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Double Bass Wonky cables

#21
Damon Rondeau said:
BTW, I'm not trying to pick on you, fdeck -- I'm just riffing on the cable theme. When I say "you", it's generic second person I'm using...

The problem with dropping 'em is the solder connections. Sooner or later you're gonna crack 'em or shake 'em loose. The effect of the impacts accumulates, I think -- each little impact ain't no good. I think this would hold true for really good units as well as El Cheapos. The good ones would take more abuse, though.

I'm still using the patch cord I bought 15 years ago -- not hi-fi by any stretch of the imagination but good quality nonetheless. I attribute the longevity of service to treating it right.
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No offense taken! :)

And I do agree with taking care of your cables.

By the way, "joker in every deck" ... I resemble that remark!

-- F. Deck
 
#22
FWIW, I took a close look at my George L’s yesterday. The latest one I bought was the prepackaged kind, a .225.

They now have a nice medium-duty shrink wrap covering at both ends where the cable connects to the plugs. Provides some additional protection and stress relief I guess. My older ones don’t have this feature.
 
#23
I used my George L's cable yesterday on the gig and I was quite pleased with the claritly. I think what I have found is that you don't so much sacrifice low end, but rather the low end is tighter. It is not a huge difference, but noticeable to the player.
 
#24
nothing bugs me about gear as much as cables. I started using planet Waves about a year ago and so far so good...

There is a guy here in Pa who makes nice cables..but they are about $150.00 for a 20' piece.
 
#26
Mike Goodbar said:
I'm been thinking about picking up an "L"-plug cable. Are these any more prone to failure than the standard straight plugs?
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Switchcraft now makes a high quality L plug, as does G&H. Read my note above about how a plug has to be constructed. The L plugs that look like they are stamped out of pieces of sheet metal have very poor longevity. I bought a new Switchcraft L plug that has a threaded cap, and it is excellent.
 
#27
Mike Goodbar said:
I'm been thinking about picking up an "L"-plug cable. Are these any more prone to failure than the standard straight plugs?
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I've used just about every brand in various parts of my bass & PA setups - I've found the Neutrik plugs the most reliable, especially their L-plug, mainly because it has the best cable clamping system. For bass I've been using the same home-made lead (Hartland cable, Neutrik plugs) for about 10 years.
 
#28
ToneRanger said:
I've used just about every brand in various parts of my bass & PA setups - I've found the Neutrik plugs the most reliable, especially their L-plug, mainly because it has the best cable clamping system. For bass I've been using the same home-made lead (Hartland cable, Neutrik plugs) for about 10 years.
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Is there a model number of Neutrik plug that you prefer?
 
#29
Will there be any difference in tone between the unplated brass jacks and the nickel plated jacks of the George L's? How about longevity issues. If it matters I go to school in Rochester and spend my time at home in southern california. (I don't know if weather and humidity affect the cables.) Thanks.
 
#34
ToneRanger said:
Yes, the unplated brass has the added bonus of crackles, pops and unexplained volume drops unless you regularly give them a rub with steel wool. There's a good reason most plugs have nickel coating.
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Dunno... I have one George L's with a brass end and some other cables with brass ends and have never had any issues with them. I guess I would have to wonder if they continually had problems with brass why anyone would ever make the decision to manufacture them.
 
#36
markoxlong said:
One of my cables has a picture of an amp on one plug and a picture of an instrument on the other...

It hasn't failed yet but I don't dare plug it in the wrong way incase my amp sets on fire :crying:
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The amp end is probably the "shielded" end....

My Planet Waves cable works like that.
 
#37
Whether the brass is a problem or not may depend on the jacks too. I imagine that the good old Switchcraft #11 jack has enough spring tension that it would rub the oxide off the plug before making contact. With cheaper jacks, I would not be so confident. But like Bob G, I have never had a problem with brass plugs.
 
#38
What happen to chris's student case happened to me before. I used a L shape neutrick jack on the bassmax and got some farting sound on certain notes. I thought it's my bass bad resonance. Then one day i try it out with a normal Planetwaves cable and all the farts gone! :eek:

I finally found out the farting sounds came out from the rattering on the jack connectioin. L shape jacks are ok if then fit to the pickup jackpot snugly.

Vincent
 
#39
This is most likely one of Planet Waves "directional ground" cables. The ground only runs one way. My amp tech swears by these. I've used them and noticed no difference.
I've not tried George's cables, ...



markoxlong said:
One of my cables has a picture of an amp on one plug and a picture of an instrument on the other...

It hasn't failed yet but I don't dare plug it in the wrong way incase my amp sets on fire :crying:
Click to expand...
 
#40
Glad I came across this thread...was wondering why my E sounded like a bad after-chili night on my amp when it sounds just dandy on my instructor's (which is just a smaller version of mine). I'm just beginning to play, so every little quirk is new...this one is now fixed as soon as I can get a new cable, methinks. Cheers!! :p

EDIT: Didn't realize this was in the DB forums as I was just responding to something that came up in a search on patch cords, but tell your electric playing friends that this applies to them as well. :D
 

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