Lonesome Harpman
76 posts
Apr 16, 2012
7:21 AM
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I have been through too many cables; I had another one (almost new) die on me yesterday. I always carry a back up and an adaptor in case the backup fails. I'll be using an adapter and want some advice on a "great cable" to compliment it. Whose had long term success and can make a recommendation. I hope it doesn't change anything with my volume control setup that I purchased from Greg, it's for crystal mics.
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Willspear
148 posts
Apr 16, 2012
7:26 AM
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I use monsters carry 2 for the mic and if one fails I have a backup the I hit the music store the next day to trade the damaged one as it is lifetime warrantied. Haven't bought a cable in years for either guitar or harp.
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HawkeyeKane
878 posts
Apr 16, 2012
7:31 AM
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I've had a lot of success with Road Hogs and Zzyzx.
When you say adapter, are you talking about the typical Amphenol 5/8" to 1/4" female? Or are you talking about one like the 5/8" to XLR ones that Greg makes?
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by on Apr 16, 2012 7:31 AM
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Lonesome Harpman
77 posts
Apr 16, 2012
8:01 AM
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I have one of Gregs In Line Volume Controls that is setup specifically for crystals, I'll screw this to the mic as normal,and on the other end of the volume control I'll screw on a 5/8ths to 1/4 inch adapter. The other end of the cable will be 1/4 going in to the amp, I'm thinking 20'. This will be a lot of stuff hanging off the end of the mic, but I'll get used to it. My other mic, a bullet, has a built in VC so no problem there. I want top quality stuff that I can depend on.
I think one of the two amphenol cables I own has been back to the shop three times. Top name seller, but I'm done with these
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HawkeyeKane
880 posts
Apr 16, 2012
8:38 AM
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@Lonesome
I used to have rotten luck with 5/8" cables too. I finally went the same route you did. One thing though...are you screwing and unscrewing the cable on and off before and after every gig? Because that was my problem. It wore the connections out and put more strain on the wiring. I have a guy here in town who's come up with his own way of wiring these up so they don't wear out, but I've had an easier time using the Switchcraft adapters so I've never taken him up on it.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Lonesome Harpman
78 posts
Apr 16, 2012
8:54 AM
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Yes, my mics go in my harp case so I was straining the connections. Great observation! Thanks!
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Tuckster
1017 posts
Apr 16, 2012
9:54 AM
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I use $10 quarter inch guitar cables on sale at my local music store. I try not to step on them or strain the connection. I've been using the same cable for years. Maybe I just got lucky.
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Lonesome Harpman
79 posts
Apr 16, 2012
10:10 AM
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I have XLR's I purchased in the 1980's that work fine. They go to mics in stands so they don't get pulled on, stepped on etc. Guess that's the key to this?
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HawkeyeKane
881 posts
Apr 16, 2012
10:20 AM
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That's partially the key to it. The other factor is how the cables are stored when not in use, i.e. how they're wrapped or coiled.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Lonesome Harpman
80 posts
Apr 16, 2012
10:28 AM
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That's a good topic for someone i.e. Greg to cover at HCH. The manufacturer of the cable tells you the loop size and included a velcro strap. I'm never sure if I'm looping them correctly.
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KingBiscuit
177 posts
Apr 16, 2012
2:43 PM
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@Ted - I've been buying Live Wire cables at Guitar Center. They have a lifetime guarantee. I've had to take a couple back, but they replace them free of charge with no questions asked. Buy 2 or 3...use and return for new when they break.
I don't think, no matter what you do, you will get cable to last forever. There is too much bending of the wires and they end up breaking.
I did have Greg Heuman make me a 20 footer with the Switchcraft (screw on) connecter. It has held up well. You might give him a shot before giving up all together.
Last Edited by on Apr 16, 2012 2:45 PM
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9000
104 posts
Apr 16, 2012
6:47 PM
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I've been using 2 Planet Waves cables for several years now. They are excellent and the online reviews show that their conductance is very close to some of the expensive boutique cables for way less money. I use the ones with the circuit breaker for changing guitars/mics without the pop. This is a great feature because it functions as an on/off switch if you don't have a volume control. Also, the connectors have a screw which allows you to remove them when the cable gets a short. Simply remove the connector, cut off a couple of inches replace the connector by simply slipping it over the end of the cable, replace the screw and you have a "new" cable.
All the best,
Jay
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Music speaks where words fail.
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dougharps
186 posts
Apr 16, 2012
10:23 PM
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Greg's cable has held up much better than any other I have ever owned. It is well reinforced. So far I have not had to repair his cable, but I re-soldered two other cables I own, repeatedly. I use Greg's all the time now, but do carry an adapter and guitar cable just in case.
