Riffster Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 If I am looking at a 15' coiled instrument cable, what does that actually mean? what is approximate non-stretched length? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 I would assume 15' is the "stretched" length. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 3, 3 'na half feet coiled up. After a year of use, if it lasts that long, it'll be a 20 foot cable. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 It all depends on the diameter of the coils and the thickness of the cable...you tell me the coil diameter and I'll tell you how to use 3.15946 in the appropriate manner... 3, 3 'na half feet coiled up. After a year of use, if it lasts that long, it'll be a 20 foot cable.... It's funny 'cause it's true! If you can get it all untangled'n'such... Pip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkesman Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 In the late '70s I, and everyone else I played with, used what we used to call 'curly' leads. By the early '80s I, and everyone else I knew, were using straight leads. The 'curlies' put a lot of strain on the internal jack cable grip, and on the lead in general, and over time the outer sheath would split somewhere and eventually cause one of the cores to fail (usually half-way through a song whilst on stage!). So, I haven't used one for 35 years, but maybe they are better now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 In the late '70s I, and everyone else I played with, used what we used to call 'curly' leads.... Me Too! Sometimes we called them 'coilys'. We should start a new thread; 'Me and My Curly'. Here's a snap of me (heavily pre-edited by other hands to protect the guilty innocent) with my red coily playing some pub (the Whiteside, Polmont?) back in '81-ish; L16783. I miss her. Pip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted February 23, 2017 Author Share Posted February 23, 2017 Yea, I figure they have their draw backs but my current cable has been coiling a bit and I wanted something that could be stretched and returned to shape. I actually have a chaep Radio Shack branded coil cable that works great for when I am playing guitar through my interface and computer but I do not recall what length is it may be a 10' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 A few things come to mind here: One - there was a very similar thread a couple months ago on another forum, but can't remember which one; MLP? Two - consensus was not to get one for any number of reasons Three - I bought a couple of these years ago and promptly shelved them. They weigh a ton Four - I finally went wireless and never looked back, BUT, this video may help you out: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Riffster - I've been using the coily Lava Cable with a silent plug and I don't think you'll be disappointed if you get one of those. I highly recommend it I would also ignore the negative generalizations that have been posted here so far. If you use quality cable with quality plugs, there's no reason it's any less durable than a straight cable. If you put your cable through your strap to relive the strain on the plug/jack, there won't be an issue. Same goes for straight cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Best of both worlds? (I should sell those with my half n half guitars :)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StRanger7032 Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 But Hendrix used coiled cables. They must add tone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 We had a thread on this, must have been over a year ago, with some pix of Cap who had a mishap with a curly lead. Straight cables only for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted February 24, 2017 Author Share Posted February 24, 2017 Riffster - I've been using the coily Lava Cable with a silent plug and I don't think you'll be disappointed if you get one of those. I highly recommend it I would also ignore the negative generalizations that have been posted here so far. If you use quality cable with quality plugs, there's no reason it's any less durable than a straight cable. If you put your cable through your strap to relive the strain on the plug/jack, there won't be an issue. Same goes for straight cables. Yea, I always loop the cable anyway and well I do not play an stages, only in my jam room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted February 24, 2017 Author Share Posted February 24, 2017 Best of both worlds? (I should sell those with my half n half guitars :)) I've seen those but they are too long for what I need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted February 24, 2017 Author Share Posted February 24, 2017 A few things come to mind here: One - there was a very similar thread a couple months ago on another forum, but can't remember which one; MLP? Two - consensus was not to get one for any number of reasons Three - I bought a couple of these years ago and promptly shelved them. They weigh a ton Four - I finally went wireless and never looked back, BUT, this video may help you out: Yep, I was aware of the technique. My current cable though I bought it bilk and added plugs to it but it seems to have a natural coil to it, it coils great to put it away but it also coils when I am using it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Ask Wilko..... His cable is a major part of the act.....:blink: On a personal level.....went wireless after tiring of treading on cables and straining jack plugs V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Can't speak for the rest of the world but be aware that the majority of medium and larger venues in the UK don't allow the use of coily cables because they're dangerous. They tangle with other cables and end up pulling amps and other equipment off/over/down. I can't help thinking this isn't just a UK phenomenon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 A few things come to mind here: One - there was a very similar thread a couple months ago on another forum, but can't remember which one; MLP? Two - consensus was not to get one for any number of reasons Three - I bought a couple of these years ago and promptly shelved them. They weigh a ton Four - I finally went wireless and never looked back, BUT, this video may help you out: Curious. I never coil cables. I fold them. When they're folded a couple of times you can tie them in a loose half knot. Easy, and no tangles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkesman Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Curious. I never coil cables. I fold them. When they're folded a couple of times you can tie them in a loose half knot. Easy, and no tangles. Yeah, I do the same for short leads. I've been criticised for doing it, but so long as the knot is very loose it's fine as you're not over-stressing the cores. Never had one fail on me yet, and I've been doing it for decades! However I've got a load of 50' speaker leads, and once you've folded them about 100 times (!), and then loose-knotted them, when you come to use them again they get in a right old tangle. So for these long ones I have always used the 'over/under' technique - it's a lot like what the guy in the vid does, and achieves the same effect, but I find it's the easiest way to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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