Worked great and left my National Dynamic
in tact. |
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Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
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Posted 18 May 2007 10:45 am
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| Roy Thomson wrote: |
Michael,
I had the same problem and answered it
by taking the 1/4" jack off one end of
a new guitar guitar cord and soddering
the amphenol connector on.
Worked great and left my National Dynamic
in tact. |
It is not the cable that is the problem. It is the screw on part that is not making a good connection. I have to keep screwing & unscrewing it until it finally works. Even then, the signal cuts out randomly. |
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John Dahms
From:
Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 18 May 2007 11:12 am
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Often it's the center contact wearing down in the amphenol and carefully heating it with a soldering iron and renewing the "blob" in the middle will give a new surface to make contact.
_________________
Time flies like an eagle
Fruit flies like a banana. |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 18 May 2007 11:58 am
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I think you are right John, it needs a new "blob"  Threads may be close to bottoming out before a solid contact is made on the center conductor solder blob. Actually, there should be a blob of solder on the cord conector and the guitar connector also, but not too big. Just try it and see how it mates up.
Regards BILL |
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Kevin Brown
From:
England
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Posted 18 May 2007 12:34 pm
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| Ive done the blob thing and it still cuts out, Im ordering a new amphenol lead from elderly. Losing it live is no fun !! |
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Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
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Posted 18 May 2007 12:37 pm
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| Kevin Brown wrote: |
| Ive done the blob thing and it still cuts out, Im ordering a new amphenol lead from elderly. Losing it live is no fun !! |
Thanks for sharing your experience. That's what I was afraid of. |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 18 May 2007 12:44 pm
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Personally I would have the standard guitar jack installed. I'm having that done to a 1948 Gretsch lap steel I picked up recently, one with the cord built into the lap steel. I also had it done to my National New Yorker.
I'd rather have a guitar that works than a vintage wall hanger.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 18 May 2007 1:26 pm
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| I'm with you on that idea Brad. I'm not a purist unless it's a very rare/antique instrument, which may be a wall-hanger anyway. |
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Jeff Strouse
From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Posted 18 May 2007 1:58 pm
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I also agree...I was luckly to find an adaptor for my New Yorker, but if something goes bad with it, I think I'll just replace the whole jack. You want something that works. And even if you do sell it someday, the buyer probably won't want the hassle of dealing with the amphenol connector anyway...I know I wouldn't. As long as the guitar looks good and sounds great.  |
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Mark White
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 18 May 2007 2:35 pm
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| I had an eight string National converted too and I'm glad I did. I think if a player, not a collector, were to buy it they would look at it as a plus, I know I would have. I guess it depends on if you plan to keep it or not. |
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Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
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Posted 18 May 2007 2:38 pm
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| Thanks for all of your responses. I love how it plays & sounds so I plan to keep it. You never know, though, so I thought I should get a general consensus. |
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Todd Weger
From:
Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
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Posted 18 May 2007 2:39 pm yep
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| Jeff Strouse wrote: |
| I also agree...I was luckly to find an adaptor for my New Yorker, but if something goes bad with it, I think I'll just replace the whole jack. You want something that works. And even if you do sell it someday, the buyer probably won't want the hassle of dealing with the amphenol connector anyway...I know I wouldn't. As long as the guitar looks good and sounds great. |
True. The collector will wish it still had the amphenol connector, but I can stand those guys anyway. The PLAYER, OTOH, will be glad to see it was converted over to a 1/4" jack. I know I would be. I'd change it over in a heartbeat, unless, as someone said, it was just sooooo rare that do that would seriously devalue it for both collectors and players.
_________________
Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, E13, A6); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Custom-made 25" aluminum cast "fry pan" with vintage Ricky p'up (C6); 1938 Epiphone Electar (A6); 1953 Oahu Tonemaster; assorted ukuleles; upright bass |
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Robert Szpuk
From:
California, USA
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Posted 18 May 2007 6:54 pm amphenol
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| hi michael, if you want to come by sometime i can solder up your choice of repair/replaced amphenol plugs or fix broken ones. i prefer to replace them with standard 1/4". regards, rob [slide zone] |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 19 May 2007 3:46 am
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I'm a player first, and a collector only because I have chronic G.A.S.
My philosophy is - keep it original if it's working, but if it's problematical then do what you must to keep it playable.
Funny thing, only moments ago I was looking at my 3 brown MOTS Supro Supremes. One has a hard-wired cord, one has a screw-on connector and one has a 1/4" jack.
I didn't consider this a factor in the evaluation, and I paid roughly the same price for each one.
They are all equally great guitars and they all work fine, thanks to my long time guitar tech.
I would never sell any of them anyway. |
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Rockne Riddlebarger
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Posted 19 May 2007 12:16 pm
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| You can't play if you have no signal! Put in a 1/4" jack and save all of the old parts to be included in any future sales of the instrument....Rockne |
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 19 May 2007 1:13 pm
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Phone plugs can have plenty of problems too (I love my George L’s).
Amphenol connectors do require more matainance than regular phone plugs and I can see why they stopped using them, but it is not Rocket Surgery
I do what Roy does by taking the 1/4" jack off one end of a new guitar guitar cord and soldering
the amphenol connector on.
Learn how they work, be prepared and you can handle it without drilling a new hole in your 1937 National.
Plan ahead just make sure that you carry a good working spare or two and if one starts acting up replace it with a fresh one. And then repair the bad one at home when you can.
I am not going to be buried with my guitar, I am only taking care of it for its next owner, so IMO it's worth it. |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 19 May 2007 4:50 pm
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I think the Supro Comet is one of the most common "vintage" lap steels. I would doubt there are many people out there collecting them.
I don't have a problem with replacing tuners, replacing the Amphenol connector with a standard guitar jack, or doing anything else that makes the instrument usable.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
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Posted 19 May 2007 10:47 pm
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| I went to my tech today to address the problem. He suggested that I at least try building up the solder to make the connection better. So far, it's working really well. If I have too many problems in the future I'll definitely consider installing a 1/4" jack. |
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 20 May 2007 12:02 am
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It's not always the solder blob that gets worn down. The last amphenol connector I repaired was because the braided outside wire had broken from repeated use.
I am a player and a collector also and I need my instruments to be reliable but I think these old connectors are really cool  so I take the extra measures to be able to use them. Just my $0.02. |
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Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
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Posted 20 May 2007 11:28 am
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| Just to clarify, it is not the adapter or any of my cables that has been the problem. It is the jack on the instrument itself. Before I had it resoldered the signal would cut out no matter what cable or adapter I used. |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 20 May 2007 1:46 pm
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So, the center conductor on the guitar was the culprit all along? Could have had a bad solder joint from years of pressure from screwing the cord on/off the guitar, putting pressure on the "blob"
My Newyorker still has the original, but I made up a 1 foot cable to adapt to regular plugs. |
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