patch cables for pedal boards

[Dave Sloven]

I don't know what people are using here for patch cables on their pedal boards, but I have been trying to get around some issues regarding the dimensions of the cable connectors.

I have generally found the regular type to be most useful, especially if you have a pedal with more than one input or output close to another - for example the input & output on the left side of my wah, or the three jacks on the right side of my Decimator G-String.  They protrude from the side of the pedal a lot though, which limits how close pedals can be placed to one another on the board.

There are low profile connectors to get around the latter problem, so I ordered a one foot cable with those ends and tried it out yesterday.  I noticed a couple of things that might be helpful for people here, both related to the fact that the profile is kept low by making the connector in a 'pancake' style

First, these are pretty much impossible to use when you have two or more jacks next to one another on the same side of a pedal.

Second, they are very close to the side mounted battery jacks on the usual 9V size MXR pedals, making them a bad choice for that side of the pedal.

[JJretroTONEGOD]

I find nothing beats either 1/ handmade van damme cable and neutrik connectors or 2/ george L's which to me sound the best, plus they're modular and there's no soldering, expensive but well worth the cost.

[Guitarteach]

Not tried the solder free kits myself but it's +1 from me on making your own with Neutrik right angle plugs and decent cable. I've got a couple of mxr pedals and the narrower neutrik barrel does not crowd the power socket as much as the wider/flatter types of right angle plug. Also the strain relief is great - much better.  I ue them on my main guitar cables too to reduce stress on the guitar body and the stereo version is perfect for my ES345 stereo

They also work better than the pancakes where there are multiple 1/4" sockets very close to each other such as the L&R outputs of my Boss looper pedal


http://www.neutrik.com/en/audio/plugs-and-jacks/px-series/np2rx

[Dave Sloven]

Cheers - I will look into getting some of these ... I worry about pulling on the output jack of my guitars because I am clumsy and tend to step on the cable!  To be honest I've even thought of getting one of those Line 6 wireless units just so that I wouldn't step on it any more ... like a $350 penalty for being a clumsy oaf  :?

[tekbow]

buy any cables you want and use a good quality buffer at the end of the chain (visual sound make a great stand alone buffer). in that respect buffers make up for all ills in terms a patch cables.

For me its a bit like, much as i love boutique type pedals (do not read boutique as expensive) why pros use boss. you can get em anywhere. Ditto shoelace patch cables, carry a good buffer and it doesn't matter what you use.

Also diago cable kits in the uk have people saying good things about em.

In terms of the profiles, well, not ideal.. but, options on the market are limited, so what can you do.. I just make sure i have room for what i want to run ;)

[Dave Sloven]

I've got a MXR-401 CAE boost / linedriver at the front of my pedal chain (after the ISP and tuner) but before the phaser etc. Are you suggesting putting a second one at the end of that before the amp, or in the loop?  I have an MXR 10-band EQ in the loop before the ISP and then it will go to the chorus and delay (once they arrive in the post). I put it at the front to push a strong signal into the phaser and wah but maybe it should go last before the amp?  At the volumes I can play on it at home I am having problems hearing the effect of the line-driver except for maybe extra 'sparkle' or treble.

[tekbow]

first of all, this is useful:

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=45475.0

different people do it different ways, some have two, one at the start and one at the end, some have one. My personal preference is at the end (a satndalone buffer), purely as a cure to the attenuation the signal will suffer going thru, say, a bunch of of TB pedals and cables (before it goes to the amp). the gig rig do a new device along those lines thats a bit more than the standalone buffer the Visual Sound piece is.

http://www.thegigrig.com/acatalog/Z-Cable.html#SID=13

Pricey, but it means you can basically use what ever cr@ppy guitar/patch cables you want.

However, if you already have buffered pedals in there and a line driver you may find that high end cables/gizmos will have less effect than you may think they will.

Of course if you're buying for ruggedness and to combat signal interference, thats a different story again.

Also, the issue you're speaking about ay bedroom volumes, is purely that, a volume issue and how the ear perceives low volume. not much you can do other than turn the amp up

[38thBeatle]

I bought some clear tone patch cables with angled jacks- they did the trick for me.

[Plenum n Heather]

I find nothing beats either 1/ handmade van damme cable and neutrik connectors or 2/ george L's which to me sound the best, plus they're modular and there's no soldering, expensive but well worth the cost.

Both of those are high quality options.

I use Lava Cable Clear Connect or Divine Noise for my instrument and long cables, and George L's for my board.

[PhilKing]

I like the George-L's if you're not going to be moving things around much, but I also like the Lava Cable sets that you can solder (they do solder free too but I haven't tried those).

[Lew]

I use a mix of cleartone and KABL. All Vandamme cable. The Hicon jacks are awesome and get used for pedals with the I/O/P on the side and Neutrik straights for pedals with I/O/P on the top.

[Alex]

Similar to the other kits people have recommended, I've used the Planetwaves kit that costs around €50 at Thomann.
http://www.thomann.de/de/planet_waves_pwgpkit10.htm
I like it very much and the sound quality is top.

I also use the regular Planet Waves patch cables, which have these little latches that hole on very well.

[Toe-Knee]

Cheers - I will look into getting some of these ... I worry about pulling on the output jack of my guitars because I am clumsy and tend to step on the cable!  To be honest I've even thought of getting one of those Line 6 wireless units just so that I wouldn't step on it any more ... like a $350 penalty for being a clumsy oaf  :?

Here you go.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/snap-jack-instrument-cable