Keeping your instrument cables untwisted?

[Damani311]

Mine seems to do this automatically.....I know I should go wireless but I don't have the $300 right now.



But this is killing me, it's a 30 ft cable and I effectively get about 6 feet out of it........what to do?

[meev992]

Originally Posted by Damani311

Mine seems to do this automatically.....I know I should go wireless but I don't have the $300 right now.



But this is killing me, it's a 30 ft cable and I effectively get about 6 feet out of it........what to do?

I have a 25 foot cable from instrument to first stomp-box, and a 50ft/25 ft cable from my DI, depending on which one I'm in the mood for.

I'm a naturally tidy person, and I'm just very mindful about how i'm moving with my cable attached, and how I wrap it up.

[Meyatch]

Its the way you wrap it. My band uses cables of all sizes including some 100' long, and none of them look like that. Its really hard to describe the proper way to wrap a cable, but you hold the end in one hand, and then wrap it in a coil with your other hand, don't do the wrap around your hand and elbow. Thats a horrible description, its actually really easy to do, maybe you can find someone to show you how to roll a cable properly.

[meev992]

Originally Posted by Meyatch

don't do the wrap around your hand and elbow.

whoever came up with that, ugh, makes me cringe

[Valerus]

Originally Posted by meev992

whoever came up with that, ugh, makes me cringe

I try not to watch them do it either.

[JansenW]

Here's a youtube demonstration of the over-under wrapping technique.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JUz266TU9JE

I've noticed that my bass cable gets twisted because I tend to always turn the same way wearing my bass while plugged-in. Backing out of my turns will reduce cable twisting.

[Matthew Bryson]

Originally Posted by Damani311

Mine seems to do this automatically....

Stop spinning in circles while you play!

Really, I'm not trying to be a S.A. - I used to get the same thing when I'd practice at home alone while standing up, eventually I realised that I was spinning in circles. Not like I was costantly spinning or anything, or doing some wierd dance or something, just kind of like I was only making left turns for a couple of hours.

[Valerus]

Originally Posted by JansenW

Here's a youtube demonstration of the over-under wrapping technique.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JUz266TU9JE

I've noticed that my bass cable gets twisted because I tend to always turn the same way wearing my bass while plugged-in. Backing out of my turns will reduce cable twisting.

That's a great vid, thanks

[ihateusernames]

Originally Posted by JansenW

Here's a youtube demonstration of the over-under wrapping technique.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JUz266TU9JE

I've noticed that my bass cable gets twisted because I tend to always turn the same way wearing my bass while plugged-in. Backing out of my turns will reduce cable twisting.

BINGO!!! struggled with tangles for years until someone pointed this out to me. now i dance in circles all night long, clockwise, counter-clockwise, repeat as necessary. i stare at me feet more than i did as a beginner with no confidence!

[Pilgrim]

That video is correct...and well done. I've used that wrap for almost 40 years...you can use it on any length of cable - the same concept works on garden hoses, too.

I teach it a bit differently, because the finger roll can be hard to catch - but once you get it, rolling the cable in your fingers is exactly what you do.

IMO, no one who purports to be a professional should handle cables in a sloppy manner or leave them tangled. Taking care of cables is a dierct reflection of how well someone cares for their equipment in general. And after all, your sound is going through those - you ought to be as careful with them as with your other equipment. And velcro cable wraps are your friend - get good ones and use them on everything!!!

If I take out a cable and unstring it, and there's even ONE knot in it, I feel a bit shamed. It shouldn't happen.

[Infernal Affair]

This video has helped me out more times than I can count since I first saw it posted awhile back.

[ihateusernames]

that over under winding is awkward, i just packed up my practice space and gave up on it after a couple of attempts.

[hbarcat]

Originally Posted by ihateusernames

that over under winding is awkward, i just packed up my practice space and gave up on it after a couple of attempts.

Good for you. Anything that you can't master within 60 seconds is a waste of time. Besides, it's not that much of a hassle untangling improperly wound cables like this before every show:

[theshadow2001]

Personally I just go over over. I don't get knots or weird kinks in my cables. My cables are always wrapped fine and they unwrap just fine as well.

I think the most important thing when winding cable correctly is rolling it in your finger tips so that when you go to make the loop that it naturally wants to make the loop. If it twists up or rolls funny when you go to make the loop just stretch that part back out roll it again in your finger tips until you bring it to a point when you go to form the loop the cable naturally does it.

You eventually become quite quick at this with practice. It's worth doing and avoids situations like the first post.

To undo something like that. I would get the cable and untwist it. I'd hold one end then clutch the cable between my fingers and run my hand down it. The cable will start unwinding itself in circles. If it's badly kinked apparently if you get it on a stairs or a long hall and and shake one end back and forth left and right so the cable has little waves going down through it. This along with proper winding will eventually get rid of kinks and the cable will start to form loops more naturally.

As you may have guessed I've wrapped loads of cable in my time.

[billyfalconer]

Originally Posted by Meyatch

don't do the wrap around your hand and elbow.

What's so bad about it?

[theshadow2001]

Your putting a more extreme and unnatural curve on the cable. More pressure on the connectors and curves than is necessary and will basically end up shortening the life of the cable.

[Phalex]

I don't do a coil when I wrap cables. I fold the cable in half, then in half again, etc, until it's about 3 feet long. Then I just tie it in a knot. They don't kink or twist at all.

[projectMalamute]

Originally Posted by Phalex

I don't do a coil when I wrap cables. I fold the cable in half, then in half again, etc, until it's about 3 feet long. Then I just tie it in a knot. They don't kink or twist at all.

That's what I do, anybody who tells you this is going to damage the cable needs to be buying better cables. This is also great for keeping a box full of cables from becoming entangled with each other.

[theshadow2001]

Originally Posted by Phalex

I don't do a coil when I wrap cables. I fold the cable in half, then in half again, etc, until it's about 3 feet long. Then I just tie it in a knot. They don't kink or twist at all.

Tying it in a not is a bad idea. Again your bending the cable in an extreme way. Which can cause work hardening and breakages. Using those little velcro straps or as I used to do just a little strip of insulating tape to keep them together.

[Phalex]

Just a simple overhand knot, and you don't pull it tight. Nice gentle loop. Works great. I have never had a problem with a cable that wasn't right at the plug end of things and I've been doing it this way for 20 years. My methods are proven.