Output jack- side vs. face?

[Guest mgoetting]

What went into the decision for Heritage to place the output jack on the side? I can understand an end hole for upper end arches. But why for all of them?

 

I don't see the side as well as the front (duh) when I plug in. And I've really not had a problem with the cable either way.

 

Thanks.

[TalismanRich]

I can't see why they would want to put it on the face (ala 335). I don't like the look of the chord sticking out of the face. Put it on the rim where it's out of the way, doesn't distract from the wood and looks so much cleaner.

[barrymclark]

What went into the decision for Heritage to place the output jack on the side? I can understand an end hole for upper end arches. But why for all of them?

 

I don't see the side as well as the front (duh) when I plug in. And I've really not had a problem with the cable either way.

 

Thanks.

I can't speak for Heritage, but I can say why I prefer them and why I put them in my 'someday' guitar designs. First, cleaner look. Second, an argument could be made that it just keeps the cable further out of the way but my experiences with 'face' jacks are positive this way so I don't really take that into consideration. Thirdly, should the player step on the cable accidentally, it will yank the cord straight out instead of potentially damaging the body, component or cable. (I know some wind the cable through the strap, but a lot don't... including me.)

 

Of they many things Heritage got so right, this is definitely one of them in my opinion.

 

Although you can't see the side as well, as you get accustomed to the guitar, you put the plug right at it every time and... once you plug in, you are good for quite a while... unless you change guitars every song. Geez, it's hard enough to get me to change pickups from song to song let alone whole guitars. On top of that... I can't say when the last time I was I needed to look at a jack when I was plugging in. I just know if it is a 'face' jack or a 'rim' jack that I am just going to run the tip of my pinky ahead of the cable along the body or rim where the jack should be and when I find it (less than a second), I plug in. Probably takes more time to look to find it.

 

Hope this helps on some possible why's.

[Thundersteel]

I can understand an end hole for upper end arches.

 

My H575 had that, and I never liked it in that position. When I was done playing, and wanted to put ot on a stand, the end hole jack made it a pain in the @$$. I'm glad they moved the jack to the outer lower rim on that model. Plus, with the end hole jack, you couldn't put on strap locks.

[schundog]

I have a Gibson ES-335 Epi Dot, Epi Sheraton II and my newly acquired Heritage H535. (Yeah, somethings gotta go, soon, and it ain't gonna be the Gibson or Heritage, LOL). I'm much happier with the Heritage positioning of the output jack; In fact, Gibson touts the positioning of the output jack on the rim of the ES-339 as a good idea; this is from the Musicians Friend description:

 

Here's one ES players have been wanting: The output jack is mounted on the outer rim. No more cable crossing the body, spoiling the guitar's clean looks and and getting in your way.

 

I have to agree; If you don't have a 90 degree plug on the end of your cable, it looks just plain dorky, as well. I'd take looking dorky if I played mine like Larry Carlton or any of the other masters, but I don't!! haha

[Jazzpunk]

Having owned both a 335 and a 535, I can not think of one good reason why I would want the input jack on the face of the guitar. Heritage definitely got it right in this regard!

[Ray]

I have an ES-335 and I don like the output jack on the face of the guitar - high risk of damaging the instrument. Definitely better on the side.

[mark555]

the strat is the only guitar with an on the face jack socket that works, Heritage have it right with it on the rim.

[Gitfiddler]

The jack on the outer rim of H535's is in my opinion, one of the many improvements the builders of Heritage guitars made over the years. (I also like that their 535 has solid maple rims, TonePro hardware and upgraded pots, caps, etc.).

 

With the jack located in the top/face of the instrument, too many bad things can happen. For example, a few years ago, I was rehearsing with a small trio, playing a newly purchased semi-hollow with a top mounted input jack. While playing the guitar, I fell off of a chair and accidently hit the exposed cord, breaking a hole into the input jack area. That ended rehearsal on a sour note. The repair was expertly done, but the guitar will never look the same and its value dropped significantly.

 

I don't care much for the end-pin jack location on some of the archtops however. If they've changed from that design, that's a good thing.

