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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 29, 2021 15:08:26 GMT
I'm just curious, has anyone here undertaken XLR cable repairs?
I never did because they are supposedly a pain in the neck, but one of my better cables just failed and I am debating fixing it.
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Post by Sgt Rock on Apr 29, 2021 17:10:30 GMT
it never hurts to try something new. however, you might weigh the cost over just buying a new one.
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Post by johnreardon on Apr 29, 2021 17:24:14 GMT
We never bothered in the 60s trying to repair the ones we used for microphones. Just carried a couple of spares. So my attitude is why bother now. I have a flight case full of spare cables, including xlr, in my van. So if one breaks , I just throw it away We didn’t use xlr for PA speakers, they were jack to jack. In fact the microphone cables had a jack on the ‘amp’ end. 3 pin plugs are fairly easy, but your plug could be 4 or 5 pin, so make sure you note where each wire goes. Are you sure the fault is in the plug? Often the break is in the cable usually close to where it goes into the speaker or mixer. If it was me, I would buy one from Amazon The link is worth a read Are expensive cables worth it? |
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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 29, 2021 18:54:29 GMT
I might take it back to the store and see if they will simply swap it out. Up until now I never fixed one- I just throw them away. I also have quite a few in the bag.
I don't buy the super expensive cables either, although it really irritates me when cables fail on jobs.
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Post by Sgt Rock on Apr 29, 2021 20:41:52 GMT
I've bought a few cables the last few years, but I, too, stay away from the expensive ones. heck, I still have a curly white one from back in the 60s. I wiped it off a few years back and it looks like new again and there's no static either.
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Post by zontar on Apr 29, 2021 23:50:27 GMT
I don't know that's worth trying to fix--unless you enjoy doing stuff like that.
Although I do know some older guys that would try--because that's who they grew up--you rarely throw anything away--at least without trying to repair it.
And even then you keep parts in case you need them later.
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Post by infant on Apr 30, 2021 0:33:06 GMT
I guess I’m an old guy! I’ve built a few mic cables and I’ve fixed a few too. If there’s a problem, it’s usually one of the soldered wires that has broken. Just peel back the main body and examine the solder points. Most cables last forever unless they are abused.
I have an old Peavey branded cable that I bought in the early 80s. Still works fine and my son is using it now. I tried giving him a brand new cable that I keep as a spare but he wanted the old Peavey one as he’s used it since he started playing guitar. I’m still using a couple of old Spectraflex tweed braided cables that I bought in the mid 90s. Lifetime guarantee but I don’t even know if the company is still around! I’m surprised that Brent’s curly cable still works! Those were notorious for fatiguing and wires breaking internally.
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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 30, 2021 1:12:54 GMT
I guess I’m an old guy! I’ve built a few mic cables and I’ve fixed a few too. If there’s a problem, it’s usually one of the soldered wires that has broken. Just peel back the main body and examine the solder points. Most cables last forever unless they are abused. I have an old Peavey branded cable that I bought in the early 80s. Still works fine and my son is using it now. I tried giving him a brand new cable that I keep as a spare but he wanted the old Peavey one as he’s used it since he started playing guitar. I’m still using a couple of old Spectraflex tweed braided cables that I bought in the mid 90s. Lifetime guarantee but I don’t even know if the company is still around! I’m surprised that Brent’s curly cable still works! Those were notorious for fatiguing and wires breaking internally. I definitely didn't abuse mine but a few have gone bad in the past few months. If I rebuild it, should I replace the connectors? |
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Post by infant on Apr 30, 2021 2:51:10 GMT
I guess I’m an old guy! I’ve built a few mic cables and I’ve fixed a few too. If there’s a problem, it’s usually one of the soldered wires that has broken. Just peel back the main body and examine the solder points. Most cables last forever unless they are abused. I have an old Peavey branded cable that I bought in the early 80s. Still works fine and my son is using it now. I tried giving him a brand new cable that I keep as a spare but he wanted the old Peavey one as he’s used it since he started playing guitar. I’m still using a couple of old Spectraflex tweed braided cables that I bought in the mid 90s. Lifetime guarantee but I don’t even know if the company is still around! I’m surprised that Brent’s curly cable still works! Those were notorious for fatiguing and wires breaking internally. I definitely didn't abuse mine but a few have gone bad in the past few months. If I rebuild it, should I replace the connectors? Just check to see if the wires have broken. The connectors rarely go bad, especially if they are a Switchcraft or Neutrik connector. Also, you can plug it into the PA and flex it every few inches, starting at the connector, all the way to the other connector. Listen for crackles and pops. If it happens near the connector, it could be a broken wire near the strain relief or a bad solder joint. If the noise is somewhere along the length of wire, consider that cable as “pooched”....garbage. |
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Post by johnreardon on Apr 30, 2021 6:39:25 GMT
