| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Ollie
Gold Member
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
 Posted - 05/24/2009 : 18:06:06
|
| I'm looking to get some new patch leads - I want to get some as small as possible to free up board space (Like those George L sized ones) anybody seen similar ones cheaper? |
|
|
rhcp_1005
Silver Member
United Kingdom
307 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2009 : 18:27:34
|
| The only other small sized cable i've seen similar to George L's are the Evidence Audio Monorail, however it is more expensive. George L's are probably the best way to go, most people that use them seem to like 'em. |
 |
|
|
Ollie
Gold Member
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2009 : 19:15:36
|
I think I might just get the George L ones, Im currently using wawrick ones
And as they're pretty large I think patch leads with a smaller jack should give me more pedalboard space - Im thinking of getting a Pedaltrain pro :D
|
|
|
|
Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2009 : 20:31:19
|
Ollie, please repeat after me - "I need to make my own cables", "I need to make my own cables"... it takes a soldering iron, some heat-shrink tubing and a heat-gun (I use one from the hardware store designed for stripping paint).
These connectors come from the manufacturer "Mode" here in North America. I'm sure there is an equivalent there. www.mode-elec.com, part number 24-610-1
Absolute minimal pedalboard space required.
|
Edited by - Laurie on 05/24/2009 20:32:04 |
|
|
|
Ollie
Gold Member
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2009 : 20:36:15
|
| One step ahead of you my friend - My dad soldered me some patch leads (the same as your pic) for thereturn loop of my ns-2. I wasnt sure if they're great quality, if you rate them then I'll use them ;) |
|
|
|
Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2009 : 20:51:55
|
These connectors are good - if done right. Two things I found I have to do are:
1) Use "3x reducton" heat-shrink with internal glue (the expensive stuff) - like in the pic. This stops the cable pulling out of the connector because the cable clamping isn't great.
2) Use high quality small diameter shielded cable (about 5mm diameter), and be really careful with the insulation. There is a fiber disc that insulates the solder tags from the back of the housing - as long as that is carefully in place it will be fine.
I have dozens of cables I've made using this approach - nearly every patch lead on my board has at least one of these connectors and I've never had any trouble with them.
There is a lot of mythology about patch leads out there, but I've found that if you make your own then as long as you use high quality components and "do good work" everything will be fine.
|
Edited by - Laurie on 05/24/2009 20:52:25 |
|
|
|
nathanscribe
Silver Member
United Kingdom
376 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2009 : 21:16:52
|
Ollie, here in the UK check out Rapid Electronics:
http://www.rapidonline.com/
They do a good range of jacks and cable, and delivery is next-day. I use them regularly.
Personally, I like Switchraft jacks, but they're expensive, particularly the right-angle ones. Neutrik make some cheaper plugs that are fine - I've only used the straight ones though, so can't comment on the right-angles.
Buying cable by the reel (anything from 10 or 20m up) might seem pricey at first, but it's surprising how you can get through it... I've lost count of how many patch leads I've made of various lengths, all made to fit specific spaces. Much better than having loops of the stuff lying around 'cause you could only find a 6m lead going spare... |
Edited by - nathanscribe on 05/24/2009 21:27:53 |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2009 : 21:39:39
|
Not to go too much off topic...but i've heard the expression " you would need the ears of a bat " being used about patch cables and guitars leads in general....i'm not talking bargain basement stuff but i think if you use reasonably good quality cable and components,i can't see why a homebrew guitar/patch lead wouldn't be as good as most of the 'off the shelf' stuff....
Q/....if you were to use mic cable for a guitar lead,would i be right in thinking that all you need to do is wrap the + and - together and wire them to the tip of the jackplug and solder the earth/shield wire as normal to the body...?.or would mic cable load the signal from the guitar too much...?
reason for asking is we have a lot of spare,so called .broken' mic leads and i was thinking of using a couple for the guitar.... |
|
|
|
FunkenGrooven
Silver Member
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2009 : 22:14:36
|
quote:
Originally posted by Laurie
Ollie, please repeat after me - "I need to make my own cables", "I need to make my own cables"... it takes a soldering iron, some heat-shrink tubing and a heat-gun (I use one from the hardware store designed for stripping paint).
These connectors come from the manufacturer "Mode" here in North America. I'm sure there is an equivalent there. www.mode-elec.com, part number 24-610-1
Absolute minimal pedalboard space required.
You can also get that connector in a 2 pack at your local Radio Shack not sure if all of you have those but they are here in the US
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104077 |
|
|
|
Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2009 : 22:35:14
|
quote:
Originally posted by FunkenGrooven
You can also get that connector in a 2 pack at your local Radio Shack not sure if all of you have those but they are here in the US
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104077
A word of caution about the RS ones... they don't take heat very well. The mode ones have higher quality plastic and they don't tend to melt like the RS ones can |
|
|
|
Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2009 : 22:36:32
|
quote:
Originally posted by FRANZONI
Q/....if you were to use mic cable for a guitar lead,would i be right in thinking that all you need to do is wrap the + and - together and wire them to the tip of the jackplug and solder the earth/shield wire as normal to the body...?.or would mic cable load the signal from the guitar too much...?
Yep, that's the exact way of doing it. Most of my mono cables are wired like that. |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2009 : 23:16:26
|
You can also get that connector in a 2 pack at your local Radio Shack not sure if all of you have those but they are here in the US
In the UK and here in Ireland we have Maplins and some other smaller outlets like Radio Shack.... we used to have a place called tandy/radio shack here in Dublin when i was younger but they disappeared a few years back...
Thanks for that Laurie...... |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 05/25/2009 23:17:41 |
|
|
|
nathanscribe
Silver Member
United Kingdom
376 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 01:22:57
|
quote:
Originally posted by FRANZONI
In the UK and here in Ireland we have Maplins
They're a bit pricey though, and carry limited stock.
I remember Tandy... from back in the day when you could go into Dixon's and type cheeky programs into the computers on display (Sinclair Spectrum, anyone?) and buy blank C-15s....
ah, the 80s. If only the kids of today knew...
 |
|
|
|
Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 02:26:56
|
quote:
Originally posted by nathanscribe
I remember Tandy... from back in the day when you could go into Dixon's and type cheeky programs into the computers on display (Sinclair Spectrum, anyone?) and buy blank C-15s....
ah, the 80s. If only the kids of today knew...
I have a C-8 laying around somewhere.... I was stunned when I was able to buy an Apple II+ and could use a hole-punch to notch the other side of the 5.25 disk so i could turn it over and double my storage capacity - by 100k if I recall correctly |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 04:33:07
|
quote:
Originally posted by nathanscribe
quote:
Originally posted by FRANZONI
In the UK and here in Ireland we have Maplins
They're a bit pricey though, and carry limited stock.
I remember Tandy... from back in the day when you could go into Dixon's and type cheeky programs into the computers on display (Sinclair Spectrum, anyone?) and buy blank C-15s....
ah, the 80s. If only the kids of today knew...
yep i remember the spectrum...how about the ZX-80/81... ... |
|
|
|
DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 05:40:32
|
| I have two.. one that works & one that doesn't. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Patchleads
