George L Cables - Coiling Solution

Dennis Wood · Post by **Dennis Wood** » 11 Jun 2009 6:11 am

I have heard different complaints about GeorgeL cables not laying flat and getting tangles. My solution is to coil the cables as we in the fire service coil our rescue ropes. I never have a problem with my cables when coiled in this manner.
Start with the first coil clockwise. 2nd coil, make a half twist of the cable counter clockwise and let the opposing coil lay naturally with the 1st coil. 3rd coil, clockwise. 4th coil, half twist counterclockwise. continue alternating the coils until all the cable is coiled. The coil of cable will be alternating cw/ccw coils. Coiled in this manner, the cable will not develope memory and will un-coil freely without tangles. Our fire service rescue ropes can be thrown a great distance without tangles or snarls coiled this way.

try it, its really simple when you get the hang of it. This works great for mic and speaker cables as well.

DW

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 11 Jun 2009 6:49 am

Could you post a photo of this, please? It sounds like a good idea, but I'd like to make sure I'm following you correctly.

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 11 Jun 2009 6:58 am

This is an excellent method for coiling any line, from boating to tack...

Throws well from a horse also!

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 11 Jun 2009 7:02 am

I've seen guys that work with big sound crews use that method. My cables were all purchased back in the 1980's. It's probably too late for me.

Here are some good pictures:

Click Here

Lee

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 11 Jun 2009 7:20 am

Here's another:
http://www.animatedknots.com/coiling/in ... dknots.com

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 11 Jun 2009 7:23 am

When the George L's are new they will tend to do that. But, after using for a while they will lose most of the coiling tendancies.

I bought new (Red)cables about a year ago and they are not "broke in".

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 11 Jun 2009 7:30 am

I agree, Jack. My cables are over 20 years old now. As long as I "unroll" them, like pulling line off of an old "baitcasting" reel, the cable will behave itself and lie flat on the floor.

Lee

Dennis Wood · Post by **Dennis Wood** » 11 Jun 2009 7:47 am

Lee & Steve, thanks for putting up the links. I intended to do that in the original post but, I forgot and hit submit. $:\$

Lynn Oliver · Post by **Lynn Oliver** » 11 Jun 2009 8:49 am

I've been trying to teach the guys in my band how to do this with mic cables for years... it is easy to do but hard to describe.

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 11 Jun 2009 10:25 am

I've been trying to teach the guys in my band how to do this with mic cables for years... it is easy to do but hard to describe.

Yeah, I hear ya, you show them how to do it, and then next time you look, they're using the 'arm bar' method.. $:\$

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 11 Jun 2009 2:28 pm

I always duct tape the little buggers to the floor - you won't trip over them then

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 12 Jun 2009 4:33 am

Yeah, I hear ya, you show them how to do it, and then next time you look, they're using the 'arm bar' method..

Man, isn't that the truth! I've been using the same coiling method for a long time - we do it with spray equipment hoses (some of which have multiple internal lines and are 3" in diameter!) as well, which is where I got the method about 30 years ago.

I recall seeing a show a few years ago...local battle of the Bands...and some poor shmuck of a kid was playing his Indonesian Strat with what looked like a fishing-line backlash of cable hanging of his guitar. He didn't seem to care at all but it drove me to distraction!

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 12 Jun 2009 11:33 am

Dennis Wood wrote: The coil of cable will be alternating cw/ccw coils.

Yes, I recommend the "over and under" method.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 17 Jun 2009 12:16 am

Surely someone has manufactured a small cable rollup device, similar to big orange reels you can find at hardware stores, but designed for shorter, thinner guitar cords? Tangled cords are the bane of my existence!

When I set up my little PA, I do like reels: I attach a scrunchy hair band to one end of the first speaker cable, attach it to the reel, and wind it onto the reel; then to the end of that I attach a double female cord connecter, hook up the second PA cord, reel it up, and attach its end to the side of the reel with another scrunchy. Works great.

