OMG I FUCKING HATE PATCH CABLES

[goroth]

Easiest way to A/B power supplies is to get your loudest fuck off fuzz and turn everything up. Then listen to what noise it's making when you kill the volume on your guitar. I compared a cheap Cioks, and 2 expensive Cioks, a 1spot and a Boss adapter this way, and the noise the power supplies generate differs quite substantially. Note I'm not saying that power supplies make your shit sound different and put tone fairies in there (that's what transparent overdrives are for) but it is a simple way to compare the filtering in a given power supply. The quieter it is, the better filtered it is, the closer the output is to a battery, the less troubles you'll have in the long run with pedals playing nice with each other.

Patch cables (or any cable) are all about construction. If it's well built buy it, if not fuck it. The cables are so short that at audio frequencies you could probably make them of iron filings and wood dust and it wouldn't really affect anything. And as long as you've got at least one buffered pedal on your board long cables don't make a difference either.

[rfurtkamp]

I've tried a Voodoo Labs, a Boss, One-Spot, and cheap Dano.

None of it made any difference.

I don't have a noise issue in my ugly chain despite a massive, massive one, even with an overhead fluorescent.

If I was gigging still, and dealing with crappy venue power, it'd be different, but I don't.

If I encounter a problem that makes me want to spend money, I will in a heartbeat, I just haven't had a need to.

[frigid midget]

I feel yer pain mang, FUCK patch cables

I used cheap ass GLS pancake plugs and cheap/recycled cable though. Those GLS pancakes are a pita to solder imo, though I'm sure there'll be whise asses here who'll blame it on ly soldering skillz

[bigchiefbc]

I feel yer pain mang, FUCK patch cables

I used cheap ass GLS pancake plugs and cheap/recycled cable though. Those GLS pancakes are a pita to solder imo, though I'm sure there'll be whise asses here who'll blame it on ly soldering skillz

They're tricky, but once I got into the swing of it, I banged out enough for my two boards in a couple hours. They were defo cheap, but I've never had one fail.

[goroth]

At least GLS have a solder lug for the ground.
Switchcrafts on the other hand...

[Jwar]

You know what sucks is I have made my own patch cables and I think my soldering iron was just a piece of shit. I just got a digital one that goes up to like 800 degrees (or some ridiculous shit like that), way fucking hotter than my last one at any rate. I can't believe how smooth it makes soldering. My God I've been putting myself through hell for 2 years!!!

Anyway, I may give that a go again.

[UnicornTrap]

Lately i've been getting the lava (soldered) cable kits for spaces that need a really tight fit. It is a single solder point and they have held up well -damn well should for what I paid for them. I have had no luck at all with the solderless kits (I've tried a few different companies).

Otherwise I just get those switchcraft or neutrik angled jacks and solder them myself. I've had some die from sloppy novice soldering work, but usually nothing that can't be re-done. I SUCK at soldering, but yeah, a decent temperature controlled iron makes a big difference!

[Seedy]

I don't believe in paying for anything other than the cheapest patch cables that are appropriate length/shape. Planet waves cables fucking SUCK though, especially the non cable ones http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Waves-Inch ... aves+patch. Completely unuseable.

I use (mostly) Hosa pancake cables http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-Cable-IRG100 ... B000068O3Y, they take up less space than most of the pancakes I've seen historically. But the single best investment I've made to circumvent the OP's problem is this http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-CT100-C ... B000CCIVCA. Every time I rearrange my board I pass them through this. I never wanted to pay $75 or upwards of $100 (?) for a cable tester but for the price of the Behringer ($29) I've saved myself a lot of frustration.

[wafl]

Dont know if this has been posted already but
http://bitcheslovemyswitches.com/#!/~/p ... d=30853809
And mogami cables can be had for $0.90/foot bu ti cant remember where.

[Chankgeez]

I thought the title of this thread was "OMG, I'M HATE FUCKING PATCH CABLES".

That's why I'm here.

[KaosCill8r]

Do any of you guys choose what patches you use based on sound quality after actually having a/b'd cheapies and mogamis, et al.
I don't.

Nope. I am instantly suspicious of such claims. Same way I will cite that consumer report about people not being able to tell the difference between monster cable and a coat hanger. http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/03/audi ... cable-and/

I believe an isolated power supply will bring pedals to their fullest potential, but I don't believe a cable is going to make you "sound" better.

Yeah i read something about one of their speaker cables being a,b,d with a lamp cord and no one could tell the difference. I do think good quality signal chain cables make a difference over long distances and with a lot of effects. But a good buffer or two in your chain will make more of a difference in overall sound quality. I just use Mogami cable because I don't like to take any chances with my sound and because I don't have the best power supply's money can buy.

[Psyre]

I buy the cheapest I can. Colorful fuckers, hosa pancakes, $2 impulse buy bin in line. Never had one go out :shrug: