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DIYing guitar cables, any tips?

post #1 of 23
10/10/09 at 6:46pm
Thread Starter 
Is there anything out of the ordinary I should know about doing guitar cables? I have GS-6 cabling and mono 1/4 plugs, I can't really think of any other precautions I'd need to take. Also, if you have any experience doing other interconnects, it would be greatly helpful (even though I'm fairly confident I can do it, a little more knowledge never hurts.)

Thanks.
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post #2 of 23
10/10/09 at 9:37pm
I'm not too familiar with wiring.

As a (fellow) guitarist, I can say that proper shielding is greatly appreciated on stage. Aside from that, try to have some type of stress relief wherever you can. Guitarists aren't the most gentle on their cables...unless they're classical guitarists.

But you know that already.

Best of luck, and post pics when you're done
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post #3 of 23
10/10/09 at 10:01pm
Should be good to go. Coaxial cable and mono 1/4" plugs is pretty much all that you need.
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post #4 of 23
10/10/09 at 10:10pm
There is a video at Tubedepot How to Build a Better Instrument Cable on making a guitar cable.

The Sticky here at Head-Fi http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f6/how...ep-pics-50729/ has plenty of advise also.
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post #5 of 23
10/10/09 at 11:23pm
Just make sure to ground only one end of the shield and always stick that end (the end where you soldered the shield to the ground) to your guitar.
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post #6 of 23
10/10/09 at 11:29pm
Thread Starter 
Can you clarify what you mean, pdupiano? Is there a separate shield wire that I need to solder to the ground? And only solder that one to one end?

EDIT: BTW, I take it it's not a good idea to use techflex? So does anyone have a link to some good nylon sleeving?
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post #7 of 23
10/11/09 at 12:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LingLing1337 View Post
EDIT: BTW, I take it it's not a good idea to use techflex? So does anyone have a link to some good nylon sleeving?
How 'bout cotton?

se

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post #8 of 23
10/11/09 at 12:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LingLing1337 View Post
Can you clarify what you mean, pdupiano? Is there a separate shield wire that I need to solder to the ground? And only solder that one to one end?

EDIT: BTW, I take it it's not a good idea to use techflex? So does anyone have a link to some good nylon sleeving?
A shield only works if it's soldered to one end. You need to solder the signal and ground on both ends and the shield to one end (Usually the source side).

As for Techflex, microphonics and stiffness aren't too big of a deal when it comes to guitar cables. The issues you get with headphone cables don't apply here. If you want something else anyway, nylon multifilament works fine.
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post #9 of 23
10/11/09 at 2:04am
I wouldnt recommend cotton because in between practicing in a garage and the places you bring your gear, the amount of dust and crap that collects on the nylon isn't worth it. Techflex you can argue for and if anything I would put several layers of techflex on just to see if I could use the microphonics to render some nice effects (but I doubt that would really work).

Skyline889 is correct, you gotta solder the shield on one side (solder it to the ground terminal). Mark this side and always use this side into your guitar.
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post #10 of 23
10/11/09 at 2:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pdupiano View Post
I wouldnt recommend cotton because in between practicing in a garage and the places you bring your gear, the amount of dust and crap that collects on the nylon isn't worth it.
Nylon?

se

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post #11 of 23
10/11/09 at 3:44am
Same problem, it basically turns gray from all the dust and cobwebs. I'd just leave the cable Naked
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post #12 of 23
10/11/09 at 10:03am
problem is, it seems he has coaxial cable, so not soldering the shield at both ends isnt gonna work too well now is it?? 1/4 connectors dont usually (actualy never seen one) have a separate shield terminal, for mono its only signal and a single audio ground, so there is no ground loop issues to worry about as he wont be connecting 2 differnt ground schemes together, but simply grounding the cable/guitar pick-up. now i've never made a guitar cable before, but surely if ground wasnt meant to be connected at all, there wouldnt be a terminal. and it would also defy reality hehe

I guess you guys missed that hey

or ive been funny again since I know nothing about guitar cables specifically
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post #13 of 23
10/11/09 at 12:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pdupiano View Post
Same problem, it basically turns gray from all the dust and cobwebs. I'd just leave the cable Naked
Never had that problem myself. But oh well.

se

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post #14 of 23
10/11/09 at 12:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by qusp View Post
or ive been funny again since I know nothing about guitar cables specifically
Nope. No funny this time, darn it.

You're absolutely right. The GS-6 is a coaxial cable, not a shielded twisted pair. So the shield, by definition, must be connected at both ends.

se

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post #15 of 23
10/11/09 at 1:11pm
Thread Starter 
So connect both shield ends to both grounds?
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