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Cables

#22
Dominic D said:
Sorry, I've never heard of that. Is this what you mean?
Click to expand...

LOL
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
That video is completely a way NOT to treat your cables.

Mea culpa; I had better stop referring to the fold that way. YouTube has no record of what I do.

Which is actually quite simple.

1) Hold the two ends together in one hand.

2) With the cord lying straight out on the ground, pick up the half way point where the two sections turn the 180, and fold that 180 turn into your hand, just short of the two ends.

There should now be four sections stretching straight out on the ground in front of you, with two 180 degree turns at the end.

3) Repeat the folding process until the folded lengths are a convenient length to tie a loose over hand knot; or until they are a convenient length to put a velcro wrap around them.

Yes, I am aware of the alternating twist wrap that the rocket scientists at GC teach. In fact, that is what our band insists on for all the PA gear. So, I do that for the band cables. I personally find that method to be not nearly as good as what I've been using all these years. So, I use what I described above for my cables. Like I said, i detest twists. Each to their own.
 
#24
I like the look of the braided cables, but prefer the flexible rubber coating simply because I use Velcro cable keepers and they are a mild annoyance when they stick too well to the braided cables. As far as tangling underfoot goes, I use wireless so I've only got a cable running from my pedal board to the amp, both of which are stationary as I move about, so no real issue should I happen to step on the cable. Quite a few good wireless systems out there for about $100-$150 if you're not doing huge venues. I use a Nady UHF-4 and have had no issues in the year I've had it.
 
#25
Plectrum72 said:
I like the look of the braided cables, but prefer the flexible rubber coating simply because I use Velcro cable keepers and they are a mild annoyance when they stick too well to the braided cables. As far as tangling underfoot goes, I use wireless so I've only got a cable running from my pedal board to the amp, both of which are stationary as I move about, so no real issue should I happen to step on the cable. Quite a few good wireless systems out there for about $100-$150 if you're not doing huge venues. I use a Nady UHF-4 and have had no issues in the year I've had it.
Click to expand...
10 points for thinking out of the box. Q: Whats the best cable? Ans: NO cable

I dislike cables as well. But, I still use them. I would say Get offa my lawn; but, I do use IEM's now...
 
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#26
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#28
bucephylus said:
This is one of my pet peeves.

Why can't the commercial cable makers just make a solid simple cable, for goodness sake?

Early on, they were all coiled.

Now, they all have this nylon braiding on the outside.

I don't know which is worse, the coils or the nylon braiding. Who comes up with this stuff? For cryin out loud, just make a plain old cable with solid connectors. The nylon braiding makes the cables so stiff that they can't unravel the twists that build up in them. Talk about making something that ain't broke broken. Newsflash: NOT an improvement.

May have to go back to making my own cables again. Sigh. The more things change, the more they remain the same.
Click to expand...
bucephylus said:
I didn't think I was using a budget cable. Here is what Ive been using. Everyone else seems to like them.
Amazon.com: GLS Audio 20 Foot Guitar Instrument Cable - Right Angle 1/4-Inch TS to Straight 1/4-Inch TS 20 FT Black Gray Tweed Cloth Jacket - 20 Feet Pro Cord 20' Phono 6.3mm - SINGLE: Musical Instruments
Click to expand...



Braided cable stiff?

I have an 18 foot Spectraflex braided cable that is super flexible and very high quality. Not sure what your looking at unless it's cheap junk.
 
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#29
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#35
bucephylus said:
LOL
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
That video is completely a way NOT to treat your cables.

Mea culpa; I had better stop referring to the fold that way. YouTube has no record of what I do.

Which is actually quite simple.

1) Hold the two ends together in one hand.

2) With the cord lying straight out on the ground, pick up the half way point where the two sections turn the 180, and fold that 180 turn into your hand, just short of the two ends.

There should now be four sections stretching straight out on the ground in front of you, with two 180 degree turns at the end.

3) Repeat the folding process until the folded lengths are a convenient length to tie a loose over hand knot; or until they are a convenient length to put a velcro wrap around them.

Yes, I am aware of the alternating twist wrap that the rocket scientists at GC teach. In fact, that is what our band insists on for all the PA gear. So, I do that for the band cables. I personally find that method to be not nearly as good as what I've been using all these years. So, I use what I described above for my cables. Like I said, i detest twists. Each to their own.
Click to expand...

I used to wrap my cables that way when I was younger. You're not going to find videos of that technique because it's not advisable. Every single one of my cables had twists from being wrapped that way. The over/under technique is really the best way to prevent twists.

 
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#36
bucephylus said:
I used to just build my own using Belden cable and Switchcraft connectors. Maybe, I just need to go back to that route.
Click to expand...

I still do except now I use Mogami cable instead of Belkin. I don't understand why anybody would want to buy instrument or speaker cable once they learn how easy it is to do it yourself and get the exact lengths and configuration you want. And if you know how to make them you also know how to repair them.
 
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#39
Dominic D said:
I used to wrap my cables that way when I was younger. You're not going to find videos of that technique because it's not advisable. Every single one of my cables had twists from being wrapped that way. The over/under technique is really the best way to prevent twists.

Click to expand...

Ok. Thanks. I've been doing it that way for 27 years, and none of my cables are twisted. But, I will take your point under advisement.

Also, just as an aside; I do use the alternating coil method at every gig with all the PA cabling. The problem I have with it is not that it twists the cable, but that the longer cables don't tend to "throw out" without getting into snarls. One reason I prefer folding is that I can unfold them without having any tangles. As I said, each to their own. This isn't related to the issues I was having with the braided cables I had purchased. The issue I've been having occurs after the cable is laid out flat, and while I am playing. It is not the result of previous twists.
 
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