Miscellaneous

Electric guitar has no sound through the amp

Silence when plugged in almost always traces back to the cable, the guitar's output jack, or the amp's input and volume settings, roughly in that order of likelihood.

Difficulty
Easy
Time
10–30 minutes
DIY cost
$5–$20
Pro cost
$30–$70

Symptoms

  • No sound at all when strumming, though the amp is on
  • Sound cuts in and out when the cable is wiggled
  • Faint crackling but no clear tone
  • Amp works fine with a different guitar or cable

Likely causes

  • CommonBad or unplugged instrument cableCables are the most failure-prone link; a broken internal wire can cause total silence or intermittent sound.
  • CommonGuitar volume or tone knob turned downIt's easy to bump a knob to zero without noticing, especially on guitars with multiple controls.
  • CommonAmp channel, volume, or input selected incorrectlyMany amps have a channel switch or a second input that must match the cable used.
  • PossibleWorn output jack on the guitarThe jack's internal contacts can wear out or get bent, breaking the connection.
  • PossibleDead or disconnected pickup selector switchIf the pickup selector is between positions or the switch is faulty, no signal reaches the output.

What to do

  1. Try a different, known-good instrument cable first; this fixes the problem more often than anything else.
  2. Check that both guitar volume and tone knobs are turned up, and try each pickup selector position.
  3. Confirm the amp is on the correct channel and its own volume and gain are turned up.
  4. Plug a different instrument into the same amp and cable to isolate whether the problem is the guitar or the amp.
  5. Wiggle the cable where it plugs into the guitar to check for a loose or worn output jack; a crackling sound points to this.
  6. If comfortable, open the guitar's control cavity and look for a wire that has come unsoldered from the jack or switch.
  7. Try headphones or a different amp/interface to further narrow down guitar versus amp.

Tools and parts

  • Spare instrument cable
  • Small screwdriver (to open control cavity)
Instrument cableSearch: “guitar instrument cable”
Output jackSearch: “guitar output jack replacement”

When to call a pro

If you find a disconnected wire inside the guitar and aren't comfortable soldering, a guitar tech can resolder it quickly and cheaply.

Safety

Generally low risk

Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.

Related guides

Operator provides AI-generated troubleshooting information. It can be wrong. For safety-critical, electrical, gas, structural, medical, automotive safety, or other high-risk problems, consult a qualified professional.