Do you leave your guitars plugged in?

**Woody Sound** · 12-28-2021, 09:10 AM

I always worry about the jack springs getting loose over time if you don't let them flex back.

**pcjazz** · 12-28-2021, 09:19 AM

Leaving a guitar with active pickups plugged in will drain the battery.

**teeps** · 12-28-2021, 09:29 AM

No. I remove the cable when I put the guitar on its stand or in the case. Old habit. I dont recall why - probably to avoid accidents.

**docsteve** · 12-28-2021, 09:30 AM

I tend to leave the cable in, but then I tend to think it‘s a bad habit. Cost me a perfectly good cable already.

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**skykomishone** · 12-28-2021, 09:51 AM

No. Not to the guitar, but sometimes to the amp, and only for the session. Primary to avoid accidents. It's easy insurance, and also, I try to use the case, not a stand, if I don't have a sofa or big chair to sit it on. My dog once sneezed on one of my guitars and the spray reacted with the lacquer, which required a lot of work to buff out, so I try to keep it up and out of the way.

Also, some older people tend to shuffle their feet, or have trouble with balance, so I try to keep a clear path and also help my old player buddies, especially if they want to try my guitars, to plug and unplug. I'm very careful.

**icr** · 12-28-2021, 10:48 AM

I never had a problem with a Switchcraft jack. Heck, if somehow leaving a 1/4" jack in place caused harm, I'd have to disassemble my entire recording studio after each use.

**sgosnell** · 12-28-2021, 10:54 AM

I tend to unplug mine. I generally have them on wall hangers, and there is some wiring in the wall which causes a loud buzz when the guitar is hanging and plugged in. I also use a wireless system most of the time, and the noise causes the transmitter to stay on instead of going into sleep mode, which kills the battery. If I'm using a cable, it's a tight stretch to get the guitar on the hanger with it attached. I'm not anal about unplugging, but it's usually just easier to unplug than to leave it plugged in.

**Greco** · 12-28-2021, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by icr

I never had a problem with a Switchcraft jack. Heck, if somehow leaving a 1/4" jack in place caused harm, I'd have to disassemble my entire recording studio after each use.

You might be able to get away with only disassembling once per year or so. Something to consider.

**hotpepper01** · 12-28-2021, 11:05 AM

No, never. Someone might trip over the cable. A broken cable is not that bad and costly, but a broken guitar is both a heartache and costly.

**garybaldy** · 12-28-2021, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

I always worry about the jack springs getting loose over time if you don't let them flex back.

Regarding springs, I've read that it's best to return the pickup selector switch to the middle position when not in use.

**Stringswinger** · 12-28-2021, 12:43 PM

No.

**vernon** · 12-28-2021, 01:02 PM

I always unplug both guitar and amp… put guitar in case, and cover back on amp. Doesn’t take much for me to snag a cable as I’m shuffling around my studio/office/exercise/prayer room. Guitars and amplifiers are my most valuable material possessions.

**Woody Sound** · 12-28-2021, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by garybaldy

Regarding springs, I've read that it's best to return the pickup selector switch to the middle position when not in use.

Ah, that makes sense in the long term.

**Woody Sound** · 12-28-2021, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by pcjazz

Leaving a guitar with active pickups plugged in will drain the battery.

Thanks, I know that, I was more worried about the jack spring becoming loose over time.

**citizenk74** · 12-28-2021, 01:43 PM

I mostly leave things connected, but secure. My practice area has only me for traffic, and I am cautious. One thing I unfailingly do with my set-up is turn everything off. All switches, standbys, and power strips are cycled off at the end of every working session, even lunch breaks. Once I leave the room, when or if I will return remains an open question. Once again - everything off, except my computer power supply, which is a UPS and gets used frequently due to our appalling powergrid/internet situation. I also keep candles and lighters in places I can find in the darkness. We have battery-powered lanterns and kerosene back-ups strategically placed. And they invariably get used.

**Greentone** · 12-28-2021, 01:43 PM

Dogs, grandchildren, etc. Too many potential accidents to leave instrument plugged in.

**Donkeyhead** · 12-28-2021, 03:03 PM

I always unplug because it’s very easy to get your feet caught in the cable in my studio

**bluejaybill** · 12-28-2021, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Greentone

Dogs, grandchildren, etc. Too many potential accidents to leave instrument plugged in.

I have a friend with an exquisite 1959 L5CES- in blonde. It is one of the nicest arch tops that I've ever played- maybe the nicest electric one.

Exquisite- except for the football shaped patch where someone tripped over the cable and snapped a hole in the guitar.

**wintermoon** · 12-28-2021, 09:12 PM

Only on one of my weeklies because my guitar is safe on a stand behind my amp.
All other situations unplugged and in the case between sets.

**fep** · 12-28-2021, 09:38 PM

Everything plugged in and ready to go for me.

**rpjazzguitar** · 12-28-2021, 11:04 PM

I always unplug. It's to avoid tripping over the cable and knocking the guitar over.

**gmek** · 12-29-2021, 01:47 PM

At home, I leave the guitar I'm currently using plugged in. It's not in the way of foot traffic so no big concern there. Never really had any issues with it.

**sgosnell** · 12-29-2021, 08:53 PM

We have no dogs, but three young grandsons, one of which usually brings a couple of dogs, and the other two just got a dog, which might be brought on visits. Leaving guitars plugged in is a dicey proposition for me, and I keep myself out of the habit.