More bulk parts: Making Cables

[fender3x]

I have been using a Boss Pocket GT as a headphone amp for bass and guitar for a while now, but have recently gotten annoyed because of RF noise. The weak link in my signal chain was the cheap cord that came with something I ordered. I was using it because it is short, and handy, and I did not have a decent cable the same size. Who buys a 1m cable? Me, sort of...at least I dipped into my stash of parts and made one today.



I don't think my ears can detect the difference between decent cables regardless of the brand, but I admit that I was surprised how much difference a well-shielded cable made. The one I made uses EWI Starline 22 awg cable. It has a GLS pancake plug on one end (good for when I put the Pocket GT in my pocket) and a Crate plug at the other. The new cable is very quiet, where as the cheap-o cable was really loud.

The brand name cables seem like the most overhyped thing in guitardom. The cheap ones are generally crappy.... So, I started making them, and have not looked back. I have found that watching for bulk sales I can get plugs and bulk cable and very reasonable prices. I have never found Switchcraft or Neutrik plugs at good bulk prices, but I have found Amphenol, IO Audio, Crate, Kirlin and GLS Audio to get very reasonable in bulk. Cable can be quite good in bulk. I get high quality EWI cable for about $1.50 m. I have about 30 m of it, and a bunch of plugs. Next project will be to replace the crappy pedal connectors that I have been using. I was aware that I could make a cable pretty easily that was as good as the high end cables. The surprise (for me) was how much better a decent cable is from even a short crappy one.

[Trevor Davies]

This is good to know. Are the plugs soldered to the cable?

[fender3x]

This is good to know. Are the plugs soldered to the cable?

Yes, I cut the cable to length and then solder the plugs on. EWI also sells complete cables that are decent, but I have had a couple of the 90 degree plugs break. Electrically I don't know that there's much difference between plugs, but quality-wise there certainly is.

[fender3x]

So here's an easy way to tell that it's time to do some sanding on my guitar projects...



...I made a bunch of patch cables like the one on the bottom to replace patch cables like the red one. They new ones are much better, and I think may have cut down a bit on the noise from my guitar amp.

I hate sanding.

[Trevor Davies]

So here's an easy way to tell that it's time to do some sanding on my guitar projects...



...I made a bunch of patch cables like the one on the bottom to replace patch cables like the red one. They new ones are much better, and I think may have cut down a bit on the noise from my guitar amp.

I hate sanding.

Haha. Procrastinating is a good way to get other work done!
PS the new patch cable looks good.

[fender3x]

Thanks! They're way better than the ones they replace. Good thing I have all that sanding to do. Not sure when I'd have gotten to it otherwise ;-)

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