Patch Cables

[petejt]

I've been having major dramas for a bit with my setup, and I've narrowed it down to my solderless patch cables.

I used to use Planet Waves patch cables for when I just had a couple of pedals and they worked great, but their connectors are too bulky for a tight pedal board. I tried some multi-coloured el cheapo patch cables but they were crap. I ended up getting a Lava Cable mini DIY patch cable kit with a heap of connectors.

I reckon for a rackmounted pedal drawer, these things are fantastic. You can make the cables to whatever length you want, and as long as the pedals STAY AS THEY ARE, then they are fine.

But these cables don't like to move around....and I tend to move my pedals around heaps when I'm playing at home.
I constantly change the order of my pedals and whether they are in front of one amp or another, to work out the best sound. The thing is though no matter how good you make the cable in the first place, they won't hold together afterwards if you keep moving them around like I do. They become lose and they end up degrading my signal- my tone has definitely become lost because one minute my amp was screaming, the next minute after jiggling a cable it's like I turned the gain down to 1. Pathetic.


I have read a comment elsewhere to use a bit of LokTite when putting a cable together. I can't go get some now as the hardware store is closed (sorry I'm a bit pissed off right now ), but later on I'll try it and hopefully it will improve things.


It's just that as I'm sure a few of you know- the more gear you muck around with, the more that things can go wrong. I can't afford to get a different patch cable kit right now, and don't want to be stuck just playing into my amp either. I don't have pedals to just sit there..

What do the rest of you folks use for RELIABLE D.I.Y. patch cables? Particularly for pedal boards where you change the effects pedals around a lot?

 

[SouthernShred]

I've been down the solderless path a few times and finally just chucked them...I care more about reliability...so I bought a bunch of Mogami and Canare cable over the years, Switchcraft or GLS pancake connectors from SpeakerRepair.com and just made my own with my handy dandy soldering iron. Takes a bit more time, but I've never had one of my patch cables fail (knock on wood). I understand easily making custom length cables is a big deal in your situation, but if you want reliable cables, break out the soldering iron.

 

[petejt]

I've been down the solderless path a few times and finally just chucked them...I care more about reliability...so I bought a bunch of Mogami and Canare cable over the years, Switchcraft or GLS pancake connectors from SpeakerRepair.com and just made my own with my handy dandy soldering iron. Takes a bit more time, but I've never had one of my patch cables fail (knock on wood). I understand easily making custom length cables is a big deal in your situation, but if you want reliable cables, break out the soldering iron.

Can I use the same patch cables and just solder the connections together? I don't want to have to buy more parts (apart from solder).
I unhooked all of my patch cables in an ultimatum and brought them all upstairs, so I can fix them before going back to playing my guitar.

I was thinking of buying Mogami in the first place, but the Lava Cable solderless kit seemed cheaper.

 

[SouthernShred]

I haven't dealt with the Lava solderless connectors so I don't know if you can solder to the connector or not.

 

[petejt]

I haven't dealt with the Lava solderless connectors so I don't know if you can solder to the connector or not.

I was going to suggest that I'd check at TGP, but instead I might just ask at the guitar shop. But who knows they'll probably just try to sell me George L's instead.

 

[Ventura]

Evidence monorail with George L's is the easiest solution.

FWIW, I've got about 30ft of Lavacable and their solderless ends in my set up. I've made a few connections, and they've served me well - pretty solid - they've definitely been yanked and prodded without issue. But not nearly as "SOLID" as monorail with Ls.

Hope this helps. I also have to give mega props to the Lavacable scene - they make awesome products.

Mo

 

[Anonymous]

canare cable

switchcraft flat or neutrik big ends

add solder and iron.

season to taste.

 

[rockify]

Depends on a couple factors..

- size of the connector
- soldered vs unsoldered
- ease of setup
- reliability
- tone

Personally I've tried GL's, canare, monorail, lava mini elc.

