[sdiy] building your own instrument/patch cables

[David G. Dixon]

This is something which is also starting to weigh heavily on my mind as
well.  I am preternaturally thrifty (some would say I'm so tight I creak
when I walk...), and super-de-duper fancy patch cords seem like a very quick
way to break the bank.  I've seen some which look like they are different
colors, the cable isn't very thick, and the plugs appear to be molded out of
plastic which is the same color as the cord.  These look like they wouldn't
cost the earth, but maybe they're not so durable...?  Also, I'm not that
keen on making my own, as just the thought of stripping and soldering coax
shielding to those little plug internals is enough to break me out in a cold
sweat.

So, how much to these things generally cost, where does one get 'em, and are
the little colored ones I describe really so terrible?

> Quoth Horton at 2009-03-05 07:03...
> > Hey, guys - I'd like to try to build some of my own 1/4" instrument
> > and patch cables. They're so expensive and hard to find in certain
> > shorter lengths, and I need a million for my modular synth anyway. Can
> > somebody recommend some good web tutorials on doing this? How about
> > some general advice if you've done it, too?
> 
> Two points that spring immediately to mind:
> 
> 1) Use heavy-duty plugs and cable.
> 
> 2) Unless the plugs have some very fancy and robust strain relief,
> heatshrink sleeving is your friend.