Any ideas on how to mark cables?

[slap-a-da-bass]

Hey all,

I'm looking for a way to mark my cables, for the purpose of identifying ownership, as well as organization. I want something that looks neat and clean, but is resistant to handling and gig elements (read beer, & mixers). My first run at this was duct tape and a marker, I found after winding up cables the tape was cracking and looked like crap, and the marker wears off from the cracking & spilled beverages.

Beyond the gig cables, I also want to mark cables for my studio.

Any ideas, or what have you used?

 

[barrybass33]

Try red nailpolish...

 

[countrybass007]

I use colored electricians tape, or colored tie wraps, available at any electrical supply store. Two yellow ties on the end of a cable mark it as my cable and it lasts forever. I vary the colors for speaker cables, insrument cables, etc.

 

[sleepy_monkey]

Electrical Tape is the best way I have found. Tape doesn't crack and there are TONS of different colors.

 

[ggunn]

I bought a can of car touchup paint and spray painted the connector shells on my cables a distinctive color. If you play around Austin please don't use metal flake purple.

 

[praisebass]

I am trying some new stuff with label maker - will post pics soon - I have used colored tape in the past, also cable ties and so on - I want to get my name and phone number on stuff however - looking for some flexible transparent shrink-wrap at the moment.

 

[pasta4lnch]

+1 on electrical tape. . . though I do hate using tape. sometimes when the tape comes off the gew is left.

for my studio I just write w/ a marker on the metal sleeve. for gigs I keep velcro wraps around my cables and no one else in my band uses them so it's easy to tell which are mine . . .

 

[Ric5]

I use colored electricians tape,

+1

 

[snyderz]

Velcro cable wraps at any music supply. Come in all colors. I use yellow on all my cables. Keeps the cable neat when coiled, and distinguishes my stuff from the other band members.

 

[ggunn]

Velcro cable wraps at any music supply. Come in all colors. I use yellow on all my cables. Keeps the cable neat when coiled, and distinguishes my stuff from the other band members.

Home Depot sells colored Velcro cable ties, and since it's not a "music" item there, they are really cheap.

 

[Jim Campbell]

Hey all,

I'm looking for a way to mark my cables, for the purpose of identifying ownership, as well as organization. I want something that looks neat and clean, but is resistant to handling and gig elements (read beer, & mixers). My first run at this was duct tape and a marker, I found after winding up cables the tape was cracking and looked like crap, and the marker wears off from the cracking & spilled beverages.

Beyond the gig cables, I also want to mark cables for my studio.

Any ideas, or what have you used?

i've used spray paint on the last foot of cable then masked off part of that area and sprayed a different color coil.....it's very unlikely that you'll run into a similar 2 color scheme.....take a pic of all the cables and stash a copy in your case with a piece count written on the back ....comes in handy if someone tries to claim your stuff... get in the habit of doing a quick count after each tear down

 

[slap-a-da-bass]

I like the idea of the colored zip ties.

For those of you that use electrical tape, if you use a sharpie on it, does it wipe off?

I'm also thinking of a printed label, but getting the shrink tube over the ends would be a problem. At work, I've seen a Brother label printer used on cables & machines, seems to hold up well to cleaners we use. I might take a run to Staples and look at one of them.

Thanks

 

[Jim Campbell]

I like the idea of the colored zip ties.

For those of you that use electrical tape, if you use a sharpie on it, does it wipe off?

I'm also thinking of a printed label, but getting the shrink tube over the ends would be a problem. At work, I've seen a Brother label printer used on cables & machines, seems to hold up well to cleaners we use. I might take a run to Staples and look at one of them.

Thanks

yes.....gaff tape not so much,cloth tape lasts longer,and you can always touch up..... piece of cloth tape folded over to form a tab can be number/word coded to make setup foolproof....i have all my patch/speaker stuff set up that way

 

[elgecko]

These last a long time outdoors...I'm sure they'd be great indoors. Plus, the goop/delamination factor is very low.

Link Removed

 

[duderasta]

A little colored heat-shrink an a sharpie I get larger heat shrink and attach it to the "barrel" of the plug

 

[ExaltBass]

This is a color code that I band I played in throughout the 70s came up with. We had a basic code to ID that it was our Mic cord, or Speaker, etc. and a length code using 3M Colored Electrical Tape.

We had 19 mics at the time and half of our mic cables we made to 33 ft., which seemed just about right for the far side of the stage runs to the side snake, and 25 footers for the near side. This way we could look in the cable trunk and know what you were getting. I've used that system since then and made this chart up for the lid of the trunk for those not familiar with the scheme. I occasionally have to replace the tape, but usually only after may years.

BTW, I put the coding on the M XLR end of the cable.

 

[251]

I use colored electricians tape, or colored tie wraps, available at any electrical supply store. Two yellow ties on the end of a cable mark it as my cable and it lasts forever. I vary the colors for speaker cables, insrument cables, etc.

+1. Light color + my Initials with a Sharpie

 

[Bassman203]

I use electrical tape, and sometimes write my last name on the tape

 

[BurningSkies]

The patch cords I use in the studio I've made all one color (orange) then I've used white electrical tape and numbered each end with sharpie. It's worked fine and you can read each end to tell where it's coming and going.

Live, I have colored mic cables. That way I know red=vocal, etc. It really helps on a crowded stage with a small (8 channel PA).

I also make my own cords (and ones for the band) and use colored shrink wrap to help differentiate black cable for each member.

 

[duff beer]

I get larger heat shrink and attach it to the "barrel" of the plug

That's a great idea...it also reduces the incidents of road wear on your guitar or bass.