pedalboard cable recommendation

  • Thread starter Thread starter Erock
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The solution is a proper balance of buffers and true bypass pedals. If all of the pedals are true bypass, the cable capacitance will add up to high frequency loss. If you use all buffered bypass pedals, you end up with a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy of a... well, a lifeless signal without dynamics or clarity. If you use all true bypass, and have one good buffer in the chain, the result can absolutely be better than plugging straight into the amp, even if everything is off.

As far as cables go, I build my own. I've used D'addario American Stage cable, and Redco cable with success. Both have low capacitance on par with Mogami. I just use cheap pancake connectors though. I don't move the cables once they are hooked up, so I don't care about durability.
 
If you have a lot of wiring and need bends and small spaces, the Mogami 2319 is a winner.

Couple that with some squareplugs like SP400.

Good luck
This is what I started doing.
 

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3 pedals is about the max I want in a chain at a time anyway. So is the 2524 the cable to get? I've been using lava ultramific, and they are nice, when they are working right.
I've been using the 2524 for years. Never had an issue. Highly recommended.

What pedals are you looking to use ? And how long from guitar to pedal board and how long from pedal board to amp input ?
 
@Erock - was it you that told me to run all power cables away from and opposite of the coax pedal connectors?

If not, no worries.

If yes, can you (or anyone) explain more as to how and why?

I don't see how that is possible with my set up.
 
@Erock - was it you that told me to run all power cables away from and opposite of the coax pedal connectors?

If not, no worries.

If yes, can you (or anyone) explain more as to how and why?

I don't see how that is possible with my set up.
I think there are a lot of differing opinions on this. I think the main issue to worry about is power cables will have a magnetic field around the cable and that can interfere and add noise to your signal if they're along side the patch cables.

One thought is the voltages are so low (9V, maybe 18v) that there is hardly any field that escapes the insulation at all and it makes no difference.
Another thought is it does make a difference and they can hear it, etc...

I use Temple Audio pedalboards which has a million holes in them, so I run power underneath and patch cables on top. It looks better and takes no chances, haha
 
@Erock - was it you that told me to run all power cables away from and opposite of the coax pedal connectors?

If not, no worries.

If yes, can you (or anyone) explain more as to how and why?

I don't see how that is possible with my set up.
I've been making my cables snakes with both Power and Audio cables together for years. Years ago, I used to run a 20ft standard IEC computer cable (similar to a computer power cord) with my amps input and effects loops cables. Audio cables were 18ft. the power cord went to a Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2. Never had an issue with noise.

For the last few years, I've been running similar-type wires, and the power cord now has a y-end on it Like this one, so I can plug my fractal (IEC Female) and a boss adapter into a standard 3-prong outlet. There are no noise issues.

I am using all Mogami 2524 (input and output) and Mogami 2549 For the fractal Effects loop connection and to leverage the Hum-buster feature.

this way everything just runs back to my amp, and the power conditioner beneath it.


Cheers
 
I went from Georg L and Lava to EBS and never looked back. Just like you say, the solderless cables work great until they don't. And then it becomes a troubleshooting game. EBS are great and being ribbons, they work with whatever configuration you have. I have a lot of pedals on my board and with a couple of good buffers in key places, I don't have tone suck and I've A/B'd going direct into amp.
 
I use Mogami and square plugs.... the mogami is about a buck a foot ...

The square plug stuff is expensive as hell ... but worth it IMO
+1 for mogami and SP - i cut to length and solder them myself. Easy and from my experience, WAY more dependable than solderless. I've been stuck on stage a couple of times with a pedalboard torn apart chasing down a bad cable - always seems to be solderless. I hate it because they look so clean on the board. the SP jacks are almost as low profile.

Got mine from Redco, not sure if there's a better source for cable and jacks.
 
+1 for mogami and SP - i cut to length and solder them myself. Easy and from my experience, WAY more dependable than solderless. I've been stuck on stage a couple of times with a pedalboard torn apart chasing down a bad cable - always seems to be solderless. I hate it because they look so clean on the board. the SP jacks are almost as low profile.

Got mine from Redco, not sure if there's a better source for cable and jacks.
The Squareplug straight plugs are friggin awesome .....
 
Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated. I think I'm going to go the Mogami and square plugs, but those EBS are really tempting me.

@Erock - was it you that told me to run all power cables away from and opposite of the coax pedal connectors?

If not, no worries.

If yes, can you (or anyone) explain more as to how and why?

I don't see how that is possible with my set up.
Hey bud, it might have been me. The best way I've found to keep noise down, was running all the audio cables up top, and then all the power under the board. When you do need to cross power and audio, try to cross perpendicular rather then running parallel.
 
I love when they work right, but what a nightmare if you move the board a lot or change up pedals. If they are off even slightly on that core/sleeve connection, it really effects the sound. It would be better if they just worked or didn't. Thanks for the Donner suggestion.

I actually have some of those too and they sound great and have held up fine. They sound exactly like my homemade Mogami's. Only benefit of homemade is custom length, thats it.
Hmm, I might need to buy a set, even to just A/B at that price. Thanks!
 
The solution is a proper balance of buffers and true bypass pedals. If all of the pedals are true bypass, the cable capacitance will add up to high frequency loss. If you use all buffered bypass pedals, you end up with a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy of a... well, a lifeless signal without dynamics or clarity. If you use all true bypass, and have one good buffer in the chain, the result can absolutely be better than plugging straight into the amp, even if everything is off.

As far as cables go, I build my own. I've used D'addario American Stage cable, and Redco cable with success. Both have low capacitance on par with Mogami. I just use cheap pancake connectors though. I don't move the cables once they are hooked up, so I don't care about durability.
I feel ya man. I'm careful of where I use buffered pedals vs TB, and how many I'm using in line. My loop switchers have buffered and un-buffered inputs. I buffer the first input after my tb wah, and use the SUN instead of the switch buffer for the second. I also have a buffer at the end of my chain.
 
@Erock just make sure you pick the right square plugs for the Mogami cable you choose.

With the 2319 and the SP400.

If you go for the Mogami 2524, then you'll need the SP600 to fit the cable through.

Good luck.
 
@Erock just make sure you pick the right square plugs for the Mogami cable you choose.

With the 2319 and the SP400.

If you go for the Mogami 2524, then you'll need the SP600 to fit the cable through.

Good luck.
ooh, thanks for the heads up man! :cheers:
 
I think there are a lot of differing opinions on this. I think the main issue to worry about is power cables will have a magnetic field around the cable and that can interfere and add noise to your signal if they're along side the patch cables.

One thought is the voltages are so low (9V, maybe 18v) that there is hardly any field that escapes the insulation at all and it makes no difference.
Another thought is it does make a difference and they can hear it, etc...

I use Temple Audio pedalboards which has a million holes in them, so I run power underneath and patch cables on top. It looks better and takes no chances, haha

Thanks for that. And thanks @Erock

Someday I upgrade my 9 cable OneSpot adapter and Hosa cable jacks. Fairly quiet rig though I must say. Right now, I have everything routed together behind the cabs. :(

EM0g7NN.jpg
 
Thanks for that. And thanks @Erock

Someday I upgrade my 9 cable OneSpot adapter and Hosa cable jacks. Fairly quiet rig though I must say. Right now, I have everything routed together behind the cabs. :(

EM0g7NN.jpg
you have a lot of nice pedals man, it's completely worth it to get an isolated power supply. It's night and day compared to daisy chaining.
 
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