What patch cables to use!?!?!?!??!

right now I have some cheap boss ones and they are falling apart.....near dead, probably an electrical hazard :lol:

Any affordable replacements, I've seen some really sexy low profile ones, but cant find them online anywhere

Do you want soldered pre-made 6inch cables, or the make your own solderless ones that many people wire their board with?
I think that is the first decision to make.

http://www.lavacable.com/ has everything you need in various price ranges.


I highly recommend against solderless plugs, they tend to come unsoldered at inconvenient times.

George L from Lava Cables.

I make my own. I use good quality cable, and those cheap, really flat plugs. Like this:

http://www.soundgaragetales.com/guitar-effects/make-your-own-guitar-pedal-coupler-cables

Saves a lot of space.

steven

Be aware with those flat plugs. I've bought them pre-made from HOSA and they've come with two similar, but distinct plugs:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2723/4046085586_c4c014008b_m.jpg

Previously they came with the skinner ones (left) but the most recent batch I bought had sturdier ones (right).

Crucial difference however is that if and when the shaft of the jack rotates - and they tend to after a while - with the older/skinnier variant the hot lug inside the plug also rotates, which causes the hot wire to break at the solder joint. I've had a few of these die on me this way, just because of repeated plugging/unplugging from pedals.

With the newer plugs, which btw also feel heavier and more solid, when the shaft rotates the hot lug does not. Big thumbs up for these - they do save alot of pedalboard space. But avoid the other variant like the plague!

I've had really good luck with George L's, I am not what you call "handy" so if I can do it...

http://www.lavacable.com/ has everything you need in various price ranges.


I highly recommend against solderless plugs, they tend to come unsoldered at inconvenient times.

Hi Wayne,

I'm curious about the lava right angles - they look even smaller (at least in width) than my Hosa plugs above which are too wide for close parallel inputs eg boss stereo in/outs.

However, your post seems to be self-contradictory! So are you recommending, or advising against Lava? Because the first thing that pops up on the website is a solderless patch cable.

I've had a few of these die on me this way, just because of repeated plugging/unplugging from pedals.


True - the assumption is, you won't do this too much. I wouldn't use these if I didn't have a board, or if my board wasn't pretty much fixed now.

I've got some of the newer ones, but I hadn't noticed that with the rotating shafts - I'll check it out. Thx for the tip.

steven

True - the assumption is, you won't do this too much. I wouldn't use these if I didn't have a board, or if my board wasn't pretty much fixed now.

I've got some of the newer ones, but I hadn't noticed that with the rotating shafts - I'll check it out. Thx for the tip.

steven


I'm glad you did a tutorial on this,great idea!
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stomp-box/128034-best-patch-cables.html
yes the 'rotating shaft thing is BAD.........but it means you over-heated it when you soldered your ground wire to the shell. Cant stay there too long!

yes the 'rotating shaft thing is BAD.........but it means you over-heated it when you soldered your ground wire to the shell. Cant stay there too long!

Ah! :oops:

That said, its still an inherently flawed design and I think that's why Hosa changed the plugs...

I'm glad you did a tutorial on this,great idea!
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stomp-box/128034-best-patch-cables.html
yes the 'rotating shaft thing is BAD.........but it means you over-heated it when you soldered your ground wire to the shell. Cant stay there too long!

It's from Gabi, who builds those nice 18-watt amps.

It's from Gabi, who builds those nice 18-watt amps.

VERY NICE!

Ah! :oops:

That said, its still an inherently flawed design and I think that's why Hosa changed the plugs...

Not one failure here,and i've made alot of them.
solderless cables,on the other hand, are another story.