Users of high-end patch cables

#61
Relsom said:
I don't know what components they use, but the shells are plastic... my Donner 6" flat patch cables were inexpensive and I haven't had one fail yet. On my stage board, no discernable noise. The 6-pack was under $20 on Amazon, and if I had to buy more, I would get these again.
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Nice one, thanks. Just what I'm after at a price I'm happy with. :DOn order now! Cheers. :thumbsup:
 
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#62
I make mine using Squareplug connectors and Mogami W2314 wire (W2552 for balanced/stereo). I'm a big fan. I have developed a fetish for well wired boards :)

For premade I think it's hard to beat the EBS flat cables. EBS also makes a great compact midi cable that's perfect for boards.
 
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#63
Jefus said:
Warning!

\rant-on

On a separate note: why are we still using 1/4" plugs designed for ancient telecom systems? If we could move to something else, not only would the cables be less bulky, but the pedals themselves could be much smaller without that much plug penetrating them? Maybe use strat-style jacks on pedals to make the pedals smaller? Sorry, planning a pedalboard and questioning the current state of things.

\rant-off
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Be careful! I suggested it would be nice if manufacturers provided 3.5mm mini jacks wired in parallel with the 1/4” jacks for use as interconnects between effects pedals in another thread. It didn’t go over too well. :laugh:
 
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#65
40Hz said:
Be careful! I suggested it would be nice if manufacturers provided 3.5mm mini jacks wired in parallel with the 1/4” jacks for use as interconnects between effects pedals in another thread. It didn’t go over too well. :laugh:
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Lol! I fully admit that my railing against 1/4" phone jacks won't yield any results, but it makes be feel better to at least share those thoughts every once in awhile.
 
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#67
Cables absolutely don't "make" noise - the Physics is pretty straightforward as far as that is concerned. Cables do shield the signal from certain external sources of noise. Any good coaxial cable will do a decent job of rejecting most of these. There are certain noise sources (cell phones are about the worst) where things have to be done VERY well to shield you from them, but as long as you keep your cell phone a few feet way from things, you're probably OK there as well - if I put my cell phone in my right front pocket (right up against the control cavity in my bass) I will get some noise, but in any other pocket, it's fine. Yes, my basses are well shielded. They are passive, which also helps - a poorly done active bass is more likely to have RF intrusion problems than an active one.

I spent a lot of my career designing very low noise analog circuits - including mic pres, which are even pickier in some ways that guitar electronics (very low signal levels). After you've done a few of these, you come to realize that the grounding of things is where you spend your rime to get rid of hums and buzzes. The advice earlier to get a good isolated power supply for your pedalboard is right on target - a daisy chain power supply is an open invitation for hum and buzz noises to get into your system, as it connects the grounds of various devices in a random manner, allowing dirty (mostly digital) devices to inject noise into everything else in the chain..
 
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#68
S.F.Sorrow said:
Agreed. All solderless cables I've tried have been an accident waiting to happen.
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In general yes, there are also solderless XLR connectors that are a failure waiting to happen, the wires were place into blades on the connector and tightening the boot pushed the wire into the blade cutting through the jacket to make the connection (insulation displacement). That said insulation displacement is used in many ribbon cable connections and at this very second posting on the internet through many RJ45 connectors!

Many of the large multipin connectors are solderless but the wire is stripped and prepped with a dedicated pin placed on the wire and crimped with specialized crimp tool, a whole other level of solderless connection!
 
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#69
el murdoque said:
These take up too much real estate and are to unwieldy if you ask me.

There is no audible difference between a halfway decent cable and the finest one ever made as soon as you reach the first buffer, so it's mostly about size and durability.
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I don‘t find them unwieldy at all and whilst there are thinner cables and flat plugs, which might save a bit of room I have found these to be reliable and lasting.
So, if I could, I would.
 
#70
+1 for TourGear (great customer service, too).

While the propensity for tiny things is reasonable, the 1/4" plug/jack is well-sized and proportioned for the human hand, and tends to be robust.

But, as long as we're brainstorming (positive ranting?), perhaps someone can come up with kits for hardwiring pedalboards, which of course would necessitate a signed waiver indicating the user has reached their terminal board.
 
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#73
When I've had a pedal board, I'd been using the EBS flat cables, at the time that was the most available low profile terminated option. Gave them to my son last year and they still kicking. Other than that I've been using the same Canare GS-6 instrument cables for almost two decades. I made them myself with Neutrik ends.
 
#76
I've been using Kurrent Electric solderless patch cables for a couple years now and have not once had an issue. Gigging regularly and swapping pedals in and out like a person who might have a problem. Like $40 on Amazon.
 
#77
Jefus said:
The worst noise I've found with pedalboards is usually the power supply. If it's not an isolated power supply, or if it's mounted close to a susceptible pedal, it can cause a lot of noise. It's not a sexy thing to spend money on, but it's kind of like the foundation of your house.

That being said, I used to make my own cables (someone mentioned Redco; I've given them a lot of business!), but really prefer the flat, premade cables by EBS. I have some of Warwick's Rockboard cables as well, but a couple of them have popped the covers off, so I'm sticking with EBS.

Warning!

\rant-on

On a separate note: why are we still using 1/4" plugs designed for ancient telecom systems? If we could move to something else, not only would the cables be less bulky, but the pedals themselves could be much smaller without that much plug penetrating them? Maybe use strat-style jacks on pedals to make the pedals smaller? Sorry, planning a pedalboard and questioning the current state of things.

\rant-off

Enjoy the journey!
Click to expand...
You're absolutely right about the connector being an old inefficient design, but we're stuck with it.
At least it's more robust than the HDMI connector.
 
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#79
Jefus said:
On a separate note: why are we still using 1/4" plugs designed for ancient telecom systems?
Click to expand...

well, there was some German standardization effort (in 70s?) to replace them all with DIN connectors. I used them (we had them on anything from a guitar to headphones back in the day) and I can definitely say that they sucked.
 
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