I guess I’m an old guy! I’ve built a few mic cables and I’ve fixed a few too. If there’s a problem, it’s usually one of the soldered wires that has broken. Just peel back the main body and examine the solder points. Most cables last forever unless they are abused. I have an old Peavey branded cable that I bought in the early 80s. Still works fine and my son is using it now. I tried giving him a brand new cable that I keep as a spare but he wanted the old Peavey one as he’s used it since he started playing guitar. I’m still using a couple of old Spectraflex tweed braided cables that I bought in the mid 90s. Lifetime guarantee but I don’t even know if the company is still around! I’m surprised that Brent’s curly cable still works! Those were notorious for fatiguing and wires breaking internally.I agree, we swapped them for straight ones. Funny enough I bought a long white curly lead for our bass player's birthday a couple of years ago. It was so good I bought one and use it myself
It was a 30 foot Ernie Ball one
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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 30, 2021 11:38:26 GMT
I definitely didn't abuse mine but a few have gone bad in the past few months. If I rebuild it, should I replace the connectors? Just check to see if the wires have broken. The connectors rarely go bad, especially if they are a Switchcraft or Neutrik connector. Also, you can plug it into the PA and flex it every few inches, starting at the connector, all the way to the other connector. Listen for crackles and pops. If it happens near the connector, it could be a broken wire near the strain relief or a bad solder joint. If the noise is somewhere along the length of wire, consider that cable as “pooched”....garbage. Thanks I will look it over if the store won't take it back (they might). The cables do have lifetime guarantee but they always make you pay shipping to them, which can get expensive and make it not worth it |
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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 30, 2021 11:39:06 GMT
I guess I’m an old guy! I’ve built a few mic cables and I’ve fixed a few too. If there’s a problem, it’s usually one of the soldered wires that has broken. Just peel back the main body and examine the solder points. Most cables last forever unless they are abused. I have an old Peavey branded cable that I bought in the early 80s. Still works fine and my son is using it now. I tried giving him a brand new cable that I keep as a spare but he wanted the old Peavey one as he’s used it since he started playing guitar. I’m still using a couple of old Spectraflex tweed braided cables that I bought in the mid 90s. Lifetime guarantee but I don’t even know if the company is still around! I’m surprised that Brent’s curly cable still works! Those were notorious for fatiguing and wires breaking internally.I agree, we swapped them for straight ones. Funny enough I bought a long white curly lead for our bass player's birthday a couple of years ago. It was so good I bought one and use it myself
It was a 30 foot Ernie Ball one
My curly cable has also held up really well- it is a monster |
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Post by Sinster on May 1, 2021 3:46:38 GMT
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Post by Die Bullen on May 1, 2021 13:51:14 GMT
Thanks, I will check it out! |
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Post by Die Bullen on May 5, 2021 14:56:46 GMT
In fact I decided to return this particular cable to the manufacturer under warranty. I was a little leery of repairing it in case the cable itself was shorting beyond the connectors and figured it was worth evoking the warranty.
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Post by Sinster on Jun 12, 2021 13:42:11 GMT
Made few cables, but the red/green will be updated with better plugs.  |
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Post by Die Bullen on Jun 12, 2021 14:43:23 GMT
Made few cables, but the red/green will be updated with better plugs. What kind of plugs do you generally like to use? |
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Post by Sinster on Jun 12, 2021 17:39:28 GMT
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Post by Die Bullen on Jun 12, 2021 18:38:55 GMT
Thank you for posting. I'm really interested in making myself some xlr cables. Now I just need to get motivated to order the stuff!
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Post by highdeaf on Jul 12, 2021 14:01:52 GMT
I think XLR's are easier to work than 1/4" plugs. And I've done literally hundreds and hundreds of both.
The big factor is connector quality (and cable quality, a bit). Good connectors can be reused over and over again, if their strain relief keeps working and they are strong enough to resist crushing and other physical damage. Cables go through hell in my world (I don't baby them). I've got connectors from the 70s that I'm still using. The cable may get too stiff or start to break down internally but the connectors just get recycled.
My choice for connectors like this is Switchcraft but there are certainly other good brands. Some of the newer ones have rube-goldberg strain relief (clutches or whatever), I still like the simple setscrew in the SC connectors as long as the cables are the right diameter for the shell.
If I have an iffy or intermittent connection, I usually cut a foot off that end and resolder the cable to the connector, now one foot shorter. Cables tend to get worked the most near the connectors (tighter bends, more yanking at the ends, etc) so sacrificing a bit of length is a small price to pay for a new, reliable cable. With XLR, you do have to be aware of keeping pins 2 and 3 connected to their counterparts at the other end so you don't get phase problems (pin 1 is always ground).
And good tools make a big difference. I have a nice table-top vice, some worklights and I always have two soldering irons heated up - one with a small tip for fine work (like the tip connection on a 1/4") and one with a large tip to flow a lot of heat quickly for ground soldering on connector bodies or pots. I also now have a magnifying visor because, well, I'm old and my eyes aren't what they used ta was.
Some of the new 'environmental' solders are a pain in the ass too, I still have a pretty good supply of the old leaded stuff. Liquid flux helps solder flow nicer too, but it's sticky to work with. Like hash-oil, once it contacts something it just seems to get everywhere.
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