Is there a cure for loose banana plugs?

Snarl 12/8 · Post by **Snarl 12/8** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 3:43 pm

Hey,

A while back the banana plugs started falling out of the binding posts on my hafler on a semi-regular basis. So, I installed brand new binding posts. And now the plugs are looser than ever. The plugs fall out constantly now. Is there a way to widthenize the plugs so they fit tighter? Or some conductive, but sticky, goo I can put on there? Any other solution besides installing different binding posts? Or, god forbid, sticking the wire in the holes and screwing them down?

Thanks,

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 5:30 pm

I say, assuming you can't otherwise uniformly tighten 'em, kludge 'em.

How?

Smash 'em a bit with some pliers, just so they are slightly outta round - a little squeeze will mebbe doya.

You could also try tapping 'em with a picture-hanger hammer, or the pliers, even.

Snarl 12/8 · Post by **Snarl 12/8** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 6:10 pm

Seems like that would limit the contact area, no?

The Scum · Post by **The Scum** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 9:41 pm

Is there a cure for loose banana plugs?

Newer, higher quality plugs?

I'd sooner suspect that the male ends have lost their springyness, than that the opening on the binding post has changed much.

Johnson and Pomona are the industrial/test equipment standards.

You might be able to pry a crummy one back out using something like a dental pick or tiny screwdriver. But once the spring is gone, the metal may never be that springy again.

Snarl 12/8 · Post by **Snarl 12/8** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 12:07 am

Brand new and old ones are the same looseness. I'll look into those brands though.

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 4:10 am

Snarl 12/8 wrote:Seems like that would limit the contact area, no?

Not really, the idear is to get it just outta round enuff to provide some fricative hold.

That is the name of my next band, also, Fricative Hold.

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 4:12 am

Note: I wouldn't bend the pin at all, just the sleeve ...

I've done this before many times with no issues when hooking up consumer stereo equipment ...

(And no, I am not "E", I am vvv.)

digitaldrummer · Post by **digitaldrummer** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 7:55 am

I think I've stuck a thin screwdriver in between the "springs" of the plug to pry them apart a bit more, and as you said, make them a little more "fricative" -- although that actually means something else so I prefer "frictious".

apropos of nothing · Post by **apropos of nothing** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 9:47 am

I'm as surprised as anyone.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frictional

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:37 am

Without even looking it up, I now recall that a "bilabial fricative" is a raspberry, i.e., a mouth-generated fart-noise.

You see, I am a lifelong Zappa fan ...

EDIT: see here.

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:39 am

QED, a fricative hold on yer bannana plug probably means something quite different ...

On the other hand, as it were, a "frictious" hold sounds like something from an adolescent dream what resulted in damp sheets ...

OK, I'm done.

The Scum · Post by **The Scum** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 10:14 pm

Maybe you jus need some banana oil?

digitaldrummer · Post by **digitaldrummer** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:34 am

nice use of the word "fricatives" here:

http://www.masseyplugins.com/plugins/de ... ns/deesser

(2nd paragraph in the usage notes...)

Bro Shark · Post by **Bro Shark** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:44 am

Is there a cure for loose banana plugs?

Tight banana hammocks.

casey campbell · Post by **casey campbell** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 9:55 am

there is a product called a locking banana plug. it's made for folks with this exact issue. when you push the sleeve of the plug, it expands the end into the jack.

http://sewelldirect.com/Sewell-Locking- ... Plugs-.asp

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Is there a cure for loose banana plugs?

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