need a jack plug to fit this Vega D100 electric mandolin see pict

[bobtheuke]

Can anyone help with finding one of the plugs to fit this socket on my electric D100 Vega.

I need to buy the screw on plug to fit it or a complete lead with one on the end and a standard amp jack plug on the other end for my modern amp.


I am in England.

Thanking you all in anticipation.

I use paypal if you can help ................... Bob

Also can anyone tell me the correct name for this type of socket and screw on jack plug so i may search for one.

64329

[bobtheuke]

Come on folks!! 52 viewings and no replies.....what i actually need is a lead like this.....can anyone help please Bob






64411

[Jim Garber]

This seemed to be prevalent for lapsteels from that period, National/Supro. What is that photo you posted?

[Tom Wright]

Seems like a good reason to replace the non-standard jack with a 1/4". Since there is already a mounting plate, you need not drill. You may need a reducing washer, since 1/4" jacks are a bit smaller. A replacement jack will cost less than a custom, rare cable. You may have enough room to use the standard Switchcraft chassis-mount style. There is also the endpin-style, which gives you a nice strap button (see link).

http://www.audiospares.com/product.php?productid=1706

Than get yourself a right-angle plug cable. I would not like a screw-in plug attached to my axe, since someone tripping over your cable could damage the instrument.

[bobtheuke]

Jim that is a photo of an actual 1950 ish lead supplied with a vega D100 electric mandolin. I found it on another site to show you. I dont know what term to search for. I can find amphenol sites but there are loads of different ones and i am not seeing what i want as i am having to rely on finding a picture of one. Bob

[mandroid]

Things change in 50+ years and electrical connectors are one of them.

Perhaps you have lurked on Ebay for years already,
and what ever pawn shop presence there may be on the www.

I propose converting the jack on the instrument, instead, since antique cords are obviously so hard to find.

you may be able to substitute the screw plate made for Les Paul Jr Guitars, which is pre curved, and plated in Chrome , etc.
and 1/4" phone plug jack, to use current chords..

you may be able to modify a fender washer, with a 1/2" ID and say a 1" OD. or whatever the plate is, around that old connector.
as it's already Round.

then again the post is only a couple hours old so perhaps some patience is needed.
:sleepy:

[bobtheuke]

Tom NYS221...are they easy to fit?.....i think there is one wire to the centre of the old female plug and another wire wrapped around the tailpiece for some reason. What do i do bob

[bobtheuke]

Thanks mandroid......just advice on wiring a new fitting please

[mandroid]

Magnetic pickup right?

There is a string grounding lead to the tailpiece, or bridge, to ground out the hum
you get if you don't.
... easiest to see, the wire is soldered onto the case of the Tone Pot, on the FM61,
then the other end sat under the bridge plate, so its a chassis ground,
rather than a signal circuit ground.

and the tip of the plug, is the hot lead, the signal .. the sleeve is the return on a TR plug, aKA instrument cable,
which combines the braided shield around the cable, and the return path to complete the circuit back to the source.

a TRS plug separates the braided shield wrap around the cable from the minus/cold return.

there is a blue white twisted pair of wires in cables used for balanced 1/4"/ or XLR microphone use.

if you plug an Instrument TR plug into a TRS jack the cold and ground are combined any how.

[mrmando]

There's no need and no reason to deprive your instrument of its original condition. Vintage-style Switchcraft connectors (http://www.switchcraft.com/productsummary.aspx?Parent=810) are still available. Much easier to swap out connectors on a cable than on a mandolin.

Or, you can get one of these (http://www.harpmicshop.com/servlet/Detail?no=17) and use your D100 with any standard cable. No need to modify anything.

Or, there are several sources for vintage-style cables. I have two or three of them for my National Silvos. They're sold by Fat Bottom Mics (http://www.fatbottom-mics.com/), Angela Instruments (http://angela.com/microphonesandaccessories.aspx) and Bayou Audio Cables (http://www.bayoucables.com/foot-vintage-harp-cable-p-380.html), and you may still be able to get them from Morrison Bros. (http://shop.mobro.net/)

JT30.com (http://www.jt30.com/forsale/jt30.php) is a site compiling eBay auctions of vintage mics & cables.

Cables on eBay here (http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Tweed-Harp-Mic-Cable-Astatic-JT30-Shure-/200534951705?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb0d08719), here (http://compare.ebay.com/like/370436775207?var=lrgimg&sort=BestMatch), here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330434468093) and here (http://cgi.ebay.com/Microphone-Cable-Vintage-Astatic-Turner-JT-30-Harp-Mic-/300469903985?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f566e271).

[Jim Garber]

That is a wonderful resource, Martin. I knew you would come thru. I think the difficulty is finding what these things are called or who made them. Your IDing Switchcraft alone is a big help.

[bobtheuke]

I thank you for all the sites supplying them but they are all female 5/8 connectors. I need a male connector. Please see the pictures at the begining of the female fitting on the mandolin and the male fitting on the cable. HELP??? bob

[bobtheuke]

perhaps i will have to buy a female one and solder a pin on the end of the connecting button...

[mrmando]

The cable you posted looks like a Switchcraft 2501F with some kind of pin coming out of the center.

I'd suggest contacting Switchcraft via their Web site and sending them your photo of that cable. They may be able to tell you something about that pin.

[mandroid]

Add another 02,
Sitting, I use a 90 degree plug in my mandolin with a rim jack plate,
using straight end of the cord it gets in the way..

so where your connector site is may matter...

[mrmando]

Fortunately, on the D100 the jack plate is directly below the tailpiece, so the cable is unlikely to get in the way if you're playing while seated.

Whereas on the National Silvo, the jack plate is on the bass side of the instrument, which makes no sense at all unless you are left-handed.

[bobtheuke]

update got a cable made for me by Olaf Prinz in germany blues harp man.........he happened to have a couple of these connectors which he said are extremely rare with a centre pin rather than the standard button which are used on micophones............so a top quality quite expensive cable is coming.......Bob

also located another connector in USA from Darin Scorsa in Kansas which i am having as a spare.....I actually located this connector first and then had a reply from germany with a full hand made cable so i bought both......Thanks everyone for your help.