George L Cables

Karen Sarkisian · Post by **Karen Sarkisian** » 22 Nov 2013 3:05 pm

what diameter is preferred for pedal steel ? I am going to order some cable (do it yourself) and don't know whether to get the 155 or 225.
thanks

Steve Hitsman · Post by **Steve Hitsman** » 22 Nov 2013 4:33 pm

I think almost everybody uses .155.

Dennis Manuel · Post by **Dennis Manuel** » 22 Nov 2013 5:18 pm

Would be great to have a few more members chime in and I would also like to know if there is any difference in sound?

Karen Sarkisian · Post by **Karen Sarkisian** » 22 Nov 2013 5:42 pm

thank you I will order some 155s. thats what i was leaning toward anyways.. it will be good to finally be rid of my big fat guitar cables that take up way too much space in my pack-a-seat !

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 23 Nov 2013 2:44 am

like many, i mostly use the 155s
for movin' around live, i have a longer 255 on guitbox & lapsteel
on my psg rig 155s are fine

Chris Boyd · Post by **Chris Boyd** » 23 Nov 2013 5:25 am

Definately 155's..

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 23 Nov 2013 6:34 am

I've used the .155 since it first came out in the 80's. Actually have some of the original cables and they are still just as good as they were new.

Jerry Van Hoose · Post by **Jerry Van Hoose** » 23 Nov 2013 9:51 am

I've used GeorgeL .155's since they were introduced, eons ago. A few years ago, I purchased some of the GeorgeL .225 cable & master series plugs, liked those very much too. If I'm using my Peavey Session 400, I go with the .155's. I use the .225's with my Fender tube amps (just personal preference). I've heard that they're the same cable, just different outer covering, however, I think Brad Sarno once examined them closely and discovered a difference in one of the wires. Both Johnny Cox & Randy Beavers once did a side by side test, found one size to be favored over the other. This info can be found by searching the Forum archives, interesting reading for sure.

SCOTT TYLER · Post by **SCOTT TYLER** » 23 Nov 2013 5:00 pm

Hi Karen, you just can't miss with the .155 cable. I use that for my pedal steel and guitar rigs and they have never let me down. I've been using George L's for about 15+ years and they just last!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 23 Nov 2013 6:22 pm

Does the .225 cable have the same stiff outer covering that the .155 has? That's the one thing I absolutely HATE about George L cables and have made me go with other brands with rubber jacketing and just use George L for very short cables. And I will probably change those out too. If the .225 has rubber jacketing, I might consider it.

Bill L. Wilson · Post by **Bill L. Wilson** » 24 Nov 2013 1:05 am

For Steel, I like the smaller compact cables, but when I'm a Rock Star doing my Blues, ZZ TOP gig, I like a heavy duty cord runnin' from the old LES PAUL, to the old MARSHALL STACK. I can't hear anything for a day or so after playin' thru that rig, but it sure is fun.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 24 Nov 2013 5:23 am

The smaller cables are lighter, and take up less room, and the larger cable lays better (flatter) on the floor. I don't notice any difference btwen them, sound-wise. One thing to keep in mind is that these cables are engineered for maximum highs, so if you want "Black Album Buddy", or Weldon sounds, they're just the ticket. But if you're looking for a warm, full-round type of sound, in the range of Lloyd Green to Curly Chalker, they're probably not advantageous. Guitar players often use different cables to make tonal changes in their sound, and steelers can do that, too!

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 24 Nov 2013 8:05 am

Both cables have the same sized core.

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 24 Nov 2013 9:52 am

Richard Sinkler wrote:Does the .225 cable have the same stiff outer covering that the .155 has? That's the one thing I absolutely HATE about George L cables and have made me go with other brands with rubber jacketing and just use George L for very short cables. And I will probably change those out too. If the .225 has rubber jacketing, I might consider it.

That would be my only complaint too Richard...I only started using them in the last few months, never thinking cables made much difference...I WAS WRONG!!!...I use the .155's, and the noise I'd get before using them is now gone...but yes if the .225 is softer jacketed with the .155 sound qualities, I think I'd have to consider the .225's

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 24 Nov 2013 10:50 am

I've been using the skinny ones since the 1980's. Still using the same ones, with the original brass connectors.

They fit well in a pac-a-seat. Remember to reverse every other coil when putting them away. That will keep them from turning into springs when you are using them on stage.

Click Here

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 24 Nov 2013 11:01 am

My complaint is, coiling them up to sit in the compartment in my pak-a-seat causes them to coil like a slinky. I know a lot of people have come on here and suggested other ways to coil them so that doesn't happen, but it's too late for me. After numerous times of people tripping over them, I decided that the run from my volume pedal to amp needed to be a good, rubber jacket cable that would lay flat. No one has tripped over my cords since, and I have notice absolutely NO difference in the sound.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 24 Nov 2013 11:13 am

i've always used the skinny ones from steel to effects and from effects to volume pedal. i use a longer fatter cord from vp to amp. they do make a difference in high end and the combination seems to work just fine for me. always using a buffered (10K) goodrich vp and/or li'l izzy of course.
i prefer a long, lay flat, fat cord to the amp for everyone to walk on.

Drew Pierce · Post by **Drew Pierce** » 27 Nov 2013 6:11 am

I've used the small George L's cables since they were introduced. I roll them up to go in the pack-a-seat and have never had a problem with them not laying flat. And I don't roll them up any special way. As long as they're not twisted they'll lay flat as a snake.

Jerry Van Hoose · Post by **Jerry Van Hoose** » 27 Nov 2013 3:01 pm

Here's a valuable link to info regarding the differences between George L .155 & .225 cable.

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/009017-2.html

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 27 Nov 2013 3:59 pm

It seems to me that the Geo L's gals told me that the core was the same so will check when I place my next order and bow to those who have actually looked.

David Pinkston · Post by **David Pinkston** » 29 Nov 2013 8:45 am

Asterope Cables sound amazing in the studio on steel but are crazy expensive. (You get what you pay for).

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 29 Nov 2013 9:53 am

Lisa at Geo L's confirmed that the cores of the .155" and the .225" are the same.

Karen Sarkisian · Post by **Karen Sarkisian** » 29 Nov 2013 5:50 pm

Thank you for all the replies. I ordered 20' of the .155 cable and the do it yourself kit. They haven't arrived yet but I am exited to try them out when they do

Daryl Thisdelle · Post by **Daryl Thisdelle** » 1 Dec 2013 4:46 pm

Karen I use the 155 between my guitar and Digital Sustain and the 255 from my Digital Sustain to my Goodrich pedal then another 255 to my compressor and from my compressor to my input to my Stereo Steel another 255. Hope that helps.

Daryl

Jerry Van Hoose · Post by **Jerry Van Hoose** » 2 Dec 2013 7:18 am

The capacitance rating of both the .155 & .225 might be and probably is the same, however, the cores are different. Presently, I have and use both sizes, think they are superb cables, best I've used to date and sound great. My present George L cables are about 6 or 7 years old, still look new and work perfectly. But, I had to see for myself. So....I removed an end from both sizes and cut off about an inch of cable, then dissected them like a frog in biology class. I counted, with the help of a jewelers magnifying glass, about 7 strands of copper wire in the .155 cable and "about" 18 strands of a different wire, what looks to be tin in the .225. At this point in my life, with past exposure to loud locomotive horns as well as loud music, I honestly can't hear a difference, nor does it matter. However, unless it has recently been changed, the core composition is definitely different.

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