Help: DIY patch cables causing severe volume loss

[fenderx55]

Hey everyone,

I got myself some Switchcraft 228 ends and canare cable to make some pedal interconnects. After realizing that I didn't match up the cable to the end and going back to get larger diameter cable, I got a-solderin'.

As I finished each cable I hit them with a voltmeter to check continuity and went about my business. Once I had everything set up I went to make sure they all actually worked, and all I got was a very weak signal. I was able to tune (my Pitchblack is at the end of my signal chain), but otherwise it was a really quiet signal. I checked each cable by itself (passive j-->bayou-bought cable-->Tuner-->failed patch cable-->fender practice amp) and then against my bass straight into the amp, and they were pretty uniformly weak.

What could be causing this? I reopened one, sadly I can't take a good picture with my iPhone, but a few connections look like I could use some more solder on these tip connections, but if that's the case, how am I getting any signal at all? I'm a little flummoxed. Any cable gurus out there that can offer some help?

Thanks guys

[Bubba Ghanoosh]

First make sure your signal is isolated from ground. How did you check continuity? You should read 0 ohms tip-to-tip (signal continuity) and 0 ohms shell-to-shell (Ground continuity). But you should have an open ("OL") between the tip and the shell, otherwise your signal is going to ground.

[fenderx55]

Thanks bubba, I'll check that tonight. I remember reading that a layer of shielding on the canare g6 cable is conductive, so I have a feeling I didn't strip the wire right and somehong is touching ground. To the googles!

[fenderx55]

Just found this on the canare website:

Canare GS-4 and GS-6 utilize a specially designed
Conductive Carbon Plastic Shield to protect against
undesirable microphonic handling noise. This inner
sleeve can cause a short circuit if allowed to come in
contact with the OFC center conductor. Please be very
careful when stripping cable and remove this material
from exposed insulation before soldering.

I have a feeling that I screwed the pooch and didn't strip the wire enough... Looks like I have some more work to do.

[Mr. Pickle]

All my patch cables are homemade. I had this happen when I was making mine, and I narrowed it down to one cable (out of 30 some). I basically took the cable apart and re-soldered it. Then it worked. :\

[fenderx55]

Okay, so my far more capable brother re-soldered and checked all the connections last night, same weird volume drop. He also spent the whole time chastising me for using flux because he's "never ******' seen anyone use that on a cable before. What's the ******' point?"

What I was thinking this morning on the way to work, contemplating just giving up on these ends and getting some neutrik ones or something else, is that some of the flux somehow leaked out onto the barrel and caused them to look corroded, but it wipes away. Could that be causing my problems? My brother's home from college for the summer and I'm stuck at work so I'm thinking I'm gonna wake his butt up to try this, and if it doesn't work, I'm swinging by the times sq Sam Ash for some new ends that fit the GS-4 cable I bought originally. Have a gig on saturday and some recording stuff next week so I'm gonna have to find a quick and dirty solution for tonight using half my pedals and some store-bought cables, and figure it out tomorrow.

Thanks for your help guys.

[dantheman6690]

I think this is whats going on with one of my george L's right now although there's no soldering involved. I'll have to check them and narrow it down to one.

[niftydog]

Get yourself a cheap multimeter and check each one for good continuity tip to tip and from sleeve to sleeve - the resistance should be at most about 1 or 2 ohms, more likely it will be unmeasurable. Also check for shorts from tip to sleeve.

If all that checks out, then you've likely got ill-fitting and/or dirty connectors.