But I sure would love a much smaller version of this for steel cords that would fit in my accessories suitcase.

Don Drummer · Post by **Don Drummer** » 20 Jun 2009 11:01 pm

I had this same prblem and a similar reaction: These cables may be alright and improve the sound but whats up whith this not laying flat. Well what was done was a nd after experiencing the no brainer method of making short cord, long cord, and anything in between with just a wire cutter and scew driver I got over it. And they do eventually lay flat over time. Don D.

Bob Cox · Post by **Bob Cox** » 21 Jun 2009 6:11 am

I recently started useing Planet Waves.They are great
,and can be set to any size.I have one with the cut off, quite switch at the steel.This way you can keep your amp warm ,and not worry about the guitar durring intermission or breaks.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 21 Jul 2013 10:57 am

I thought I would bump this back to the top.

Good information about the proper way to roll up cables.

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 21 Jul 2013 12:48 pm

The reverse-every-other twist system is pretty standard, but here's one I wouldn't have believed until saw it in action. I mentioned in another post that I had worked for a tv station years ago. We always used the system described above, except for very long cords, 400 ft video cables for example for a remote broadcast. After using the cable, of course it's laid out straight for most of its length. You wrap it in a figure 8, each half of the 8 about a foot or so in diameter to start. We had a small piece of plywood that laid flat on the ground with two 2" round vertical posts about 18" apart, each a foot or so high coming up from the plywood. This was our guide. Wrap the entire cable into a figure 8, then put a cable tie around the entire center of the bundle and one at the outside of each half of the figure 8. Next time you need it. Throw it on the ground, remove the cable ties, grab an end and start walking away. It NEVER tangles. I can't explain it, it just works. Probably not ideal for a guitar cord, but it's great for 100 ft. long extension cords.

Nothings worse than playing a pretty chord through an ugly cord

Sincerely,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

Peter Harris · Post by **Peter Harris** » 22 Jul 2013 4:02 am

...and if you were to pick up each 'end' of the figure eight and bring them together, you would in fact duplicate the end product of the 'over-under' method exactly!

...but I do agree with you that your method would be great for long and heavy cables that are beyond coiling up in your hands...so great actually, that I'm going to make myself one of them thar boards next weekend!!

Thanks for the tip!!

Peter

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 22 Jul 2013 8:11 am

Hi Peter.
You can save some trouble. . . just take an old straight-legged chair, turn it upside down and use two of the legs. Of course being a tv station we only used the highest-tech equipment. (when people were around.)

My neighbor has a box 50' long X 2" square, with a hinged lid. He said his garden hose came in it.

Regards,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

Peter Harris · Post by **Peter Harris** » 23 Jul 2013 3:16 am

Craig Baker wrote:Hi Peter.
You can save some trouble. . . just take an old straight-legged chair, turn it upside down and use two of the legs. Of course being a tv station we only used the highest-tech equipment. (when people were around.)

My neighbor has a box 50' long X 2" square, with a hinged lid. He said his garden hose came in it.

Regards,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

Ha!
...I'll remember to put an old chair in the van!

...better still, I'll keep an eye out for one of those hose boxes...

...but I may have to get a longer van..

Butch Mullen · Post by **Butch Mullen** » 23 Jul 2013 8:35 am

Craig, Surely you jest, how many hinges on that box? Li'l Izzy came yesterday much fuller sound, very pleased with it.Good candy too, rather had a beer though. Butch 28681

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 23 Jul 2013 9:07 am

I understand Butch, but they won't let me ship hazardous material through the mail. It's for your own protection.

Glad to hear that you're enjoying Li'l Izzy.

Thanks for your post.

Best regards,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 23 Jul 2013 10:49 am

So one could invert the packaseat....

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 23 Jul 2013 10:59 am

I have been using this method for years. I coil the first coil clockwise, then the next coil counter clock wise. I also alternate between the coils being inside, towards my body, then the next coil is on the outside further away from my body.

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