Fixing a guitar cable

[LivewireBlanco]

So I had one crap out on me today at practice. Any tips to this or should I just take it apart and re-solder what is already connected? I just installed a new pickup in my strat so I am feeling pretty handy with the ol' soldering iron right now.

[Dazed&Confuzed]

I made 6 or 7 cables my self, if you can solder its not hard at all. A second pair of hands helps though :D

[LivewireBlanco]

Any tips?

[Dave W]

If your cable ends screw off you can look at the other end and just copy whats there. Just gotta solder it. I sometimes have used tape to cover other parts or areas like working in amp replacing screen grid resistors so I do not leave a solder mess or solder to joints together by accident. On speakers I place a piece of paper in the frame under the terminals to catch the solder. Its easier to solder with three hands. You could stabalize the soldering iron by putting it in a vice or maybe a microphone holder or a book on top of a desk or whatever to hold it in place and bring the cable and solder up to the soldering iron etc.

[MKB]

Here's a few tips:

1) Be careful with the heat as many 1/4" plugs have plastic insulators (if there is a black ring between the tip and sleeve on your plug, you have a plastic insulator). If you get the plastic too hot, the parts in the plug can loosen and you'll get intermittent connections. I normally throw away all plastic insulator plugs and replace them with Switchcraft plugs with bakelite (brown) insulators.

2) If the parts wobble on the plug, throw the plug away. Even good plugs like Switchcraft can loosen over time and cause problems.

3) It is very possible to have bad cable as well as bad plugs. Probably half of the bad cables I've had over the years had good plugs but bad wire. The bad spot in the wire is usually very hard to find, it's best to throw the cable away.

I make all my own cables now from Switchcraft ends, adhesive heat shrink and Belden 8412 cable. These cables are basically indestructible, I haven't had a single one break or go bad in 10 years of moderately hard gigging.

[Dazed&Confuzed]

I suppose MKB got most of them like dont heat it up too much or you will melt the insulation and to copy the other end if you dont know how it goes back together. If both ends are soldered on nicely and the cable doesnt work I would probably throw it away if its not a really expensive one.

[LivewireBlanco]

I can wiggle the cable right next to the jack when it's plugged in and it will cut in and out, so I'm thinking it's the connection.

[jannne]

You could stabalize the soldering iron by putting it in a vice or maybe a microphone holder or a book on top of a desk or whatever to hold it in place and bring the cable and solder up to the soldering iron etc.

Another option is to insert the plug in a pedal.

[Dave W]

Another option is to insert the plug in a pedal.

But that would be way to simple, ha! ha!

[LivewireBlanco]

Tried it. When I use the pedal it occasionally cuts out.

[jannne]

:lol:

I meant you could use a pedal to hold the plug still while you solder the wires...

[LivewireBlanco]

:lol:

I meant you could use a pedal to hold the plug still while you solder the wires...

Interesting..... :idea:

[LivewireBlanco]

Fixed it last night. Just had to solder one wire back. Somehow it came loose. All I did was lay the cable on the little stand that my soldering iron usually lays on and it propped it up all nice and pretty for me. Thanks guys!

[Dazed&Confuzed]

good to hear you fixed it.