DIY Cable making

[Nadz1lla]

I'd like to start making my own patch cables, but I'd rather not buy any of these expensive solder-less kits. I can repair guitar cables and they seem to last a long while (sometimes longer after repair than the time they took from bought to breaking), but I have no clue about what cable (if any) are better than others, and which jacks to go for.

I'm looking for right-angle jacks, mainly. Those low-profile ones from Lava look convenient and very pedal-board friendly, but I'm guessing they're a bit more expensive than your usual right-angle connectors? I'd like to buy a fair few and a decent length of cable so that I've always got enough for back-ups / extras.

Could anyone here point me in the right direction?

[JJretroTONEGOD]

try van damme pro grade classic XKE cable, it's the best one I've ever used for patch cables, and neutrik connectors are excellent, you can't go wrong with van damme, sommer or klotz for cable.   :)

Ben.

[Dave Sloven]

I'm looking for right-angle jacks, mainly. Those low-profile ones from Lava look convenient and very pedal-board friendly, but I'm guessing they're a bit more expensive than your usual right-angle connectors?

You mean this type?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/300972687481

I have two of those and can't find a use for them, because most of my pedals are MXR and the power supply jack is too close to the input jack for these to work.  Their pancake design is too wide to clear.

I use the regular right-angle type.  Also, I found that at least one right-angle to straight cable is useful if you have an ISP Decimator G-String, as it is very difficult to squeeze three cables together between the slats of a Pedaltrain.  I have a right angle coming out of my wah with a straight connector going into the Guitar In on the G-String.  Otherwise I have used regular right-angle to right-angle patch cables throughout my board, a few 1', a few 6", and one 2' cable.  The empty space is waiting for an MXR EVH Flanger that I have coming from an ebay seller, which will fit in there.  The 2' cable connects the G-String's Guitar Out to the boost.  I have found that I don't need custom cut cables.  I was able to use a straight connector between the wah and the tuner

[juansolo]

try van damme pro grade classic XKE cable, it's the best one I've ever used for patch cables, and neutrik connectors are excellent, you can't go wrong with van damme, sommer or klotz for cable.   :)

Ben.

Yup, I'd go along with this.

http://uk.farnell.com/van-damme/268011c/cable-instrument-black-per-m/dp/1891100
http://uk.farnell.com/neutrik/np2rx/plug-1-4-jack-90deg-2pole/dp/1390162

All good quality kit.

[Nadz1lla]

Cheers guys, all useful stuff! :D

[Nadz1lla]

Just ordered the Van Damme / Neutrik combo, commence soldering!

[Nadz1lla]

Made my first patch cable, hassle-free and sturdy as hell! My only question would be: does anyone else find the Neutrik connectors are a little too easy to push in and pull out of jack sockets? They seem very eager to please when you want to remove them from the Guitar / Amp / Pedal. Wee bit worried they're not quite snug enough. Maybe because I'm used to Planet Waves that have the little nubbin on the jack, but then I do use Whirlwind a lot too and that's a normal connector.  :?

Apart from that, it sounds fantastic!

[juansolo]

The jacks them selves are all the same size/shape. Or at least they should be... Sockets can vary depending on how strongly the tip contact is sprung (for want of a better word).

[Nadz1lla]

That's what I thought, maybe it's just the pedals I was plugging into.  :?

[Oli]

The Planet Waves stuff isn't very good, it'll wear out the sockets because of the increased pressure/friction of that sprung collar. Neutrik are very good connectors that conform to the correct specifications, so I wouldn't worry-- it'll be the PW connectors that have made you think they should all be very tight!