Solderless cords???

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 1 Feb 2008 7:10 pm

I have had problems on and off with my solderless cords ... is it just the 90 deg. angle ends
or is it just me..??
ken

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 1 Feb 2008 8:30 pm

The angle ends are problematic. Stick with the straight ones, and you should be fine.

Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 1 Feb 2008 8:40 pm

I use the angled ends on my pedal board, so they don't move, no problems. I also use a wireless on my fiddle, angled ends from transmitter to fiddle, again no problems.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 1 Feb 2008 10:14 pm

The angle ends are problematic. Stick with the straight ones, and you should be fine.

I find the angled ones no more a problem than the straight ones...and I have NO problem with either.

I've been using George L's for years, both the light-gage and heavier cable, and straight or angled plugs - some with "strain relief" caps or tubes, some without.

I just seem to have no problems. None. I cut the cable with the semi-dull cutter on a pair of old needlenose pliers (whichever of 5-6 I have handy); I roll the tip of the cable between two fingers to ensure the end is round; I stick it in the hole, and then (in angled) bend it and twist the cap until it's just past "snug"; is straight, I turn the screw (again) just past "snug".

I think in two decades or more and at least two hundred cables (made for me, relatives, friends, pedalboard setups, etc) I've had one...maybe two... loose connections; whereupon I clipped and inch off the cable on each end and reinstalled the plugs - didn't bother to screw around and find out which end had a problem.

I have read years of instructions about accurate razor cuts and all sorts of urban-legend stuff about how to handle these things...but they are a complete no-brainer. I can't comprehend how anyone with two hands and even just one eyeball could screw one up or have one go bad later.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 2 Feb 2008 3:34 am

I've been using George L's cable/connectors since they came out back in the 80's and have had one bad end that I had to fix. Can't complain about that and the one bad connection was my fault.

Al Risbeck · Post by **Al Risbeck** » 2 Feb 2008 8:08 am

On the George L's make sure you have a ground where the threaded insert cuts the covering, then put a very small amount of thread lock on the male threads and you'll have no more problems. At least that's the best way I've found.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 2 Feb 2008 8:15 am

Perhaps I should have said that I have found the angles to be personally somewhat problematic from time to time.

I apologize for the lack of clarity.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 2 Feb 2008 8:36 am

Although I've used the George L's as stated above, I have no faith in the right angles. Tried some once and even tho I'm a tech I still couldn't get them to work right or not be intermittent. I trashed all the right angle connectors (two) that I had.

I'm with Mikey on this.

Mitch Adelman · Post by **Mitch Adelman** » 2 Feb 2008 9:18 am

I used to have rare problems with the right angles when the little screw cap came a tad loose in my pedalboard. I solved any uncertainty by buying a 40 buck Nady cable tester. Every once in a while I'll put the right angle george l's (and even the sraights)in the tester and give them a good wiggle. if the light blinks it means they need tightened or recut. Peace of mind so no blow outs on stage!Great sounding cables!

Al Risbeck · Post by **Al Risbeck** » 2 Feb 2008 9:48 am

I am currently using six angle ends on patch cables and have been for at least four years. with the thread lock and a pair of pliers when tightening them I have never had a problem.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 2 Feb 2008 12:03 pm

What I do with them is make sure the end cap cuts through the insulation and bite into the sheathing wire, by tightening them and backing them off a couple times.

Putting a dab of fingernail polish or loctite red cinches them pretty well.

I've had the most problem with cutting the ends off smartly, cleanly and making sure they aren't stretched when they are cut. I roll the end around and make sure the wire sheathing isn't ragged and maybe shorting to the core, and with the angles, I try to make sure I'm pushing the cord to the bottom and not backing out when I put the end cap on. It's miles ahead of regular 1/4" cord.

They are more problematic to a certain degree, as witnessed by them costing less, but for things like amp connections in cheap fender or Marshall plastic input female jacks or foot fault prone connections to tuners, Pods, or stomp boxes, they are more than worth the trouble.

The smaller surface of "sheathing" is what makes these things a clear choice.

