Anyone with actives plug headphones straight into the jack and jam?

vigil785 · 12-07-2009, 08:48 PM

I was told once that active pickups have a built in preamp, and if you were to plug a set of headphones into the jack on the guitar, you could play and hear it through the headphones. I forgot about this for a while until I was at guitar center and found a 3.5mm to 1/4" adapter. So I bought it and went home to try it out. I plugged the headphones in and it worked, I got a nice clean sound from it. The only problems I had was that the sound would only come through one side of the headphones and there was really no way to make the volume any louder than it was with the volume pot all the way up. Then I ran a cable from the guitar to a line 6 distortion pedal and plugged the headphones into the out jack. I got a nice distorted tone from the pedal, but I still had the same problems with the volume and sound only coming from one headphone speaker.

So my questions are:

Has anyone else tried this?

What do I need to do to get sound through both sides of the headphones?

Is there any way I can get the volume louder?

Im thinking of buying a pair of headphones that has the 1/4" connector built in, and if I can find one with a volume knob or something to make it louder. But as far as the sound only coming out of one speaker, im not too sure. Im thinking it might have something to do with the way the pickup wiring is connected to the output jack. If it is a stereo jack and has three prongs, shouldnt all three have a wire soldered to it?

Im mainly trying this out to find a good way to travel with my guitar with minimal gear. It would be ideal if I could have a guitar in a padded case, with a set of headphones and a distortion pedal. That way I dont have to lug an amp around. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

D-EJ915 · 12-07-2009, 08:50 PM

I just use the metal vox amplug, it's not the best but it's cheap as hell.

SpaceDock · 12-07-2009, 08:53 PM

Try a blob of solder between the notches of the headphones. This should make the headphones mono, if not get a stereo to mono adapter from radio shack.

troyguitar · 12-07-2009, 11:00 PM

^^^
Yeah, your guitar has a stereo jack but only puts out a mono signal. The other channel of the jack is just to disconnect the battery so it doesn't drain when the guitar is not in use.

vigil785 · 12-08-2009, 08:45 PM

Thanks guys!

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-EJ915

I just use the metal vox amplug, it's not the best but it's cheap as hell.

Do these have volume control? How does the distortion sound?

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12-07-2009, 08:48 PM	#1
vigil785 ss.org Regular Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 598 Thanked: 5 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Anyone with actives plug headphones straight into the jack and jam? I was told once that active pickups have a built in preamp, and if you were to plug a set of headphones into the jack on the guitar, you could play and hear it through the headphones. I forgot about this for a while until I was at guitar center and found a 3.5mm to 1/4" adapter. So I bought it and went home to try it out. I plugged the headphones in and it worked, I got a nice clean sound from it. The only problems I had was that the sound would only come through one side of the headphones and there was really no way to make the volume any louder than it was with the volume pot all the way up. Then I ran a cable from the guitar to a line 6 distortion pedal and plugged the headphones into the out jack. I got a nice distorted tone from the pedal, but I still had the same problems with the volume and sound only coming from one headphone speaker. So my questions are: Has anyone else tried this? What do I need to do to get sound through both sides of the headphones? Is there any way I can get the volume louder? Im thinking of buying a pair of headphones that has the 1/4" connector built in, and if I can find one with a volume knob or something to make it louder. But as far as the sound only coming out of one speaker, im not too sure. Im thinking it might have something to do with the way the pickup wiring is connected to the output jack. If it is a stereo jack and has three prongs, shouldnt all three have a wire soldered to it? Im mainly trying this out to find a good way to travel with my guitar with minimal gear. It would be ideal if I could have a guitar in a padded case, with a set of headphones and a distortion pedal. That way I dont have to lug an amp around. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

12-07-2009, 08:50 PM	#2
D-EJ915 <3's Tsukasa Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 18,749 Thanked: 220 Feedback Score: 6 reviews	I just use the metal vox amplug, it's not the best but it's cheap as hell. əBCAir

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12-07-2009, 08:53 PM	#3
SpaceDock Shred till your dead Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 1,395 Thanked: 12 Feedback Score: 13 reviews	Try a blob of solder between the notches of the headphones. This should make the headphones mono, if not get a stereo to mono adapter from radio shack.

12-07-2009, 11:00 PM	#4
troyguitar SS.org Regular Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bloomsburg, PA Posts: 7,388 Thanked: 63 $troyguitar is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $troyguitar is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $troyguitar is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $troyguitar is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $troyguitar is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $troyguitar is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $troyguitar is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ Feedback Score: 10 reviews	^^^ Yeah, your guitar has a stereo jack but only puts out a mono signal. The other channel of the jack is just to disconnect the battery so it doesn't drain when the guitar is not in use.