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sound going out

L

Low_Ryder

Feb 13, 2012
155
8
Michigan
#1
I was at rehearsal the other day, and when I plugged my bass in, no sound came out. I wiggled stuff around (as in cables, etc.;)), bypassed a few pedals which I only recently added to my setup, and eventually found that my main 18' cable was the culprit. It's my newest cable and hasn't seen a lot of use. I later plugged it back in and it was fine.

A bit later, the PA which handles vox and acoustic guitar, quit making sound. Mic and guitar run into a mixer which runs to the powered PA. Again with the wiggling, and it was the cable at the input jack of the PA. Sound returned, rehearsal proceeded. Sound went out again, more wiggling, etc.

So I'm wondering if there's a way to test cables before using them, or if there could be some mysterious reason that 2 cables would have problems the same night. I've never even had a problem with 1 cable that I can remember, except having someone else walk off with mine. I don't know, I've been playing for a long time, but mostly recreational and I have little experience with these sorts of concerns. I guess y'all might say that "Hey they're cables, they wear out." But that seems unsatisfactory to me so I thought I'd put it out there and see what you guys think!
 
#2
Low_Ryder said:
I was at rehearsal the other day, and when I plugged my bass in, no sound came out. I wiggled stuff around (as in cables, etc.;)), bypassed a few pedals which I only recently added to my setup, and eventually found that my main 18' cable was the culprit. It's my newest cable and hasn't seen a lot of use. I later plugged it back in and it was fine.

A bit later, the PA which handles vox and acoustic guitar, quit making sound. Mic and guitar run into a mixer which runs to the powered PA. Again with the wiggling, and it was the cable at the input jack of the PA. Sound returned, rehearsal proceeded. Sound went out again, more wiggling, etc.

So I'm wondering if there's a way to test cables before using them, or if there could be some mysterious reason that 2 cables would have problems the same night. I've never even had a problem with 1 cable that I can remember, except having someone else walk off with mine. I don't know, I've been playing for a long time, but mostly recreational and I have little experience with these sorts of concerns. I guess y'all might say that "Hey they're cables, they wear out." But that seems unsatisfactory to me so I thought I'd put it out there and see what you guys think!
Click to expand...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/search?sB=r&Ntt=cable+tester
 
#3
Sad
Y, other than by wiggling the cable in the jack, there is no way to test the actual inputs to your board or amp... Sometimes it's the cable, sometimes it's the device.

I have a Pyle cable tester that is very useful. Got it cheap from overstock.Com a while back...
 
#4
Low_Ryder said:
I was at rehearsal the other day, and when I plugged my bass in, no sound came out. I wiggled stuff around (as in cables, etc.;)), bypassed a few pedals which I only recently added to my setup, and eventually found that my main 18' cable was the culprit. It's my newest cable and hasn't seen a lot of use. I later plugged it back in and it was fine.
Click to expand...
Sometimes the prong in the jack on an instrument that makes contact with the plug tip gets bent so that it makes intermittent contact. Fixing that is simple; take out the jack and bend the prong back so it grips the tip of the plug tightly.
 
#7
Low_Ryder said:
Only 2 questions. Are the old ones worth saving for anthing, and what to replace them with. Saw a review on ovnilabs and the dimarzio cables look good.
Click to expand...
Most of the time when an instrument cable goes bad it's because one of the conductors (usually the one to the tip of the plug, the center wire of the coaxial cable) has broken loose from the connector. If you are handy with a soldering iron it's a 5 minute fix.
 
#8
Well, I've spent about an hour researching how to solder instrument cables, and looked up prices. I have no soldering experience but I enjoy being handy. Just what I need, something else to spend money and time on.:D I think I'm in!

Cheapo soldering iron? Not exactly putting together motherboards here..
 
#9
No, get a decent iron. One with a temp control. Basically a solder station. You will find it sooo much easier to use. MCM has some pretty inexpensively. I paid Passinwind about $50 for hi old Hakko when he upgraded. In prior years I've spent way more buying cheapo rat shack irons. Bad move...

Temps I use are around
700 for pots and jacks, larger wire
600 for 1/4" signal cables
500 LED tape strips

Those seem to work pretty well for me. Other's with more experience can override and I'll learn something.

Maybe the best $50 I've spent... Well, except for Hookers and Blow but that was different $50 and then there was the visit to Margie's Pot Shop...:woot: You know if it wasn't for the rain, winter in Wa wouldn't be half bad :) time to go fire up the iron!

This looks like a clone of the station I bought. Not sure how strong Tenma is but it might be just the ticket...
Invalid Link Removed
 
#10
When you do your repairs, put a little bit of an S bend in the tip conductor so that the shield takes all the strain when you pull on it. Many mass manufactured cables are not put together this way and the stress breaks the smaller conductor.

Oh, and when you pull a plug out of a jack, never do it by pulling on the wire. Your cables will last a lot longer.
 

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