Amp rig Tips So Your Amp Input Jack Doesn't Crackle Like An"Old Fireside Album"

By Mark Grove

When ever I go to a jam session or a local gig,invariably some player plugs his guitar cable into his amp and it crackles and crinkles like Kramer's skin.Remember the Senfeld episode It's Pipe Night"?

Look it up on Youtube.

Anyway,when ever a player has an amp buzz or crackle it drives me nuts.So i looked up some tips online on how to get rid of that annoying crackle.yeah,I stole the tip okay.So sue me.Okay,back to the crackly amp jack.It's caused from rust or oxidation on the inside of the jack and when you plug in the guitar cable,it doesn't touch a contact inside the jack.All it does is contact the rust and it gives an off sounding or even muddier than usual tone.Even if you use a Korg Tuner before you play,a dirty input Amp Jack will give off offending electrical and crackly  noise unless you fix the offending amp jack.

The Cure:

Get some sandpaper and roll it up really smallso it fits inside the jack.But use a little oil on the sandpaper so the inside of the jack doesn't get all scratched up either.Just sand the inside of the jack lighly for a couple of minutes.Don't do it too agressively.This should get rid of the offending crackle in the amp jack.Also,lube your guitar where there are nuts and screws.The Bridge,The Truss Nut and Tuners on the Machine Head.For a better tone on your guitar you need to do this once a month.

If you play regularly,such as two gigs a week and practice,your gear needs monthly maintenance.This means everything.Just because you use top of the line gear,doesn't mean it will maintain it's self. Do your due diligence and  you won't have "Crackly" amp jacks.