Buzzing/cutting out on original traveler escape

[jbedlam]

Hello,
This is my first post here, I've never worked inside a guitar, and I'm getting pretty frustrated.
I bought a traveler escape (www.travelerguitar.com/products/escape-series/escape/) last year for a backpacking trip. Ever since I bought it (secondhand on craigslist) the thing has clicked and buzzed and popped and cut out when plugged in. It is very temperamental; if the cable going into the jack is in just the right position, it will sound fine, but if it's shaking around, the trouble starts.

I unscrewed the jack, as shown in the attached picture, and all the solder points seem good, though I don't know what each wire is. I can't figure out where the problem is! Some things that I think are relevant:

If the signal gets stuck on a buzz, it goes away if I touch either metal part on the ends of the cable. Does this mean there is something wrong with a ground somewhere? Also, playing around with it while the jack is unscrewed, I may be mistaken but it seems like the actual cable tip and the housing in the jack itself might be the problem, since wiggling the tip while all the other parts are seemingly not moving will produce clicking and such.

I'm hesitant to dive in and make it worse than it is, but I did resolder the two black wire to the connection point up on the side right under the mount of the jack, but it did nothing to help.

Is there a way to pinpoint exactly where the problem is? Might I need to replace a part? Is it possible the problem isn't on the jack, even though the position of the cable tip seems to be the volatile factor?

Sigh. I just wanna rip it on the go! Thanks to anyone who's reading. I also drew a diagram of exactly what wires are connected to what, and they all come from one of two holes in the guitar body, so if this information is relevant I can post it.

EDIT: here are my two images:


The bunch on the top right is electrical taped together, judging by the width of the wires, I think D, E, and H are from the same component, and the second black wire going to I is a little thicker (i think.)

and the actual picutre, it's a little hard to tell, but the pins and connections are oriented in the same exact way as the above diagram:

[Deleted]

I would say it's a bad jack.
EB

[dnic]

Thanks for all the info. Sometimes it a little thin. Is that the factory solder job? Looks kind of funky.

Ok, first of all I hate those block input jacks. It sounds like the tip is loose and every time you wiggle the cable you get a pop. Try -if there is room in the guitar cavity- to rotate the jack 90 degrees. That will change the contact relationship. And also if you use a guitar strap loop the cord between the guitar and strap as a strain relief.

If that don't do it you need to swap it out like Eddie said.

[shattered]

Try the cable with another guitar. If you get the same problem, it's the cable.

Or....just try a different cable.

[Robert of Manila Philippines]

Hi my friend,

I bought traveler guitar original escape steel guitar, brand new, just a month ago and I have the same experience as yours with the input jack, buzzed and cutting sound when I connected it to my acoustics amps, but when I use a headphones , it doesnt have any problem, I replace my cable and it works, Im using a cable with a neutrik tip, its so sensitive concerning the input jack. I will try to find the same jack to replace it

[hoz]

Rule out the cable you are using.

Possibly a little spray contact cleaner.

That bare black wire looks a little long, make sure when squished in the cavity it's not making contact.

Hopefully you don't have to replace the jack. www.jameco.com may have that part.

[Leora]

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