Roland D-50 output jack accepts some cables, not others

[raycastile]

I have a Roland D-50 that I have owned since it was new. I've taken good care of it. It's never left my house or been subjected to abuse.

I hadn't played it (or any of my synths) for many years. Then last year, I decided to dust off my keyboards and get back into it. I found that I had difficulty inserting an instrument cable into the upper/right output jack. A Monster cable would only insert as far as the tip of the plug. A Whirlwind cable would insert halfway up the plug.

I sprayed the jack with Deoxit and left it for a few hours. Now the Whirlwind plug inserts all the way into the jack. The Monster plug still will not insert past the tip.

These cables are about 20 years old. I haven't bought new cables since the 1990s.

I looked into the D-50's jack using a flashlight and magnifying glass. I could not see any obstruction or deformity. The right jack looks identical to the left.

I had the instrument open a few months ago to change the battery. That was kind of a pain, so I am a little reluctant to take apart the synth again, especially if I do not know what I am looking for, and probably wouldn't know what to do if I found something.

I am wondering if anyone has experienced something similar. Is the jack shrinking? Is something bent? Is there a buildup of gunk that I can't see? Should I buy new cables?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

[jxalex]

certainly it was not the battery which was the problem.

The jack is not shrinking, the cable plugs are slightly different.

[raycastile]

No, I didn't think the battery was the problem. I was just noting that I had opened the keyboard recently and wasn't looking forward to opening it again soon.

I switched all my cables to Mogami and Gotham. The new cables fit just fine. I spent about a grand on cables this year. Now I'm using all-new cables throughout my setup.

[Rasputin]

No, I didn't think the battery was the problem. I was just noting that I had opened the keyboard recently and wasn't looking forward to opening it again soon.

I switched all my cables to Mogami and Gotham. The new cables fit just fine. I spent about a grand on cables this year. Now I'm using all-new cables throughout my setup.

I would be inclined to say that it's just an issue of machining tolerances combined with friction. Cleaning corrosion off the jack internals might help but commonly used DeOxit (I'm assuming D5 here) is a solvent not a lubricant. If you're following up with D100 then that might help.

Could be that the D50 jacks were just made slightly small and they're in rough shape, combined with very slightly oversized new cables. There are only two variables (conveniently) under your control there, so either attempt to recondition (lubricate) the jacks, use the cables that do fit, or both. If you're hellbent on Mogami/Gotham and they don't fit after lubing the jacks then your only other option is to swap out the jacks, although that really, really doesn't seem worth it.

[jxalex]

I switched all my cables to Mogami and Gotham. The new cables fit just fine. I spent about a grand on cables this year. Now I'm using all-new cables throughout my setup.

...and which is irrelevant.

no wonder why there is a market for 2000£ / meter cables. Just becouse some people like you were sleeping while physics teacher was talking or did not paid attention.
....

[raycastile]

I didn't buy the new cables just because of the D50. I generally wanted to upgrade my setup, including the cables. All my instrument cables were 20-25 years old, and were cheap to begin with, except for a couple Monster cables. Like I said, the new cables fit the D50 with no problem.

I would be inclined to say that it's just an issue of machining tolerances combined with friction. Cleaning corrosion off the jack internals might help but commonly used DeOxit (I'm assuming D5 here) is a solvent not a lubricant. If you're following up with D100 then that might help.

Could be that the D50 jacks were just made slightly small and they're in rough shape, combined with very slightly oversized new cables. There are only two variables (conveniently) under your control there, so either attempt to recondition (lubricate) the jacks, use the cables that do fit, or both. If you're hellbent on Mogami/Gotham and they don't fit after lubing the jacks then your only other option is to swap out the jacks, although that really, really doesn't seem worth it.