Page 1 of 2

Need pedalboard cable assistance. (ok, all wired up)

Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 3:29 pm
by popvulture
So.

I pulled the trigger and bought a sweet pedalboard switcher (RJM Mastermind PBC), because tap dancing drives me nuts and I dream of lovely presets / parallel blending options.

BUT. Figuring out how I'm going to wire it up is just an aneurysm from another source. I just laid out my pedals and measured the cable distances for each send/return.

1. I was thinking of getting EBS flats to maximize space, plus people really seem to like them on here... that said, most of my lengths would require the longest cable (58cm), and I'd end up with a lot of leftover spaghetti clogging up my board. Not sure that's the best option... also plugging all of those right angle ends into the back of the switcher probably wouldn't be great.

2. I've thought about making my own cables. It seems like a total bitch though. On that note, I've seen some straight 1/4" plugs that are a little shorter than the standard variety, but I haven't seen them for sale anywhere. Can anybody point me in the direction of those?

3. Solderless seems like a decent option, considering that I won't be plugging/unplugging these a whole lot... it'll remain pretty solid once it's all set up, aside from the occasional substitution. They seem expensive as fuck though, am I right? I'd say of all the options, these get the most negative response on here, so I'm surprised that they're also totally not cheap. What a goddamn racket.

I figure there have to be some other options/brands/methods. Some advice would be MUCH appreciated. I figured I'd definitely hit a bit of a wall when this thing arrived and I'd have to figure out the logistics, but this is beyond unsettling.

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 3:37 pm
by untilshewokeme
Image

Lava or the new Disaster Area will take up the least amount of space but unfortunately they are all pretty pricey. You get to make your own lengths to exactly what you need.

The EBS flats are a little annoying that that don't come in a size between 11" and 23" and then nothing longer but they are cheap.

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:01 pm
by popvulture
Yeah I had George L's on my board like ten years ago, and they did occasionally give me issues.

I guess that's the thing that surprises me... the style that's most likely to wear out/fail on you is one of the more expensive choices. Weird there's not a more generic solderless option.

So basically, a Lava Tightrope kit with 10 plugs is 60 bucks. I'd need 40 plugs. :picard:

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:30 pm
by JonnyAngle
popvulture wrote:Yeah I had George L's on my board like ten years ago, and they did occasionally give me issues.

I guess that's the thing that surprises me... the style that's most likely to wear out/fail on you is one of the more expensive choices. Weird there's not a more generic solderless option.

So basically, a Lava Tightrope kit with 10 plugs is 60 bucks. I'd need 40 plugs. :picard:
I ws able to score all of my george l's used and pretty cheap. that being said, it took like 4 years

I think solderless is the best option. they wear out from being plugged and un plugged, not over time from just sitting.

buy in bulk on ebay also, then you get only what you need. you probably dont need more than like 10 feet of cable. if you buy 4 kits youll have like 25 feet of cable.

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 6:22 pm
by weebles
I've heard these are awesome: viewtopic.php?f=149&t=51011

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 6:33 pm
by popvulture
weebles wrote:I've heard these are awesome: viewtopic.php?f=149&t=51011
hahahahahaha

#blessed

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 10:32 pm
by Jero
popvulture wrote:
weebles wrote:I've heard these are awesome: viewtopic.php?f=149&t=51011
hahahahahaha
#blessed
:lol: Was hoping that's where that went prior to clicking

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 10:41 pm
by Jwar
Hahahahahaha

Bro George L's suck ass! I had a whole board of them and the fuckers fail constantly. They are great if your board literally never moves.

I have tried just about every fucking brand of cable out there, including making my own. EBS wins by a long shot. They are cheap, sound good and haven't had any failures yet. Well except the one I broke by accident. LOL

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 1:07 am
by popvulture
Man, if only there were one size in between the 11 and the 23. Hopefully they'll remedy that in the future.

Plus nobody seems to have enough of them in stock... I'd be pretty much buying out Full Compass or whomever and then waiting for more to come in. Might do Lava in the interim. Bah.

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 1:41 am
by popvulture
Should also add that I wish I could make BILF, but don't think I'll have this thing wired up in all its glory in time. Besides, it'd be a dead giveaway after this thread. Will still post for vicious critique though, haha...

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 7:54 am
by untilshewokeme
popvulture wrote:Man, if only there were one size in between the 11 and the 23. Hopefully they'll remedy that in the future.

Plus nobody seems to have enough of them in stock... I'd be pretty much buying out Full Compass or whomever and then waiting for more to come in. Might do Lava in the interim. Bah.
Have you tried bassstringsonline.com? I think they got in a giant shipment last week, had every size in stock. And they have free shipping compared to FC.

If it says "email for availability" just shoot them an email with how many you are looking to get of each length, they reply back very fast.

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 11:38 am
by popvulture
Cool!

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 1:10 pm
by bigchiefbc
I had horrible luck with solderless kits and just said fuck it and started rolling my own a few years ago. I use mogami cable and those GLS pancake jacks. Never had a single failure.

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 1:34 pm
by popvulture
Yeah, to be quite honest that's what I eventually want to do. There's admittedly a huge level of impatience I have at the moment though, which might end up biting me in the ass in the long run. That said, I'll most likely eventually solder my own.

Unbearable desire to start playing with the new toy is definitely currently edging out the sensible but tedious act of ordering parts and soldering 20 patch cables.

Re: Need pedalboard cable assistance. HALP ILF

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 3:48 pm
by popvulture
Welp. Reporting back. Feeling like a world class dildo.

Bought several Lava Tightrope kits because they were the fastest way I could get my pedalboard up and running. After successfully assembling one and subsequently botching like 3 or 4, I'm not sure I've ever wanted to smash stuff more in my life. Followed the damn instructional video to a T... make the click... make the damn cliiiiiiiiiiick :mad:

Unopened kits returned. Unfortunately had to eat the cost on the one I opened. Live and learn. EBS Flats ordered. Now more waiting. Should've listened.

:picard: