The build your own cable thread

[LydonB]

How many of you make your own cables (XLR, TRS, etc.)?

I'm looking into making some new XLR cables for when I do on location recordings.

I have made cable before, but only TRS cables, not XLR. It was for an electronics class assignment. For the project I used some Canare cable. I've heard good things about Gotham, especially if you are building your own cables. And I plan on getting the star quad variety of whatever brand I go with.

On Redco the Canare star quad is like $.48/ft. and the Gotham is $.82/ft. (then $.76 if more than 100 ft.). Anyone have a brand preference?

I am leaning towards the Gotham even though it is more expensive, I just want to hear some opinions.

 

[J.DavisNJ]

I've soldered XLR connectors for my monitors before. I used the Mogami cable. They are holding up well! I can't imagine paying for cables anymore. Anyone with half a brain can learn to solder like a mad man. I'm always astounded when I see how much they charge for cables today. Why not use superior quality connectors, cable, and make your own lengths?? It's a no brainer! Glad to see others doing it.

Also, might I recommend some type of "helping-hand" device. The one I have has two or three gator clips and a magnifying glass. It can really help to hold the bare wires in the "cups" of the XLR connectors when soldering.

-Joe

 

[LSD-Studio]

I'm usually doing them myself...

if you can't solder an XLR you shouldn't open a studio ....

the solder iron is your best friend in shitloads of situations (changing pups, fixing cables, modding EMG to 18v.....all stuff I had to do quickly before tracking, I don't rely on Musicians to keep their gear in top condition)

 

[jeffadies]

I make cables all the time. Just rewired our in ear rack last week. about 40 cables total.. balanced,unbalanced,XLR,1/4. As far as studio use i would go for Mogami..http://www.2inch24.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=409&gclid=CKen5KiHvpYCFQhJagodTENDyw

Mogami is really clean sounding. As long as you can solder i would recommend that anyone just make there own cables instead of paying inflated prices for shitty cables with a cool name.

best thing i ever bought was a variable heat solder iron with some different tips for different kinds of cable ends and soldering on circuit boards. Also for about 20 bucks you can get a table Vise, this makes it so much easier to make XLR cables.

If you have any questions about making cables feel free to ask.

 

[J.DavisNJ]

I use a Hakko 936 iron and love it! I also soldered my entire Plexi clone with it, using one tip. The same tip is still going strong today.

I sometimes have a problem stripping very thin stranded wire. I'm thinking of getting a thermal stripper for this. Maybe I'm just not using the stripper right for these wires, but it seems like the copper shreds very easily.

-Joe

 

[006]

TRS = XLR

Same difference, just different plugs on the end

I have made a ridiculous amount of cables so far in my time and it's definitely money saving. I actually made a really long headphone cable a while back for a project, went to the local electronics store and bought like 20 feet of Canare along with a female 1/8" TRS connector and a 1/4" male connector to go into the headphone out of my interface. Soldered the connections and then heatshrinked it. Good stuff. So far I have used Mogami and Canare for pretty much everything I have made, so far so good

~006

 

[jeffadies]

I use a Hakko 936 iron and love it! I also soldered my entire Plexi clone with it, using one tip. The same tip is still going strong today.

I sometimes have a problem stripping very thin stranded wire. I'm thinking of getting a thermal stripper for this. Maybe I'm just not using the stripper right for these wires, but it seems like the copper shreds very easily.

-Joe

yeah i bought a badass wire stripper and for some reason small wires get shredded with it. I will have to look at a thermal stripper i never heard of that before. i hate doing it with my teeth..hurts like hell..lol

 

[J.DavisNJ]

yeah i bought a badass wire stripper and for some reason small wires get shredded with it. I will have to look at a thermal stripper i never heard of that before. i hate doing it with my teeth..hurts like hell..lol

Hah! Never tried that. From what I understand, a thermal strip uses some type of heated "pincer" that clamps down on the wire casing and allows you to easily strip it off.

Let me know if you find a good price on one.

-Joe

 

[Sloan]

wire stripper = scissors

 

[jeffadies]

Hah! Never tried that. From what I understand, a thermal strip uses some type of heated "pincer" that clamps down on the wire casing and allows you to easily strip it off.

Let me know if you find a good price on one.

-Joe

christ those things are pricey...haha ill stick to my teeth for that price.




Sloan...have you tried scissors on say guitar pickups? I tried once and ended up with really short wires. LOL

 

[Sloan]

yeah, i find scissors to be the quickest and easiest way to strip a wire. i've always had those cutter/crimper things, but those things are shit.

 

[JeffTD]

I use toenail clippers to do the very small wires, or just go with my teeth if I'm lazy.

 

[jeffadies]

I'll have to give scissors a second try..thanks for the tip

 

[J.DavisNJ]

I use toenail clippers to do the very small wires, or just go with my teeth if I'm lazy.

Hmmm I might have to try the nail clipper method.

I'm sure there are cheap thermal strippers out there. Might not be worth it though...

-Joe

 

[LydonB]

TRS = XLR
Same difference, just different plugs on the end

Well, yeah

Is there any place that is a reputable place to get cable from online? Like I said, I looked at Redco, but I am sure there are a ton of places that sell it.

I need to get a helping hand tool as well. I remember trying to do the TRS without it and it was a pain in my ass.

Do you guys use rosin core solder?

 

[006]

RedCo is probably the most reputable place to get it, to be honest. I'm also sure there are a lot of other places on the net, but I haven't bothered with anyone but RedCo so far.

You can get those helping hands at any electronics store that sells wire and connectors. We have a store here called Altex Electronics that is like a small warehouse of cable, connectors, all kinds of adapters, computer parts, etc. RadioShack should also carry them, I know those are more widespread in the US than Altex most likely.

~006

 

[jeffadies]

rosin core solder sucks...just get some of the regular solder and some flux paste.

 

[LydonB]

rosin core solder sucks...just get some of the regular solder and some flux paste.

wtf is flux paste? Sounds like back to the future jargon. :zombie:

 

[jeffadies]

flux paste is a bonding agent that helps the solder make its connection.

 

[Wolfeman]

There is nothing wrong with rosin core wire, as long as you know how to use it. Works fine for me. I've built amps with it and never had an issue.

Flux paste works, but have fun with cancer in 20 years.


As for cables, Mogami from Redco is the way to go.