I'm looking for a good cable layout

[Hoover]

(edit: First of all, I just want to point out that the mods changed the title of my post; it used to be "I'm looking for a good lay" which makes sense because "lay" is in fact the correct technical term to describe a wires' propensity to retain its shape after it's been coiled. I have no idea what "a good cable layout" even means, and it certainly isn't germane to my query. I'm looking for a cable with good lay.)


Lately I've been building extra cables for electric guitar or bass out of whatever bulk cable I have lying around...typically Canare Star-Quad or Mogami, shielded twisted pair that I use for microphone runs or balanced line level interconnects. (When wiring them up to 1/4" TS plugs for guitars I build them w/ a telescoping shield so they aren't balanced.)

The problem with these cables -- or at least the problem that I'd like to address with this thread -- is that these cables don't have a particularly forgiving lay. They don't lie flat on the floor, they tend to maintain their kinks, they basically get all twisted or tangled/looped between the instrument and the amp, and then I trip over them and feel like an idiot.

So, is there any bulk shielded cable (either single conductor or twisted pair) that you've used to make instrument cables that has excellent flexibilty, coils up and back easily, that has a good lay?

The much-maligned (potentially with good reason) Jon Risch recommended Belden 83393 for this application, but that's a rare cable that's only available in huge put-ups, and I'd prefer something I can buy in 50' or 100' lengths to experiment with before I commit.

Thanks.

[Pilgrim]

If you learn how to coil cable properly, it will lay flat. It's all in the technique.

Practice it and your problem will go away.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

If you learn how to coil cable properly, it will lay flat. It's all in the technique.

Practice it and your problem will go away.

Nice try. I've been coiling cables "properly" since 1975. I'm the guy who will get all over your butt if you're on my crew and you're not coiling cables properly. That's my job. Hell, that's probably me in the video you linked.

Canare L-4E6S and Mogami 2549 have adequate lay, but not good enough to be kink-free when used as an instrument patchcord...even when they're coiled "properly". I'm looking for something better. Got any recommendations?

[tplyons]

I find my cables made from Canare GS-6 have a pretty good lay. Not perfectly straight, but they lay flat.

The way cables lay is important to me... the biggest reason I won't use Monster cables.