JTL-1 build issues (so close to completion)

[mtravisallen]

Hi! This is my first build and I can already tell I"m going to be addicted to this. That being said--please forgive anything that sounds mis-informed.

However, I just ran into an issue regarding the wiring of the output jack. The wires provided by Pitbull didn't give me enough slack to solder the hot and earth to the input jack before installing it. So, i wasnt able to pull it all through, make the connection, then install the output jack. See the photos, in the mean time i had it all installed because I wanted to ensure i was doing things correctly.

I'm hoping i can get some creative ideas for a fix. Could i just buy more wire and solder that together to make it extend? What type of wire would i need for the hot/earth?

Could I install it else where on the tuitar? IM not entirely opposed to having it plug in on the front, but I don't know how I'd make that happen.

Any guidance would help! I appreciate it.

[Simon Barden]

Hi and welcome.

Did you plan to install the control plate that way round? The factory standard is with the switch at the front.

If you have it like that deliberately, to have the switch at the back, and have swapped the volume and control pots over so that the volume (normally next to the switch) is now by the pickguard (which is a very common modification for those who like the volume knob nearer to hand), then that may be why the output cable is a bit too short.

You can simply replace the output cable with two pieces of standard light duty electrical hook-up wire. Jaycar do a pack with several colours in. https://www.jaycar.com.au/hook-up-wi...etres/p/WH3025. The kit-supplied wire is a small single core screened cable, but for that length of run, it doesn't really need to be screened, so two separate wires can be used. It helps if you use two different colours so you can follow which cable is hot and which is ground. Twisting them together will reduce noise pickup to a minimum. But if you do want to use screened cable, then this is the sort of cable to look for. https://www.jaycar.com.au/single-scr...metre/p/WB1500.

[Brendan]

Simon's on the money - replacing the wires is pretty straightforward if you want to do it. Simplest is just follow what is already there - basically one wire from the back of a pot for earthing going to the sleeve lug on the jack and the other wire going from the centre lug on the volume pot to the hot lug on the tip. Let us know how you go.

[wazkelly]

Moving control plate 180 degrees with switch at front might provide enough wire length to work with.