Cloth Instrument Cable Question

[cnltb]

Have a look at vovox cables, their outer 'skin' is a little cloth-like and they really last.
Very good indeed.
I have used them for many years and never had a single one break on me.

 

[JakobT]

I use Fender Custom Shop cables, and I like'em. They coil and uncoil neater, don't pick up as much dirt from the floor, don't tangle easily, and lie dead flat if you uncoil them right. Also, since hardly anyone else uses them I always know which one's mine

 

[dincz]

The main advantage of cloth covered cables has not yet been mentioned. They don't melt in the event of the inevitable accident while ironing and simultaneously playing bass.

 

[Joe Nerve]

This is what my (expensive) cloth table looks like after 5 minutes of moving around on stage:

Really need to replace my old monster cable, as I've been using a cloth cable and hate it.

 

[Quilbert]

I have a few brightly colored cloth instrument cables, I bought them as the black plastic ones kept 'wandering' into guitarists gear boxes (because there's always a guitarist with a dodgy lead and no spare).

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

Four cloth "lifetime" cables three years old, many gigs and practices (used by guitarists), number still in working condition zero. One of the "old school" items best left to memories along with coiled cords.

Them's fightin' words!

 

[bass_case]

All wiring in everything used to be cloth insulated until plastics technology became cheap enough.

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

I bought one of Monoprice's cheap cloth covered cables about a year ago and it's ok. I didn't like it at first because it seemed to have a pretty strong "memory" of the way it was coiled, but the again, I've got 20+ year old plastic covered cables that still do that...

 

[BurningSkies]

This is what my (expensive) cloth table looks like after 5 minutes of moving around on stage:

Really need to replace my old monster cable, as I've been using a cloth cable and hate it.

Yes. Unwieldy on stage combined with the lack of ability to snip the ends and resolder new connectors when it goes. The best of both worlds.

 

[Steve88]

This is what my (expensive) cloth table looks like after 5 minutes of moving around on stage:

Really need to replace my old monster cable, as I've been using a cloth cable and hate it.

That's interesting. I've had the exact opposite experience with cloth vs. plastic/rubber coating. My cloth cables uncoil nicely, lie flat, and hardly tangle at all. My rubber/plastic one looks like your picture if I even breathe on it, let alone try to use it. Strange.

 

[cnltb]

I've been looking at cables and I see there are essentially two kinds: Tweed or cloth and PVC or "regular" cables. The cloth cables seem like a good way to soak up all kinds of strange fluids so my question is what's the advantage? Flexibility or is there something else I don't know?

I doubt that the outer cover of a cable is able to tell one much about teh actual cable...if anything at all.

 

[beans-on-toast]

There are different makes of cloth (or nylon covered) instrument cables. They perform differently.

From what I've seen, the cloth is an outer sheath over traditional rubber. It is there for looks. Fender makes a nice one.

 

[oink]

I use Fender Custom Shop cables, and I like'em. They coil and uncoil neater, don't pick up as much dirt from the floor, don't tangle easily, and lie dead flat if you uncoil them right. Also, since hardly anyone else uses them I always know which one's mine

Yup, I gots them, and I likes them! They remind me of the cable on my mama's iron.
The only problem is that I've had 2 so far whose connections have gone wonky, so I've covered the sleeves at the end with layers of cellotape to make it super-rigid. Sorted!

 

[JakobT]

Yup, I gots them, and I likes them! They remind me of the cable on my mama's iron.
The only problem is that I've had 2 so far whose connections have gone wonky, so I've covered the sleeves at the end with layers of cellotape to make it super-rigid. Sorted!

I'll see how they hold up over time, but being a bit of a neat freak, my gear isn't really subjected to all that much abuse. Also they're cheap enough that I can just buy a new one if the old one breaks.

 

[Liam Wald]

Other than a fashion statement there is no practical purpose for covering cables with fabric that I know of.

 

[bebass]

Good grief, I first read the name of the cable as "Sphincter-flex". Clearly I need new glasses!

Those are the cables with the x-tra 110VAC socket plug

 

[bholder]

I've been looking at cables and I see there are essentially two kinds: Tweed or cloth and PVC or "regular" cables. The cloth cables seem like a good way to soak up all kinds of strange fluids so my question is what's the advantage? Flexibility or is there something else I don't know?

It might be a good thing if you're into soaking up strange fluids? I like the look, but it's likely functionally useless any more, unless perhaps you do a lot of heavy gigging - maybe the cloth adds some abrasion resistance in some cases, but taking care of one's gear is a better solution, no?

 

[bholder]

Them's fightin' words!

A really good coiled cord is a cool thing. Unfortunately, it used to be virtually impossible to find a coiled cord that wasn't functionally deficient compared to uncoiled - they always seemed to have the worst wire and lousiest end. Is someone making good ones now?

 

[Kmonk]

I really don't have a problem with kinks in my cables.

I don't use cloth cables either and never have a problem.

 

[ExaltBass]

Here's one of the cloth covered cables I've made. The cable does not have nearly as good of a shield as Canare or Mogami, but it does look cool I find that shorter lengths (8-15ft) hold up quite well, if cared for properly. I've got about 2 years of gigging use on these and they are still clean and excellent sounding. I also still have about 150 ft of bulk, so if anyone is interested in trying one out