They chould call woven metal sheathing "RF Antenna". If you want to pick up more RF interference, get a larger antenna. 1/4" sheathing picks up about twice as much as 1/8".

Check it out.

EJL

Jeff Hyman · Post by **Jeff Hyman** » 2 Feb 2008 3:55 pm

I personally love them, straight and angled. I've only had one problem (many years ago) and it was a quick on-the-spot fix. Cut off about 1 inch off the end, and re-attached the tip. Another great thing about them is the cable itself. Takes up very little room in the seat case, and wraps up in a neat circle.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 2 Feb 2008 5:43 pm

I've got maybe 20 of the right angled ones here and most of them have been in use for a few years. Lately a bunch of them (okay let's say "4" of them) have gotten loose and have started to hum or make noise when I move them.

When you assemble the right angled ones, make sure you bend the cable only enough to be able to start the threads on the cap. Pre-bending it sharply will reduce the integrity of the ground connection by reducing the force that the shield impacts the cap. In fact, it says this on the copy of the installation instructions I have here.

Greg

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 2 Feb 2008 11:19 pm

The interesting mix of players who have never had a problem and some who have had lots of problems leads me to the conclusion that those who have no problems aren't just lucky, if you catch my drift.

Like I said - I fail to see how anyone could have a problem with them.

Jeff Hyman · Post by **Jeff Hyman** » 3 Feb 2008 5:54 am

Jim,

I tend to agree with you. I think what may be the biggest contributor to the problem, is how tight the screw is turned. Buy default, one may think to just tighten it to the max, and that will make it fail. Anyone out there have a set of the "Instructions" that came with the product and post it here?

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 3 Feb 2008 6:53 am

I've never had a failure but as Eric said, I add a touch of loctite.
Hook

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 3 Feb 2008 9:43 am

Here's the George L FAQ page. As Jeff said, I think the biggest problem is overtightening the screws - maybe it's a fear the thing will fall apart or something, but you just need enough to make contact, not drill through the whole cable.

http://www.georgelsstore.com/faq.html

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 3 Feb 2008 10:00 am

From the above quoted webiste:

Cut your cable straight across. Remove the top
of your right angle plug and put the plug on your
cable. Bend the cable over into the slot on the
side of the plug just enough to get the top back
on the plug. (DO NOT TAKE YOUR THUMB AND
PUSH THE CABLE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE
SLOT!!) Screw your top all the way down
completely. This is your ground connection.

As I mentioned above, Geroge L's says:

"Bend the cable over into the slot on the
side of the plug just enough to get the top back
on the plug. (DO NOT TAKE YOUR THUMB AND
PUSH THE CABLE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE
SLOT!!)"

They also say:

"Screw your top all the way down
completely"

Completely means all the way, tight. You cannot over tighten the screw cap.

Greg

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 3 Feb 2008 11:29 am

I should clairify..
I also have some 15-ish years old with no problems.
all strait ends.
2 years back I got an entire set of steel cords in red, just to have an separate set in my pack a seat.
The new angle ends, some have never failed but a couple of them seem to need tightening and cause sound problems and occasional LOUD !!! outbursts.
I hate it when that happens

Kenny

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 3 Feb 2008 11:31 am

P.S.
Thanks to everybody!!
Kenny

Ernest Cawby · Post by **Ernest Cawby** » 5 Feb 2008 7:10 am

Once I had a top fall off in the pack seat, once in a while turn the top cap to tighten so it does not work loose in time. And it will last forever. I have used these since 1991 with no problems????? the one problem I had was improper maintainance.

ernie

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Feb 2008 7:42 am

I am going to be trying the Core x2 cords and plugs.
They have a right angle plug, that acording to the reports, is foolproof.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 5 Feb 2008 4:27 pm

Erv, those look really good. Who makes those?

Dickie Whitley · Post by **Dickie Whitley** » 5 Feb 2008 4:41 pm

Here's one place:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=332506

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Feb 2008 4:55 pm

Michael,
I ordered these from www.music123.com
They have a special deal going now where you get an instant credit when you buy certain items and these are included in the special.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Solderless cords???

Solderless cords???

Angle connectors

Geo. L angle end

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Core X2