Would you know where I can get a Canare GS-6 or GS-4 cable in Los Angeles? Can you suggest a durable cable, without the 1/4 jacks, which I can put together?
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Does anyone solder their own instrument cables?
- Thread starter 98mtd
- Start date
Good choice, that G6 looks like pretty stout stuff! I usually order Canare cable from Markertek. Reasonable prices, great service. I like to use Canare L-2T2S mic cable for my guitar cables. My thinking is, if one of the conductors fails, the other one still has continuity and the cable still works. I also like 90-degree plugs on both ends, as they prevent most of the hard bending of the cable just beyond the end of a straight plug, which is where a cable will fail 99% of the time.
Is this your first time making cables?
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45
i make most of my own cables for instrument, patch, and PA. i order the connectors from various sources (often from parts express because i'm close to them). i choose cabling that fits the end use. i'm not always looking for the 'stoutest' cable as sometimes (depending on purpose) i want a thinner or more flexible cable.
I'm surprised anybody with a cheap Radio Shack soldering iron, fifteen free minutes, and enough mechanical dexterity to use a smart phone, doesn't make their own cables.
You'd think. But I used to work for a pro-audio company, where custom-making cables and making repairs to the same are “part and parcel” to the gig. From what I saw, some people just can’t do it. Don’t think the ability to type and scroll with your thumbs has as much to do with it as the ability to do intricate, detailed work with your hands. But I could be wrong about that... 
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45
I repair my own cables ...
that's what a broadcast engineering degree and an old FCC First Class License will get you these days!
My dad and his cousin were ex-NAV petty officer grade electronics techs and radio amateurs with general licenses back in the 60s. They built or "frankensteined" together (thanks to WWII surplus electronic gear) almost all the gear in their shared shack. I grew up surrounded by tubes, wires, and the smell of gently roasting bakelite and solder rosin. I learned how to solder before I learned to ride a bike. They would have disowned me for spending extra money just to get something as simple as a readymade audio cable.
Wish I knew a tenth of what those two knew about tubes and electronics.
I buy instrument cables from GC. the ones they sell (whatever brand it is) with the blue shrink wrap on the ends are lifetime warranty and work just fine. Anytime one goes south on my I just bring it in and they give me a brand new one.
I build my own patch cables. Got one of those little Berenger instrument cable checking boxes and it is really great for making sure you did a good job soldering your cable together. Also is the bomb for holding right angle cable ends in place while you are working on it.
I use mostly Lava Cable. They're local. I use switchcraft 429 pancake or clones of that model. Usually get them from evilbay...
I build my own patch cables. Got one of those little Berenger instrument cable checking boxes and it is really great for making sure you did a good job soldering your cable together. Also is the bomb for holding right angle cable ends in place while you are working on it.
I use mostly Lava Cable. They're local. I use switchcraft 429 pancake or clones of that model. Usually get them from evilbay...
+1 to WayneP 's comment.
Mostly only repair bought cables that crater, learned to solder at 12 years old(thanks Dad), went to night school to learn it correctly from the late WBOK Chief Engineer, Mr. Benjamin(Mr. B) in New Orleans at Delgado, and later the current FOH(Meaux) for Journey & I made our own snake cables/mic cables/etc. for a number of years that he was with us(1970's).
Disclaimer: when you get older and have more money than time left in this world, buying cables and only spending time repairing broken ones becomes more attractive.
Mostly only repair bought cables that crater, learned to solder at 12 years old(thanks Dad), went to night school to learn it correctly from the late WBOK Chief Engineer, Mr. Benjamin(Mr. B) in New Orleans at Delgado, and later the current FOH(Meaux) for Journey & I made our own snake cables/mic cables/etc. for a number of years that he was with us(1970's).
Disclaimer: when you get older and have more money than time left in this world, buying cables and only spending time repairing broken ones becomes more attractive.
If you need just one cable, it's probably cheaper to just buy one from a music store. I make all my cables and I make the majority of the cables for one of my bands. I buy bulk mic and MI cable and connectors from parts express. So, I always have parts around to repair or build whatever kind of cables I need.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
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- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Not in LA,, but very fast to ship: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
They sell Canare, Mogami, Evidence, and their own bulk cable. I went with this: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] . Made the cables up yesterday, quite happy with the results cosmetically, and looking forward to testing them this weekend. Fabricating custom cable sets was part of my day job for many years though, so it's pretty much old hat to me.
You'd think. But I used to work for a pro-audio company, where custom-making cables and making repairs to the same are “part and parcel” to the gig. From what I saw, some people just can’t do it. Don’t think the ability to type and scroll with your thumbs has as much to do with it as the ability to do intricate, detailed work with your hands. But I could be wrong about that...
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45
I'll agree up to a point. But doing up an instrument cable isn't that complicated a task. I'd put it within the scope of 99% plus of the TB membership. If you can change out a set of strings you should be able to build your own cables. It's just not that big a deal.
I've repaired and built cables since I was a kid. Twelve years ago I tried Zaolla cables and never looked back. Found them to be very durable, excellent build quality, and sound better than any cable (boutique or otherwise) that I've tried since and I've tried a lot.
Been using their cables for years without issue.
Been using their cables for years without issue.
Pacific Radio - Burbank CA, just across from the Burbank Airport.
They carry Canare GS-6 and Switchcraft connectors.
Good Folks.
Thanks.
Always thought about doing it...really liking this idea, has any of them failed you yet? I teach music at a high school where we provide the instruments, and instrument cables go bad so often (and there's only one store that sells music stuff and it's not the top shelf stuff either). I'm thinking 2 conductor cabling + techflex sleeving + 90 degree ends would be a near indestructible cable...
I havent been to Pacific Radio in Burbank, but heard great things about it, and might be worth it just for the opportunity to talk to those guys in the store. Another user above mentioned markertek, and thats just as easy a place to get what you want. believe it or not, GC in West LA generally has some bulk cable and connectors in their pro-audio dept. I'm not sure if they have canare specifically, but they always have mogami.
But yeah, I make my own cables - for many years. I recommend it. It takes practice to make a cable that is consistently indestructible for everyday use, but the practice is worth it. If you have a bunch of gear, you will end up soldering something around the studio quite often - guitars, cables, patchbay, speaker cables, etc....
But yeah, I make my own cables - for many years. I recommend it. It takes practice to make a cable that is consistently indestructible for everyday use, but the practice is worth it. If you have a bunch of gear, you will end up soldering something around the studio quite often - guitars, cables, patchbay, speaker cables, etc....
Markertek, online, NYC. I live in SoCal as well, you'd think someone local would stock it but nobody here does.
I would not use the GS-4 cable onstage, too thin. The last cables I ever bought was back in 1985, two Canare premade 25' using GS-6 and Canare ends (which are excellent) off the shelf. I still use them. They are noiseless after hundreds of gigs. Have made my own and for friends and bandmates ever since, zero failures. I take no credit for that. The cable and ends are simply bulletproof and sound great to boot.
