How To: Build your own cables!

alotawatts · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2010 11:13 pm

The idea is that I can put the pedals closer together. No idea if they have a special name, this is the first one that showed up with a pic in a google search.[/quote]

Cheap...found at Radio Shack. I have no problems with them. Rough-up the areas where you solder with sandpaper first.

patrickbrose · **Posted:** Tue Nov 23, 2010 11:55 am

Can you post an "opened up" pic of the above Ratshack jack? I am interested in what the contacts look like.
-P

T-diddy · **Posted:** Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:14 pm

Great post. I have been building my own cables for a little while, and had no idea that the PVC coating was conductive. Thanks for the heads ups here, now I know to strip it back from the clear coating abit.

Stephen · **Posted:** Tue Dec 07, 2010 5:00 am

Rat Shack
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2104077

Parts Express
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... TR=090-308

MCM
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/27-572

Small Bear
http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=131

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Mono-Right-Angle- ... B0002KR394

In most cases with plugs like these the tip has a solder lug inside but the ground must be soldered directly to the plug's casing. I've used these before and I had to use my 150 watt solder gun and some flux to solder the ground wires.

jmdesignz2 · **Joined:** Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:22 am **Posts:** 1

hey great info here
what is cheapest source of Neutrik RCA Profi connectors?

Which Mogami cable has the lowest capacitance?

Thanks
Joe

SocratesCaster · **Posted:** Tue Jan 04, 2011 2:03 pm

I use these: http://www.speakerrepair.com/mm5/mercha ... uarterinch

They have lugs for both the lead and the ground.

mbnjmn · **Joined:** Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:39 am **Posts:** 3

Something useful i learned in electronics class is to get any verticle board (small one on a desk with a very sturdy base would be fine) and install a 1/4" female plug. When you need to solder your leads just plug the male end in and it holds it in place niceley. I wish i still had the litle one build to take pcitures for an example.

passenger1147 · **Joined:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 2:15 pm **Posts:** 5

Mogami 2524 vs Gepco XB20UB cable??

Mogami is about 39pF/ft and $0.73 @ Redco
Gepco is about 22pF/ft and $0.64

Is the Gepco cable better?? or is there other numbers I should look at when comparing?

CheerS!

kudos on the awesome thread.

Rookie · **Joined:** Sat Oct 30, 2010 9:08 pm **Posts:** 109

Good find, Socrates! The plugs in the original post looks a bit bulky for a pedalboard. These are at a good price too.

Muzzlebreak · **Joined:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:50 pm **Posts:** 5

SocratesCaster wrote:

I use these: http://www.speakerrepair.com/mm5/mercha ... uarterinch

They have lugs for both the lead and the ground.

FWIW, I have learned that there is signal loss every time a signal goes through a connector. Even on a pedal board, I'd use the very best cable and connectors I could get. Signal loss = loss of tone/sound quality. You could easily get just as much signal degradation through a crowded pedal board as you could through a really long cable. I'll stick with the Amphenol (or the other brand whose name escapes me at the moment) connectors.

Stephen · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:41 pm

After the signal has passed thru hundreds (if not more) solder joints, circuit traces and component leads I don't see a few well soldered patch cable connectors making a significant difference.

rchibnik · **Joined:** Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:08 pm **Posts:** 14

Great tutorial. Thanks for taking the time to post it. When using the Jack's with silent switch do you need to use two silent switch or just on the instrument end?

Update:
So I got off my lazy keyboard and went to the Neutrik site. Apparently you can ONLY use the switch on the instrument side; Damage may occur if connected to amplifier (assuming they mean damage to the cable / jack.)

Thanks

the_pol3cat · **Joined:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:45 pm **Posts:** 6

Anyone on here try monoprice.com?
http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... 1&format=2
The reviews are good. I have used the website before for USB/HDMI stuff but never anything music related.

ned crismus · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:14 pm

I worked at music store for a LONG time... and have tried just about everything out there except the vandenhul and things like that. And there are a lot of good cables out there. Honestly, for a cheap cable, the planet waves high end stuff is well balanced and articulate without breaking the bank. In my opinion, for what it's worth,
you reach a point of diminishing returns. I have yet to find anything better in 20 years than the regular thin George L's cable with SOLDERED G&H connectors. ( I have several made with Neutrik as well ) This goes for my long cables as well as my patches. Solder carefully, Use a few inches of heat-shrink, and ( at least for me ) these have been the longest lasting, lowest noise, best sounding cables that I have ever used.
I tried the solderless ends, not crazy about them.

daveSwenson · **Posted:** Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:13 am

Guitar Center is blowing out Planet Waves Cable. It's got to be a mistake. Move fast before they catch it.
Go to the Clearance Tab

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Planet-Wave ... e=4TEM8XOC

the_pol3cat · **Joined:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:45 pm **Posts:** 6

I just ordered 5 boxes. It checked out to 10 bucks with shipping. I had it sent to my local GC so if there is anything funny I can cancel it easy. What will I do with 5 boxes? Who knows? :twisted:

Comfort Player · **Posted:** Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:14 pm

Yep I just got 5 boxes for 10.35. Have no idea what I'm going to do with 1000' of cable but I think I am set for life...

defaced · **Posted:** Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:43 pm

Yea, I think you'll be covered. I just picked up a couple of boxes. Now we need a deal like that for plugs.

defaced · **Posted:** Tue Sep 06, 2011 1:31 pm

I clicked the wrong clearance button at first too. Look right above the picture, there's a button that says "buy new" and another next to it that says "clearance". Click that clearance button.

KBC · **Posted:** Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:23 pm

Sweet I got in on this too. I also ordered 4 of them. For $10 it's worth the gamble.

Comfort Player · **Posted:** Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:03 pm

TNblueshawk wrote:

Would you recommend this for patch cables too?

I have never tried it but for .99 for 250' why not ?

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How To: Build your own cables!

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