A Good Cable or Two

[Insanite]

Hiy'all,

Just yesterday, what seems to be the bass-carrying side of my stereo to dual-mono cable ceased to function correctly. I tried plugging the thing into myriad devices, though nothing could produce anymore than a clipping, hissing sort of sound. While I could get by with the sickeningly healthy melody side of my megatar, I do enjoy the bass of the instrument, too, and so I'm looking for a replacement cable. Hopefully it's the only thing that needs replacing :(

I live in an area that is barren of decent music stores, and so I'll have to engage in an arduous drive into a more urban area of Massachusetts. Thus, I'd kind of like to know what to look for before I start. Does anyone have any suggestions regarding nice, clean-sounding stereo to dual-mono instrument cables that one might find in a large, faceless sort of music store?

Thanks,
Max

[BCroad]

Hey Max,

I too live in MA, believe it or not years ago I found what you're talking about in a Radio Shack. However, if you have to make a long drive from where you are into Boston, try Aztech Sound (Watertown). Call them up and ask if they could make a bunch for you (could be cheaper and you'd have a bunch of back ups), or try one of the Meridian Clan at Cambridge Music (Porter Square Store). JT did the mods to my old Fender amps, he could point you in a good direction (the kid's a genius). I'd like to check out your Megatar if you are gigging somewhere, let me know where your next show is.

Hope this helps,

Bryan

[Glenn Drakeley]

How old is your Megatar ? What's the warranty period on your cable ?? I'd suggest checking with Traktor first to see if a warranty replacement is in order.

Secondly, if you're going for a new cable anyway, why don't you cut open the connectors (bass side mono first, then, if necessary, the stereo side) and find out what's gone asunder ?? All you need is a utility knife and an ohmmeter. Have you cleaned all connections ? My Megatar cable corrodes quite frequently (dang NJ weather) and I need to clean the metal ends to keep them functioning properly.

Lastly, I had my Box JC-35 built with two mono connectors, this eliminated the need for a somewhat specialized cable, I can use any off the shelf cable of my liking. This doesn't help you, just wondering if MM has considered this even if only on a custom basis ????

GFD

[traktor]

If one side no worko, the possibilities all down the sound chain are: pickup, wiring, volume/tone pot, output jack, cable, amp's input jack, amplifier.

Naturally I suppose you've checked the amplifier and its input jack by plugging something else in to make sure it talks OK.

If amp has been checked, next to swap the cord. If you have a megatar and it's under the year's warranty, contact me privately and I'll ship you a cord. If the NEW cord has the same problem then the megatar would have to be examined, to determine and correct the fault. This can be done either by us at the factory, or in some cases by a local repair guy if there is one.

Contact me privately, if I can be of service. Best and quickest resolution would be via phone. Next best via email.

If you prefer to get a cable elsewhere, a music store's audio gear department should have an "audio patch cable" consisting of stereo 1/4" to two mono 1/4". HOSA makes such a cable widely available. But not in the guitar department, in the audio department.

[Glenn Drakeley]

Cables are real easy to test with an ohmmeter, if you don't have one bring your cable over to Radio Shack, Sears Automotive, Pep Boys etc.. and tell them you want to buy one and need a demo using your cable, measure and then tell them you need to consider other meters elsewhere and you're done !!!! Measure stereo tip to one mono tip, stereo ring to the other mono tip and stereo sleeve to both mono sleeves. There are no mono rings. You should read less than an ohm where connectivity belongs. The Hosa cables even have tip and ring labelled for you !!! Wiggle the middle and ends of the cable whilst measuring, if you read significant changes on the ohmmeter then your cable at fault. And I must note that my Hosa cable connectors needed a good cleaning before I could make valid measurements !!!

GFD

[Consul]

You know, a decent multimeter is a handy device to have around anyway. You can get them for about $15 to $20 if you hunt around.

I have an autoranging digital meter I got on sale at Radio Shack ("You've got questions... We've got blank stares.") for $20. It works pretty well.

[Insanite]

Wow, thanks for the quick and quite helpful replies. I've some emailing and phoning to do. Thanks!

[Jersey Ray]

For the stereo tipped cable tat splits to two monos, - I've said it before and I'll say it again, those molded plug Hosa cables are junk! Pro-Co makes a really durable replacement that I used to use when I had a long slender instrument with a stereo output jack.

These days with the ADG-10 (two mono jacks) I just use two cables and use wire-ties to hold them together, then I mark the jacks on one of them (the bass side) so I know which is which. For what its worth, recently I bought a couple cables out of the Musician's Friend catalog, and I also bought a pair from the Carvin catalog - the standard cables from Musician's friend were MUCH better, heavier gauge and sturdier plugs. I think that the MF cables were $5 each for 20'.

[rjgoos]

Five tons of flax?

I'm pretty sure the correct answer is: The War of 1812


Jay