Mono vs Stereo Jacks: Key Differences & How to Wire Them

Here's something we're often asked about when it comes to guitar electronics. On the subject of guitar jacks, mono or stereo, which one is better? What are their uses, and is there a difference in sound?

We'll quickly go over a few key differences for you to settle it once and for all.

For those that want to go a bit more in depth, we'll also include some of the technicalities involved & how to wire each one.

Key Takeaways:

• Mono jacks (TS) are the standard for most guitars, carrying a single audio signal and ground.
  
• Stereo jacks (TRS) can act as power switches, making them essential for active pickups and LEDs.
  
• You can replace a mono jack with a stereo jack, but not always the other way around.
  
• If you're upgrading your guitar with active electronics, a stereo jack is a must-have.

Related: Troubleshooting & Fixing Guitar Jacks

The 2 Main Types of Guitar Jacks

First of all, the two most common guitar jacks used in guitar builds are of course,MONO Jack & STEREO Jack. You can visually tell them apart by simply counting the number of prongs/leads each one has.

Mono Guitar Jack (TS) (2 Prong)

Mono guitar jacks, also known as TS (Tip-Sleeve) jacks consist of two conductive parts, the tip and the sleeve, which carry the audio signal and ground, respectively.

Mono jacks are designed to transmit a single channel of audio, making them suitable for mono signals such as guitar output, instrument cables, and basic audio connections.

Stereo Guitar Jack (TRS) (3 Prong)

Stereo guitar jacks, also known as TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) jacks, are audio connectors used in guitar and audio equipment to transmit stereo signals. They consist of three conductive parts, the tip, ring, and sleeve, allowing for the transmission of two separate audio channels. 

The configurations is the same as above with the addition of an auxiliary (ring) prong. When it comes to guitars though, this ring connection can function as as switch & is often used for just that.

Often a stereo jack is required for active pickups, pre-amps, LEDs, and other electrical components that require battery power to operate. So when an instrument cabled is plugged in, it complete the circuit to the battery & it "automatically" powers the component while the cable is connected.

Finally, because of the power switching capability, it's important to always disconnect your guitar if you have active components installed such as active pickups. If not, you will likely end up will a dead battery very soon.

Related: Frequently Asked Questions About Guitar Jacks

What's Most Common? Mono or Stereo?

In relation to most built guitars, Mono jacks are the standard required for the guitar to operate.

The only exception is for guitars with active guitar pickups, or additional electronics like pre-amps as previously mentioned.

This is where the additional prong (Ring) of the stereo jack comes in handy as it acts like an on/off switch. You can always replace a mono with a stereo jack but usually not the other way around.

It's because of the stereo jack's switching capability that we offer them as an add-on to our guitar kill switches.

In this application, the stereo jack controls an LED by turning it on when the guitar cable is plugged in, and turning the light off when removed. If a mono jack is used instead though, you would require some sort of additional on/off switch else the LED remains on at all times.

Which Output Jack Is Better?

So that's the difference & their general uses, but which one is better, and should you upgrade to a stereo jack if you've got a mono installed?

Well it all comes down to application really.

You're not likely to find a distinct difference in feel or sound using one or the other. 

The one thing is that a stereo jack will do everything a mono jack can do but not the other way around. If you plan on adding active pickups or perhaps an LED killswitch, then swapping over to a stereo jack will make it all worth it.

If you're replacing your mono switch because it's faulty & you only have a stereo jack on hand, then that's no problem. You can safely upgrade even if you don't have use of the additional 3rd prong functionality.

How To Wire Various Guitar Jacks

Mono Jack Installation

Wiring a mono jack is simple since it only has two prongs, making it hard to mix them up.

The Sleeve (Ground) is the prong that touches the metal barrel where the plug is inserted, while the Tip (Hot) carries the audio signal. 

To avoid issues, take a moment to identify each prong before soldering. If you're getting no sound or excessive noise, double-check your connections rather than just swapping the wires, as improper wiring can cause hum or weak output.

A good rule of thumb is to follow the path of the wires—your hot (signal) wire should connect to the Tip, and ground should go to the Sleeve. Taking your time during installation will save you troubleshooting later on!

Stereo Jack Installation

The easiest prong to identify on a stereo jack is the Sleeve (Ground), which connects to the center section of the jack 99.9% of the time. 

Note that these skeleton-style jacks are designed with multiple layers that are easily visible, which makes it simple to distinguish the components without needing a multimeter (though it's always a good idea to verify).

To locate the Tip (Hot) connection, first insert a cable into the jack and look for the retainer that touches the section of the plug closest to the tip. Now by following this retainer, you can identify which prong corresponds to the Tip, carrying the audio signal (hot).

With the Sleeve and Tip prongs identified, the remaining prong will be the Ring (Aux), used for auxiliary functions like power switching in active components.

Often, the retainers and their corresponding prongs will be on opposite ends, but it's a good idea to do a quick visual check to verify.

Guitar Cables & Their Plugs in Relation to Output Jacks

When using a mono plug (the standard guitar cable) with a stereo jack, it’s important to understand that all three sections of the stereo jack—Tip, Ring, and Sleeve—are still used.

The Tip carries your guitar signal, and the Sleeve is the ground. The Ring, or the auxiliary prong, can be used for special functions, like activating an on/off switch for active pickups.

When you insert a mono plug into a stereo jack, the Ring prong is automatically activated, completing the circuit and turning on power to any auxiliary components.

While a stereo plug is needed for setups that require stereo sound (like for certain live or studio applications), a mono plug will work just fine in a stereo jack for most everyday guitar uses. You do not need a stereo cable/plug to use a stereo jack.

Barrel Type Jacks

Barrel jacks function just like standard mono and stereo output jacks but have a different, more compact form factor. Instead of the open "skeleton" style, they feature an enclosed, cylindrical design, often used in guitars with side-mounted or recessed jacks.

Despite their appearance, they follow the same wiring principles—mono barrel jacks have two prongs (Tip and Sleeve), while stereo versions include a third prong (Ring) for additional functionality.

If you're familiar with wiring standard jacks, installing a barrel jack will feel just as straightforward.

Mono Barrel Jacks:

Stereo Barrel Jacks:

Additional Notes:

Your most common mono/stereo jacks available are what's considered a "skeleton" style.

There are however some guitars that feature what's called a "barrel" styled jack & although they look very different, they have the same functionality & wiring.

A Third Type of Input Jack

Which is less common in guitar applications is what called a "switched jack".

These guitar jacks actually have 4 prongs allowing even greater versatility when it comes to wiring auxiliary electronics.

An instance where you would use these is if you had a guitar with piezo pickups in conjunction with regular pups, and you wanted to send 1 signal to the amp, and the other signal to a mixer or another amp.

Switching Jack Installation

Last but not least are the "Switching" barrel guitar jacks with a total of 4 prongs. These are a rare find but here's a diagram if ever run into one.

Final Words

I hope that cover any questions you might have regarding a sometimes confusing but essential topic of guitar jacks.

If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to comment below.

Thanks for reading!

Also in Iron Age || General Blog