cltoh wrapped wire vs. Regular

[russpurdy]

hey team, this may or may not be a stupid question but I was wondering if there is a difference in sound quality between cloth wrapped wire and regular electronics wire in electric guitars. Does the cloth wrapping provide some kind of shielding or is it just a superficial thing?

thanks!

[Bogo]

I would not worry about cloth vs. other non-conductive wraping.
As a side note. Some audiophiles claim the dielectric of wire insulation (in particular speaker cables) has an audible effect. They even burn in the cables!

[Guitarslinger1]

No tone difference. Cloth insulated wire is easier to use, as you don't strip it, you just push back the cloth to get to the wire. Also, cloth is much more forgiving as far as accidently overheating the wire with the soldering iron.

If I were changing out, or upgrading, most or all of the electronic components in a guitar, I would re-do it with cloth wire, for the reasons mentioned above. Otherwise, I'd leave it be.

YMMV

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by specialty guitars

No tone difference. Cloth insulated wire is easier to use, as you don't strip it, you just push back the cloth to get to the wire. Also, cloth is much more forgiving as far as accidently overheating the wire with the soldering iron.

If I were changing out, or upgrading, most or all of the electronic components in a guitar, I would re-do it with cloth wire, for the reasons mentioned above. Otherwise, I'd leave it be.

YMMV

Totally Agree w/ all of the Above...Plus it just looks so Damn Cool !....

[0le FUZZY]

No tone difference. Cloth insulated wire is easier to use, as you don't strip it, you just push back the cloth to get to the wire. Also, cloth is much more forgiving as far as accidently overheating the wire with the soldering iron.

If I were changing out, or upgrading, most or all of the electronic components in a guitar, I would re-do it with cloth wire, for the reasons mentioned above. Otherwise, I'd leave it be.
Cloth insulated wire is easier to use, as you don't strip it, you just push back the cloth to get to the wire. Also, cloth is much more forgiving as far as accidently overheating the wire with the soldering iron.

If I were changing out, or upgrading, most or all of the electronic components in a guitar, I would re-do it with cloth wire, for the reasons mentioned above. Otherwise, I'd leave it be.

...I totally disagree !

...I haff alwayz and still dew hate cloth wire. If it were knott fer the vintage look I'd never use it again.

...It frays onna ends and always looks like dew dew. The later stuff with more wax onnit werks O.K. but still-----------------



...I dew agree with this part

No tone difference.

(deranged internet-based alter ego, with my own lexicon and all.)

Please visit my page

[Rob DiStefano]

I totally agree with the Fuzzy - cloth wire just plain sux for function but gets and A+ for aesthetics, and has nada to do with tone (yeesh).

[SinnerBoy61]

I totally disagree with Rob and Fuzz (Sorry Guys! )

I'd much rather work with it than plastic coverd junk

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally Posted by SinnerBoy61

... I'd much rather work with it than plastic coverd junk ...

Junk? Ya think so, eh?

[PhatTele]

Cloth covered because you don't have to strip it...braided for guitars (since it's more flexible and doesn't break after repeated bending) and solid core for amps (since it stays in place better).

[telex]

cloth sounds softer and more refined. plastic is harsh and artificial sounding.
Yellow cloth sounds better as the bridge pickup, and black sounds better in the neck. I think it has something to do with the pigments used to dye the cloth. I think the white sounds better as a ground than the green, Just my two cents.

[0le FUZZY]

...Jes look at them wire ends!! Watt a mess and they all turn out li kat and then whence yew try and clean it up it gits worse.

...I used ta take my lighter and burn off all that frizz!

...Ever try and make a jumper twixt the tabs of a switch with that cloth stuff? Ats rite yew ain't a gonna less yew strip out the bare wire. With plastic yew ken dew witt.

...Cloth wirin iss the worst part of changin out old parts onna TELECASTER. I dunn did tew many tew ever gree with ya'll.

...Now the new wirin on sum of the new P/Us iss still purdy eazy tew make look good but that old original stuff issa pain inna ------------------



0le FUZZY

[kp8]

just regular old tefzel 24awg stranded wire works for me. Easy to work with, holds up well.

[Bogo]

I've found that using a razor or very sharp utility knife to score around the cloth works well. You can carefully cut down to the wire and just pull the piece off with little to no fraying. Regular srippers just don't clean cut.

[red57strat]

Originally Posted by Bogo

Regular srippers just don't clean cut.

You don't use strippers. You cut the wire and insulator with a sharp wire cutter, push the insulator back, make you solder joint and push the insulator back into place.
My ends aren't all fuzzy like SinnerBoy's.

I prefer it over plastic insulated wire.

[SMPTE]

The way I do it is to use a pair of sharp Xelite dics (side cutters) cut to length, do a quick bite down with the dics on the spot where I want to strip, pull quick and viola! Perfectly stripped wires. Takes practice though.

And electronically, wire vs. plastic shouldn't make a difference unless there's too much metal particle in the covering (coil effect).

[Ray Sputnik]

Cloth wrapped wire has more midrange because the cloth wrapping soaks up some of the highs and lows.

Disclaimer: the following statments are completley untrue. In fact, I don't really know why I posted them.

[giraffecaster]

wouldn't lacquoring the wire help with fraying?

[charlie chitlin]

I restore antique motorcycles and often make my own wiring harnesses...all cloth.
I guess I'm just used to it.

[sudancat]

Cloth wire makes it sound like a tele.....

Plastic covered wire makes it sound like a tele.....

Rubber coated stranded or solid 14ga copper wire sounds like a tele

On the other hand, aluminum wire ...still sounds like a tele.

Now the person or persons installing the wire may make the difference in tone?

[kp8]

Originally Posted by sudancat

Now the person or persons installing the wire may make the difference in tone?

well, this is the TDPRI .... say it with me .... "Tone is in the hands"



[distant vomiting sounds]