making your own cables?

[guitar junkie]

if you are like me it would seem that you never have enough cable, or at least enough cables the right length... after all cable is not cheap! and again if you are like me you are a broke musician... but after looking around a bit it seems like you can buy the parts and "high end" cable for less than you could go and buy low end cable at the local Guitar Center, when i say high end cable i mean stuff like Magami cable and some other really costly premade kinds of stuff.... so any way does anybody make their own cables? i am really thinking about it now myself...

[heller_benjamin]

It isn't too hard I don't think. Though why not just spend a fair amount once or twice and get a few planet waves or monsters or something with lifetime garuntee.

[TAlderson]

I think that you could probably never get anywhere near the sound quality of a good cable with a homemade one. That being said, I think that if you could save a lot of money making your own, it might be worth it. But, I'm gonna stick to buying mine for now.

-Tyler


Notes from moderator: Tyler is saying that the average person doesn't have the soldiering skills to make a quality cable. There is no reason why I cable made at home would be any different than one made in the studio if the person making the cable knows how to use a soldiering iron.

[snoopy]

Originally Posted by heller_benjamin

It isn't too hard I don't think.? Though why not just spend a fair amount once or twice and get a few planet waves or monsters or something with lifetime garuntee.

The cables I make are backed by a lifetime guarantee.........if they ever fail I just return them to myself, and I will fix them free of charge......... ;D

[brandondrury]

I think that you could probably never get anywhere near the sound quality of a good cable with a homemade one.

Why would you say this? You better have some evidence because I don't want silly rumors being started on my forum.

I don't know any big boys who don't buy their cable in bulk and then just add whatever connectors they want. There is no reason (with proper soldiering) that you can't make a pro cable for a much cheaper price.

Brandon

[richiebee]

I have more faith in store bought cables than my own. I repair cables if I need to, but its rare. I'd rather just buy them... I know they're expensive, but its not as if I need a million of them, and they last a long time if you look after them.

Rich

[TAlderson]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

Why would you say this?? You better have some evidence because I don't want silly rumors being started on my forum.

I don't know any big boys who don't buy their cable in bulk and then just add whatever connectors they want.? ?There is no reason (with proper soldiering) that you can't make a pro cable for a much cheaper price.

Brandon

No, no I know that. I'm saying, for your average person, you couldn't make a homemade cable well. I realize that there are some people who can make them, but for the majority of us, I'm sure it wouldn't work as well.

-Tyler

[brandondrury]

Fair enough, but the amount of skill required to solider an XLR cable is not exactly high. There is a right way and a wrong way to solder, but it's not like you have to complete 6 years of medical school to be able to solider properly.

If price is a factor, you will be able to buy better cable if you build them yourself because the cabling itself becomes cheaper. I'm not convinced better cabling helps THAT much, but it could make a subtle difference in the right situation (between mic and preamp / between guitar and amplifier) where signals have not been boosted to line level. Some guys think that higher quality cables are blatantly obvious. For me, the jury is still out.

Brandon