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Fell in love with coil cables!

fuzzy beard

fuzzy beard

Mar 8, 2011
2,747
31
Aurora, Indiana
#1
I have been trying not to start this thread i mean it only a cable. But after a lazy day laying around playing bass on the bed and on the couch and standing and here and there while never moving my amp I had to.

This is my first coil cord. The first year of my playing i used a monster cable. Dont get me wrong about the monster but it was always a mess dealing with that long cable. And having to be so carfull about stepping on it or catching somthing with it.

So why are these coil cables not as common as they where back in the day?

Also mine is a Fender Koil cable. Any other brands you would recommend?
 
#3
fuzzy beard said:
So why are these coil cables not as common as they where back in the day?
Click to expand...

I used one for a while in the late 60's and I grew to hate it in short order. If I put it in a gig bag it managed to tangle itself up with everything else in there, including itself. It very quickly developed those reverse twist sections that I could never manage to get out, and when I moved around with it noises came out of my amp like a bowl of Rice Crispies on steroids.
 
#5
Used many coil cables in years past. Main problem with them is strain relief near the connectors. Think about it for one second. That cable is pulling consistently 24/7 when in use. I got real good as soldiering back in the 60's.

Straight cables have the same problem but it takes a drunk to stumble on that cord piled up on the floor. At least the coil cable is up off the floor.

Best scenario is wireless but a musicians wage doesn't cover that very well.
 
#7
James Judson said:
Used many coil cables in years past. Main problem with them is strain relief near the connectors. Think about it for one second. That cable is pulling consistently 24/7 when in use. I got real good as soldiering back in the 60's.
Click to expand...
That's one problem but not the only one. Another is that they are constantly experiencing twisting stress along their length. Every one I had (3 or 4) became sort of microphonic after a while, making crackling sounds from my amp when I moved around. Also, as I said before, if you just toss one in a gig bag, it will make a tangled mess with everything else in there.
 
#8
They are cool, there is lots of testimony about how they color your tone, and a lot of great players used them back in the day. However, they are just too short for me. I can't get more than about five feet away from my rig with one of those. And you can't find long ones, because they're coiled, they are already around 20' long, but only extend five feet. If you got a coil cable that would let you walk away from your rig a bit, it would have to be about 40' of coiled cable, and that's not good for your tone.
 
#11
the coil cables are good as (in theory) they're a long cable and a short cable in one! but my main problem was when i would walk around it would pull the pedal it's in around before it stretched out, often unplugging patch cables and power adaptors VERY annoying. this may only be because i don't have a pedal board...
 
#12
They have a lot of problems for live use. But for rehearsals or just practicing---they are great. I have been using the same two since the early 90's...they are just cheap Radio Shack brand ones. No noise or anything. I use them more than any others that I have. I did have one go bad once...but I dropped a heavy object on it. Can't really blame the cable for that.
 
#15
Sorry to go all John Hammond on this thread. Anyways, you guys had mentioned the cable dragging your pedals around, and I'm considering buying a Vox coily. I'm moving from a heavy pedal board to just a Zoom B3, so the pulling would probably be an issue for me. Has anybody tried securing the end of the cable to the stage/floor with Gaffers tape? I wonder if that could solve the problem...
 
#17
Been without a bass for 35, or so years. Bought a new Fender P, and it came with a straight cord, with straight connectors on both ends. I used it for about five minutes, and bought a coiled cord. Guess I didn't know any better.
 
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#18
Used the fender koil for about 3 years now. Did get a short after 2 1/2 years. Returned and replaced.Lifetime warranty.

Don't trip on 'em or step on them and they totally stay out of the way.

No muss, no fuss, love it
 
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#20
I just think they look cool! They went out of fashion by the time I started playing in 1980... I played with some older players with big heavy coils but never saw anything but cheapies at the stores.

I'm going to end up buying a Lava 'Morph' in the orange color someday.
 

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