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Tutorials
Soldering guitar cables
w/ Mike Comparetto
Soldering guitar cables
8 min • 2010
English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Quarter inch cables have a tendency to break or at least show signs of weakness against angry drunken guitar players who yank their connectors right out. It is nothing personal, and bass players do it to.
In this video, Mike shows you how to identify a bad solder, how to fix it and demonstrates how to make your own cables.
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4.5
17 reviews
Soundlight • Thursday, January 9, 2020
Thank you
bassmothership • Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Dude sounds so cocky, as if it’s the easiest simplest thing in the world. Soldering a TS cable is the hardest to make it right. You don’t have much space to work in the jack between the shield and the hot wire, so it really sucks immensely.
Normally diy cables carries less signal than commercial ones, unless your soldering work is at least perfect. If your soldering joints don’t look shiny and smooth, your cable may work, but it won’t carry the same amount of signal comparing to a factory made one.
steve2k2 • Friday, August 14, 2015
Yes - that first example looks like a piece of my handiwork :-)
5corde • Thursday, April 30, 2015
Nice, thanks.
I hate doing XLRs, sometimes the plastic part melt... :-)
DangerousMusic • Friday, November 28, 2014
For those of you asking for temperature, it is generally recommended to use between 650 and 800 for audio cables. Usually it's best to play around with the temperature and see what works best for you. The better you get, the more you can raise the temperature because you can work quickly without melting the insulation (or burning yourself).
If you want the short answer though, just use 700
joelfarr • Thursday, November 27, 2014
I also would appreciate knowing a recommended temp!
lazarox10 • Saturday, August 2, 2014
Thanks, very useful the video
AdRi__Forn • Monday, April 21, 2014
really nice man!!
Dazaaaaa • Tuesday, March 4, 2014
you should do one of these for XLR cables, and Snakes with DB25 connectors, TRS, TS and XLR (male and female)
dexter_quito • Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Thank you for this information. You guys are simply the best!
jondkinney • Tuesday, January 1, 2013
I'd be curious to know the 'proper' temp to use when soldering cables as well. Thanks!
nemo970 • Sunday, December 9, 2012
Hi, this can vary by specific cable, but on some cables the thin black shield on the hot wire should be removed as it is conductive.
http://www.sommercable.com/3__produkte/3__030_meterware/3__300_0071.html
MichaelAlan • Monday, May 28, 2012
This video is awesome! I am no electronics engineer, but I have found that fixing cables is a pretty handy thing to know how to do. Thanks for hooking it up with the correct method!
derZorn • Monday, February 20, 2012
Nice video.
I'm missing some details like temperature settings and what solder to use.
gazzamazda5 • Saturday, September 24, 2011
Solder on Soldier