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View Full Version : Best place to buy instrument cables?



Eric
October 24th, 2009, 01:56 PM
Where do all of you go for instrument cables? I have a few of those live wire ones from MF, but they're still $15 for anything over 10'.

Anyone have any good tips for something cheaper (err...lower cost)?

tunghaichuan
October 24th, 2009, 02:28 PM
Where do all of you go for instrument cables? I have a few of those live wire ones from MF, but they're still $15 for anything over 10'.

Anyone have any good tips for something cheaper (err...lower cost)?

Do you know how to solder? You could make your own.

You need cable, I like Canare GS-6, two plugs and some heat shrink, 3/8" I think.

The down side is that you have to buy in bulk to get the cost of the materials down to cheaper than you can buy at a guitar store.

Eric
October 24th, 2009, 03:01 PM
Do you know how to solder? You could make your own.

You need cable, I like Canare GS-6, two plugs and some heat shrink, 3/8" I think.

The down side is that you have to buy in bulk to get the cost of the materials down to cheaper than you can buy at a guitar store.

Yep, I can solder and just did recently to repair a 1/4" cable. I've heard of this mythical thread where you gave instructions on how to make your own cable, but I've searched for it and couldn't find it. Any chance you have the link?

Otherwise, could you just let me know where you buy that stuff from?

Kodiak3D
October 24th, 2009, 03:11 PM
I have one from Guitarfetish and it seems like a good cable to me.

tunghaichuan
October 24th, 2009, 04:05 PM
Yep, I can solder and just did recently to repair a 1/4" cable. I've heard of this mythical thread where you gave instructions on how to make your own cable, but I've searched for it and couldn't find it. Any chance you have the link?

Otherwise, could you just let me know where you buy that stuff from?

I used to get it at the local electronics store, which has since gone out of business. I haven't bought any for a while, so I just Googled it:

http://www.performanceaudio.com/cgi/product_view.cgi?products_id=10386

I used to get Switchcrafte 280 plugs from Mouser:

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Switchcraft/280/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtUpMOmSPzkH2%252b%2fxpk%252bOF%2fa

But they're cheaper at Parts Express:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=093-140&source=googleps

Too bad Parts Express doesn't sell Canare wire. :(

One tip on the Canare wire:

http://www.performanceaudio.com/images/products/43/10386.jpg

Between the braid and center condutor insulator is a black conductive sheild. If this shorts to the center conductor, the cable will make your guitar & amp sound very dull. Make sure you cut it back so that it doesn't come in contact with the center conductor.

tung