Tone wise my preference was with the mini elc & monorail, with the monorail having a slight emphasis on lower mids/growl compared to the mini elc.

I found the connectors a little easier with the solderless GL's.
I like the footprint of the lava solderless connectors and allow for closer pedal placement. In the next 4 weeks they will be offering soldered kits which if your plugging and unplugging will hold up better I'd assume. Looking forward to trying it out.

I will say I absolutely hated the lava solderless kit at the start till I found my groove..lol

 

[petejt]

I'm not spending more money on my gear. I've had a gutfull of it. I cannot afford it, and it's getting ridiculous. I just want to be able to play my guitar and enjoy using my effects as well. I'm sick of accumulating stuff that just breaks or doesn't work as they're meant to.
I feel like throwing the lot out the window....

So does anyone know if the 'solderless' Lava Cable kits can be made better by soldering the connections?


I didn't get a chance to visit the guitar shop today, so that will have to wait until next week.

 

[university81]

until my pedalboard is fairly set/stable i stick to standard run of the mill patch cables,

might look a bit messier but i've found the same thing when changing things around/pedals and what not, with solderless cables, you're either recutting cables to be the right length, rechecking connections, only to restart the whole procedure when changing a bunch of pedals around

i have one board that is completely set and the George Ls are great on it, but for the board at home where i constantly change stuff out, i'm using plain old patch cables, to be fair in your situation i'd say to use them too and avoid potential headaches

 

[Ventura]

I'm not spending more money on my gear. I've had a gutfull of it. I cannot afford it, and it's getting ridiculous. I just want to be able to play my guitar and enjoy using my effects as well. I'm sick of accumulating stuff that just breaks or doesn't work as they're meant to.
I feel like throwing the lot out the window....

So does anyone know if the 'solderless' Lava Cable kits can be made better by soldering the connections?


I didn't get a chance to visit the guitar shop today, so that will have to wait until next week.

Talk to Mark Stoddard about this - if there's anyone who knows, it's the owner of the company:
mark@lavacable.com

Peace,
Mo

 

[Anonymous]

I'm not spending more money on my gear. I've had a gutfull of it. I cannot afford it, and it's getting ridiculous. I just want to be able to play my guitar and enjoy using my effects as well. I'm sick of accumulating stuff that just breaks or doesn't work as they're meant to.
I feel like throwing the lot out the window....

So does anyone know if the 'solderless' Lava Cable kits can be made better by soldering the connections?


I didn't get a chance to visit the guitar shop today, so that will have to wait until next week.

i cant blame you there.

i soldered george L's before with success.

i think george L's cables are shit though. weak. thin insulation, noisy....etc, but that's just my opinion.

i've had great success taking a 20' canare cable piece (and before that, a spectraflex) for 20$ or less and buying all assortments of 1/4" ends on ebay, or even direct from suppliers for another 20$....and making whatever i need with a soldering iron.

i never did like spending money on the snake oil aspect of cables...and early on, i guess it was the one good thing i figured i could do for myself without even paying attention to any of the "monster cable" hype type marketing.

last cable i bought retail was a proco excalibur..and it was touted as being a great cable, but was total shit. i took it back, started talking tech with the guitar tech guy in the store, and he showed me how to do things. that was damn near 20 years ago. i know you don't give a fuck probably, and probably worse, this is much more info than you needed... but, for 40$, really, you can solve a lot of your own headaches.

 

[Anonymous]

Can I ask for some clarification ?
I'm about to re-do my board with the GigRig QuarterMaster 6 to make live switching easier ( I'm also the vocalist ) and I want to use solder-less cable because, firstly I'm crap at soldering and secondly, I'll be able to get the lengths exact.
Which of the 3 that have been mentioned would you say has the best tone ?
George L
Planet Waves
Bullet Cable ????

I've been happy using the same pedal arrangement for 5 years so my only concern is ease of assembly and tone.

Thank you