I like the compact nature of the cable, as it does not hang down as far from a mic as does the adapter and guitar cable connector.
I was at a country gig in the audience last year, and the lap steel player had a cable go bad to a lap steel. I offered to bring one in from my truck, and he said, "You wouldn't have one like this." That particular lap steel used that type or connector (I thought they were called Amphenol 1 connectors?)
I said that I did have one like that, and brought it in. He was astonished and used it the rest of the night. He said that he knew someone in St. Louis that made them, and his was pretty new, but that his had gone bad.
At the end of his gig, I took back my cable and gave him an extra adapter I had picked up when I bought 3 cheap from an old box at a music store. I told him about Greg's cables, but I don't know if he ever followed up. He may just be using the adapter and a guitar cable.
I like the 5/8" screw on connectors.
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Doug S.
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jbone
864 posts
Apr 17, 2012
4:59 AM
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i used to install a 5/8 female end on a mic cable and screw it onto the mic. the problem was that the ball of solder on the female side- which made the connection wqith the male end- would flatten out and the contact would be lost. i'd tighten the connector and then the wire inside would break. very frustrating if i was out live at a gig.
couple years ago i had Greg mod a mic for me, install a transformer inside the mic, add a vc inside, and also a screw on amphenol with a 5/8 to 1/4 jack. i have had NO problems with this mic at all. same with cables, as long as i don't step on them and yank one out of a socket or otherwise wreck it, i have not had to replace a 1/4 cable in a long time.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
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Greg Heumann
1580 posts
Apr 17, 2012
9:43 PM
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OK - going backwards up the thread - the problem is NOT the ball of solder. The connectors mate in the center with NO SOLDER AT ALL. The solder ball thing is a myth, and artificially growing a larger solder ball in the middle will do nothing but lead to excess stress on the phenolic disk, which will respond by pushing inwards until it cracks. FAIL.
The problem is that the strain relief design does nothing to prevent what turns out to be the most common failure mode. The cable is allowed to spin inside the "strain relief". This happens by clumsy attaching/detaching, or simply coiling the cable. If the cable can spin, it will wrap the shield around the center conductor causing an intermittent (and then not) short - or it will simply sever the center conductor. It took me a few years to figure this all out - it helps to have a large statistical sample to observe. I now take MANY steps which are all designed to ensure a long lasting mechanical lock between cable, spring and connector. I've been using the same cable for 4 years without failure - and it is far from as good as what I'm building today.
But a cheap cable? Guaranteed to fail in short order.
I DO carry a 332 adapter as backup, but I greatly prefer the shorter setup when a proper screw-on cable is connected directly to the mic. Further, my customer data suggests that many 332 adapters fail internally after a few years as well.
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/Greg
Last Edited by on Apr 17, 2012 9:49 PM
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MP
2167 posts
Apr 18, 2012
12:44 PM
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if you wear your cable over your shoulder ala Jerry Portnoy your chances of stepping on it decrease considerably.
it is always a good idea to carry spare cables at all times.
i coil my 1/4" guitar cables properly and they last forever. one of my cables is at least 20 years old.
it works just fine.
even so, i use it as a back-up because years of plugging and unplugging cords wears out the conductive properties on the (male) business end of the cable.
@lonesome,
"I have one of Gregs In Line Volume Controls that is setup specifically for crystals, I'll screw this to the mic as normal,and on the other end of the volume control I'll screw on a 5/8ths to 1/4 inch adapter. The other end of the cable will be 1/4 going in to the amp, I'm thinking 20'. This will be a lot of stuff hanging off the end of the mic, but I'll get used to it"
i have one of those Heumann VCs too but for my CR mics. i personally like 15'. it is long enough to get around the stage and step off the stage to check sound levels. 20' to me, leaves a lot of extra cord to trip over. even so, it's really no big deal.----------
MP
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Last Edited by on Apr 18, 2012 12:46 PM
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Jehosaphat
221 posts
Apr 18, 2012
6:06 PM
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Re my earlier post heres what the finished product looks like
Switchcraft quarter inch adapter attached to V/C.Male quarter inch inserted and the hole lot covered by three layers of (glue) heat shrink.To make it even more secure i've run the shrink up over the adapter ring because i can just screw the V/C into that so don't need it to turn.Its all solid as.
Now i'm puzzled!It worked in the "test your forum skills"!?
Last Edited by on Apr 18, 2012 6:14 PM
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Jehosaphat
222 posts
Apr 18, 2012
6:13 PM
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