Roland Forums

Hi, new member here.

I've just bought a second hand Roland SP-555, no warranty, but I plugged my 1/4 inch jack guitar lead into the centre of Neutrik external input / mic connector and it wouldn't come back out again! Now I've pulled the lead out and the tip of the jack has come away from the rest of the jack and is stuck inside the Neutrik input!!

I can't see any release mechanism so why has this happened?

How am I going to be able to remove the tip from inside the connection so I can continue to use it as an external input?

How can I prevent this from happening again?

I've emailed Roland UK's tech support, but has any one else gotten into the same mess?

Any helpful thoughts appreciated,
Stuart.

That's grim..

As to how it happened:
Perhaps the connector was bent slightly?
Dimensional anomaly?
Sunspots?

Neutrik are usually pretty solid connectors, I prefer using their XLR's when making leads up, and the jack connectors too. So bloody expensive.

How to stop it happening again..
Neutrik jack plugs on your lead.

I have seen there is a rca line input on the back of the unit.
Perhaps you can use that via a small mixer to input sounds into your SP-555.

Thanks for the input (no pun intended).

Wish I'd grabbed one of my more expensive Neutrik type leads!

Will work around it until Roland get back to me.

Cheers.

If the end is still stuck in the socket, you could try removing it by inersting a thin self-tapping screw into the jack plug end which remains. If you turn it, as if screwing in (gently!) while pulling out, you may extract it. Be careful and do it with the power disconnected too. If in doubt, return it to a service centre.

I have no idea why this has occured other than the quality of the jack may be suspect. However, it depends where the unit has come from. i have seen some retailers try to secure a unit by using a device which fits inside a jack socket. This can cause damage to the socket becasue it expands inside the socket. they sometimes get stuck and are forced out. This may have happened to yours if you do not know it's full history.

Thanks for that John, you may well be right in regard to it being from a retailer who has used a security locking device inside the Neutrik input...I bought it from an ebay retailer who has a music shop, so he may have done that himself.

Roland were good enough to call me back within 24 hours (impressive!), and have given me the number of John Bright who fixes gear on their behalf. I got the SP-555 for a bargain price, so if I need to spend a bit more to replace the input I can remain soundly philosophical!

I will try your suggestion of inserting a small self-tapping screw first though.

Thanks again.

Hello Again,

i will also hearitly recommend John Bright. I know him personally. He used to run the service dept at Roland UK HQ so really knows his stuff. He has now set up his own servicing company and does a great job. We often send repair to him.

Good luck with it anyway. It's a great pipece of kit.