Instrument Cables - Make your own

[ampbldr2]

I have been needing some instrument cables and I had tried out some pretty expensive mogami cables and really liked how clean and quiet they were but did not care for how stiff they are. I guess i could get used to the stiffness and maybe they will loosen up when i beat them up over time.

I found redco.com carries spools of the stuff and wonder if i should go for the instrument cable or pass for another high quality wire.

Also is it really necessary to go gold Tip Sleeve on the neutrik jacks or is it hype? You are really getting low capacitance with the high quality wire i thought.

http://www.redco.com/shopexd.asp?id=507

Also there is some speaker cable that seems like a good deal too
http://www.redco.com/shopexd.asp?id=528&bc=no

[Colossal]

I had tried out some pretty expensive mogami cables and really liked how clean and quiet they were but did not care for how stiff they are.

This doesn't help you in regards to building your own cables, but you find Mogami cables to be stiff? I have a few 18' Mogami (part number 2524) and find them quite supple. Mine seem to be a lot less prone to that annoying self-coiling habit many cables I've gone through over the years have. Just my $0.02. But yeah, Mogami is very clean and quiet (money well spent).

[briane]

Also is it really necessary to go gold Tip Sleeve

need is a state of mind.

but gold conducts better than silver->copper->alum->steel. only thing better is platinum. so hype be hecked - gold is always better in any electrical circuit.

[Phil_S]

Try some Canare GS-6 with good quality Switchcraft or Neutrik plugs. You can roll your own very cheaply and have better quality than store bought. IMO it is flexible. http://www.redco.com/shopexd.asp?id=543 Same price as Mogami at Redco. I know nothing about Redco.

An apropos discussion I ran across looking for the Canare on line:
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/archiv ... 89556.html

[martin manning]

Also is it really necessary to go gold Tip Sleeve

need is a state of mind.

but gold conducts better than silver->copper->alum->steel. only thing better is platinum. so hype be hecked - gold is always better in any electrical circuit.

In conductivity, gold comes in third behind silver and copper, and is followed by aluminum. Platinum is down the list, lower than iron. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical ... nductivity

As important as good conductivity is to use a material that won't tarnish and form a resistive oxide layer. Gold is good there, but a few microns of gold plating will quickly wear off with use and expose whatever is underneath in the contact areas. Most plugs and jacks are nickel plated, and that works very well as it is durable, a good conductor, does not tarnish, and it is cheap enough to use a thick layer.

[billyz]

I have been making cables for too many years now. I prefer Switchcraft jacks and currently George L cable soldered to the jack. I hate George L jacks or any of the clamp on type. Too unreliable.

I have some old military jacks, brass alloy solid shaft and a few Belden military cables with cloth insulator, I made up in my teens that are still working well.

The george L is especially nice for pedal boards and the right angle switchcraft jacks are the best of the bunch.

Yes, and gold is third behind copper, silver is the best, even silver oxide is a good conductor.

[Reeltarded]

I am with Reverend BillyZ.

[LeftyStrat]

My favorite is the Canare GS-6 cable and Neutrik jacks. Never had a cable go bad with the Neutrik jacks.

I agree with others, I don't like the no-solder jacks.

[Cliff Schecht]

Using Canare and Switchcract has been a fantastic combo for me. Cables I built 10 years ago are still more than gig-worthy and don't cost much to make.

TBH Neutrik and Switchcraft are both of similar quality, I've had good luck with both companies stuff. I just happen to have more Switchcraft stuff around so I use it.

[boldaslove6789]

Not to get off topic but I use a Planet Waves circuit Breaking cable from guitar to Pedal Board and a Planet Waves Custom Pro from Pedal Board to amp. They're the best quality and best sounding instrument cable I've ever owned. The cable shields are impregnated with polymer and are top notch & very heavy duty.

For my Pedal board I use George L's Nickel right angle plugs and George L's pedal board cable. I also use George L's gold straight plugs and cable from the Effects Loop Dumbleator of my Quinn amp to a Rack. I've never had a problem with reliability and I gig the shit out of my rig. Plus it's easy to simply unhook everything in case I want to redo the board. Just cut a new length and tighten the ends.

I used to go through cords like no bodies businesses when I used Soldered plugs, even the better quality Switchcraft etc. Now I can plug and unplug all I want with zero issues. The signal chain is nice and clean. Very clear sounding with no loading or high capacitance issues.

[katopan]

I make my own but still use fairly cheap materials. Cable is two core and shield microphone cable. It's really flexible but still robust. I used to use standard nickle plated plugs but was occasionally getting scratchy sounds as the plug moved around in my guitar jack. I've swapped to the same plugs but gold plated and the scratchy sound has disappeared. But rolling your own is so easy and you can choose what you want to use.

[rdjones]

I used to use standard nickle plated plugs but was occasionally getting scratchy sounds as the plug moved around in my guitar jack.

Here's a trick I found to help quiet the guitar jack to guitar cable connection.
Install a stereo 1/4" jack in the guitar and wire both the ring and sleeve to the ground.
That gives you an extra ground connection in case the plug is worn enough to be a bit loose or gets covered with grime or beer slobber.

I've also grown to prefer the Neutrik cable plugs simply because they assemble a bit easier.
In use it's a tossup with Switchcraft being easier to deal with in a tight situation.

rd

[Cantplay]

The electrical conductivity of silver at 293°K is 62.9e6 (1/Ωcm); the conductivity of gold is only 48.7e6

There is also an embrittlement that can occur with gold.


http://journals.cambridge.org/action/di ... aid=326391

John

[NickC]

I used to use standard nickle plated plugs but was occasionally getting scratchy sounds as the plug moved around in my guitar jack.

Here's a trick I found to help quiet the guitar jack to guitar cable connection.
Install a stereo 1/4" jack in the guitar and wire both the ring and sleeve to the ground.
That gives you an extra ground connection in case the plug is worn enough to be a bit loose or gets covered with grime or beer slobber.

I've also grown to prefer the Neutrik cable plugs simply because they assemble a bit easier.
In use it's a tossup with Switchcraft being easier to deal with in a tight situation.

rd

That is an excellent tip (no pun intended)! Many thanks for sharing!

[butwhatif]

These guys have a pro alternative cable wise, great stuff
http://www.gothamaudiousa.com/