[smurph1]

I can't see why they would want to put it on the face (ala 335). I don't like the look of the chord sticking out of the face. Put it on the rim where it's out of the way, doesn't distract from the wood and looks so much cleaner.

+1..Never understood why Gibbon put the plug on the face unless it was way back in the days of the curly cords...(1960's) and the plug went in flat..My 2 cents..

[bolero]

actually I think it would be better if they put the jack on the headstock myself!!

 

(joke)

[Jim W]

I wonder if it was to keep the appearance different from a Gibson, maybe that was an agreement between the 2 companies?

[barrymclark]

I wonder if it was to keep the appearance different from a Gibson, maybe that was an agreement between the 2 companies?

I rather hope it was because Heritage knew this would be less problematic and not simply to be different regardless of agreement. Reason being is that its functionality is would then be more luck than ingenuity and that would make Gibbon, as a company, even more dumb than I thought to give up the better functioning of the two setups to hang on to their 'classic' look... which honestly can't be discounted... but still.....

[barrymclark]

actually I think it would be better if they put the jack on the headstock myself!!

 

(joke)

Have my 140 set up like this. I can do this cool whip move with the cable. I have issues with entanglement, coming unplugged on every first down beat after I (re)plug the cable in, more resistance and becoming a human antenna as I don't sheild (That's how I roll ). Other than that.... no issues at all.

[Kuz]

Hey let's put the input jack on the top of the guitar to decrease the top from vibrating, decrease sustain, and subtract tone?!!!! (horrible design idea, IMHO)

 

Ren, definitely said they put the input jack on the rim to improve the guitar design (I never heard anything about Gibby mandating it).

 

I also read somewhere where it was cheaper to put the input jack on the top of the guitar, as per direction back in the late 50s. I don't know how that would be cheaper, but I swear I read it somewhere.....

[Jazzpunk]

I rather hope it was because Heritage knew this would be less problematic and not simply to be different regardless of agreement. Reason being is that its functionality is would then be more luck than ingenuity and that would make Gibbon, as a company, even more dumb than I thought to give up the better functioning of the two setups to hang on to their 'classic' look... which honestly can't be discounted... but still.....

 

I think Gibson would probably change the design if they could as well. They were able to do it with the 339 since it was a new model but if they did it on the 335, I think most Gibson fanatics would flip out.

[Patrick]

Hey let's put the input jack on the top of the guitar to decrease the top from vibrating, decrease sustain, and subtract tone?!!!! (horrible design idea, IMHO)

 

Ren, definitely said they put the input jack on the rim to improve the guitar design (I never heard anything about Gibby mandating it).

 

I also read somewhere where it was cheaper to put the input jack on the top of the guitar, as per direction back in the late 50s. I don't know how that would be cheaper, but I swear I read it somewhere.....

 

I don't think putting the output jack on the top of the guitar was done because it was cheaper. I think it was done because it just wasn't thought through. It wasn't cheaper to put it on the top. . . . it was stupid!! Heritage definitely got it right by putting it on the rim. Heritage is passionate about getting it right. H555 . . . . best semi hollow guitar on the planet . . . . period!!! H 535 . . a close 2nd best semi hollow guitar on the planet.

[zookroo1]

Another vote for the jack on the side of the guitar. I've never liked the face mounted output jack. I agree that Gibby would change it if they could, but they're stuck with it now...

[tulk1]

I'd hardly think Gibs is stuck with it on the side. Look what they've done to the LP - just about any atrocity they can think of. So what's stopping them from a special edition 335SJ (side jack)? Or maybe the 335 isn't such a big seller that they think they need to start making it a life style guitar, too. It's "under the radar" so to speak? But I do know Marv and the boys moved it because they felt it was more secure on the rim than on the face. Ren mentioned that at the PSPI tour.

[smurph1]

I think Gibson would probably change the design if they could as well. They were able to do it with the 339 since it was a new model but if they did it on the 335, I think most Gibson fanatics would flip out.

Yeah..Living in the past will do that..

[bolero]

Jethro Tull!!