Hey there, I wasn't sure if I should post this in the tech section or not...

but if I wiggle the cable while it's plugged in my guitar, and the connection to the amp is kinda shaky, is that a problem with the electronics of my guitar or with the cable?

-Jeff.

If you wiggle the connector at your guitar and hear the problem, then it's a connector. If you wiggle just the cable and it exhibits the problem, it's the cable.

Put the same cable into a different guitar, and wiggle it. I would put my money on saying that it is the guitar, not the cable.

...or put another cable into the same guitar

Seriously, I've encountered this on many cheaper output jacks, one of them being on my otherwise trusty Blazer guitar, grrr.

If you really got a 270, like your username says, remove the output jack plate and look if anything is loose in there.

this is actually on an older jem...

should I take it in and have someone look at it or is something easily repaired with a soldering iron?

(the rg270 was my first guitar, way back when I made this userid :-))
-J

Ahh, ok!

Sounds like the problem is not too serious. When you wiggle the cable, is the connection to the amp really interrupted or is there just a crackling noise?

Anyway, here's what I'd do:
Remove the backplate behind the output jack, wiggle around inside the cavity to see if anything is loose/moving, maybe stick a cable into the jack and wiggle it around to see what's happening 'inside'. Maybe theres a loose cable (yes, anyone with a soldering iron should be able to fix this; but if you're insecure, practise on scrap cables for a few minutes).

If everything is tight, check for dirt/greasy stuff on the contacts of the output jack and clean it off.

Oh, and be sure to try another cable first