Conference napalm::guitar

    Thanks for the info. I just called the New Jersey office to
    order a catologue. They wanted me to mail them $5.00 for
    postage and handling. I then called the Detroit office, and
    they said they would forward my name to the New Jersey office
    and have them send me a catalogue. They didn't say anything 
    about the $5.00 charge. I'll just keep my fingers crossed. Kind
    of hard to play guitar that way, but WTF.
    
    Mark
    

    Actually, I had my wife call for the catalog.  I don't know if the
    freebie was due to the office she called, or because she sounds
    sexier on the phone than you or I 8^).

    I called the NJ office. The lady I spoke with was very british
    and had a sexy voice herself. The catalogs are free to people 
    with a company name and they charge individuals. I forgot to ask
    if you get the money back with your first purchase.
    
    Jim
    

    I just recieved my free catalogue in the mail this weekend.
    Great selection and prices on hardware, mic stands, stage
    lights, and audio connectors. I'm planning to buy hardware 
    for my homebrew 14 space rack, stock up on audio connectors,
    and maybe get some mic stands. They have tripod stands w/boom
    for $22, cast-base stand w/boom for $20, booms for $7.69,
    mini stands $12.63-$14.97, and add-on booms for $8.67 (all
    stands are available in chrome or blk). Can't beat these
    prices !
    
    I'm putting together my order and hope to call it in this week.
    
    Mark

    This looks like a good place to ask:
    
    I'm gonna need to make up a lot of cords (about 20 or so 10-footers
    plus miscellaneous longer ones) and I need to run down a spool of some
    _good_ quality Belden cable.
    
    Does anyone know the part #/Description for "just plain old good
    quality" Belden guitar/mic cable?
    
    I'll push my luck a little more: anybody know a good _source_ for said
    cable?
    
    All replies appreciated.
    
    /doug

    
    Belden makes zillions of kinds of cable, so here's a few numbers; all
    of these are single conductor with shield (what you want for guitar
    cords).  Don't use these for speaker connections!!!
    
    These have rubber jackets:
    8410	25 AWG
    9394	20 AWG
    9395	18 AWG
    
    These have PVC jackets:
    8401	25 AWG
    8411	25AWG 
    
    From what I recall, you probably want rubber jackets. Spools come in
    50, 100, 250 and 500 foot sizes.  Price will be about 50 to 75 cents a
    foot.
    
    Go to any electronic supply house (not Radio Shack) and they should be
    able to help you out.  They may also sell you cable by the foot from
    large spools.
    	
    							Brian

    re: .5
    
    I don't know where you live, but You-Do-It Electronics in Needham
    (Highland Ave exit off Rt 128, head towards Newton and take the first
    left next to a gas station) generally has a supply of a variety of
    Belden cable. You can buy it by the spool or by the foot.
    
    - Ram

       I live in Littleton, MA & work (some say I work) in Marlboro.
       FWIW: I called You-Blew-It 2nd rattle out of the barrel (Called
       Active Electronics first and they thought I was from Mars... 
       they're more into the solid-state stuff and less into the
       ancilliary hardware, I guess.)
    
       You-Blew-It gave me the following prices on the Belden cable that
       Brian pointed out in .6
    
    	8410  250' roll:        $143.00   ->  57.2 �/ft
    	9394 (500' rolls _only_) 158.00   ->  31.6 �/ft
    	9395   "     "    "      201.00   ->  40.2 �/ft
    
       Do those prices look outta line?  Anybody know if I can get it
       cheaper elsewhere (even mail order?)...
    
       I'm looking for about a total of 200-300' of cable, so if were to
       purchase a roll of the 9394, I'd have about 200' left over that I
       *really* don't think I'd need.
    
       If I decide to bite it and buy a 500 footer, anybody out there be
       willing to buy the 200 feet or so from me that I can't use?
    
       /doug

	Something to watch out for:	
    		Don't use low impedance mic cable (two conductors+shield)
    for guitar/bass/effects cables. It will tend to cut off the high
    end. Instead use low capacitance cable for these. 

    
    
    
    	I'll share what I do for cables... 
    
    
    I buy these really good quality 20 foot chords from my local dealer
    (pretty good anyway)... the bare minimum for me is a good guage wire
    18-20, stranded, a thick flexible inner insulator, a conductive wrap
    and a braided (no gaps) shield... same kind of quality that I buy for
    my short wave stuff except a different impedance...
    
    
    	Then I go to Radio shack and buy the place out when they have a
    sale on right angle stereo plugs (1.19 for 2)
    
    	Then I cut my new cable in halves, quarters, 12" lengths or
    whatever I need.. frinstance if I make 2 ten footers it costs me about
    13.50 if I make 4 five footers, it costs me 14.75... etc..
    
    
    	I get reliable plugs from the stereo phone plugs by using the
    following process:
    
    
    1. Center lead to center pin (hot solder joint)
    2. Braid to ground pin (hot solder joint)
    
    	So far no revelations, right?
    
    3. Bend pin 2 up at a right angle (unless you are making a stereo
    plug).  This forces the center segment to short to ground when the
    cover is put on.
    
    4. This is "Steve's secret to reliability"!!!  I should probably charge
    for this... but hey, what he heck we're all friends here (and you guys
    already know about this anyway, right) taking a small tube of clear
    silicone (note the trailing "E") squeeze a generous dot of the goop
    onto the center pin, so that the plug cavity will fill up with the
    stuff when you screw it shut.   This is called encapsulation and
    creates mechanical as well as electrical isolation where it's needed...
    
    If you change your mind later, it's easy enough to peel the
    encapsulation out and resolder the plug....
    
    5. Let your new patch cable sit overnight...
    
    6. Prepare yourself for "killer" reliability from your cables....
    
    
    
    Steve

    Re -.1
    
    Thank for the construction tips.  Never thought about using silicone
    on the plugs!  Good Idea!
    
    I probably should have qualified my use of the phrase "patch cord" as
    it infers a very short cord...  What I'm making up is a bunch of cables
    (some as long as 20') to connect some home-made drum pads to a
    Trigger->MIDI converter that'll fire a drum machine.     They need to
    be about the same length as regular guitar cords since the 'brain' will
    be sitting at arms length from me, and neat cable routing will run up
    the length quickly...
    
    Soo... back to the job at hand.   Guess I'll have to figure out if I'm
    better off buying some pre-made guitar cords or shucking out the bucks
    for a zillion feet of cable!
    
    /doug
    
    
    

I tried the silicon trick years ago. Two things. This can increase the tension 
on your solder joints if the wires aren't well supported. 2. These are difficult
(at best) to repair properly.

dbii


ps: does anybody know if anyone in the world makes a non-microphonic cable for
guitars? I have yet to find one that isn't microphonic from day one or shortly
thereafter....

I know I know..too much gain dave.....

    
    
    
    	Silicon(e), Dave, Silicon(e).... <grin>...  Solder joint tension is
    why I make sure to use a good guage wire... 22 guage on down to the
    really cheap crap won't woik!!!
    
    	Regards,
    	Steve
    
    	Putting silicawn technology behind me....

    Can anyone tell me where to get black ozite carpet?  I called Penn
    Fabrication to place an order for some other stuff, they have it, but
    will but sell any less than 10 square yards.  I will never use all
    that, and couldn't justify spending the money.  Now, I've tried about a
    zillion carpet stores, and lumber places like Grossmanns, Home Depot, 
    Builders Square, etc.  Nobody seems to carry it anymore.  BTW, if
    anyone needs to call Penn Fab in NJ, there number has changed to:
    (201) 839-7777.  They also really don't like to deal with individuals.
    
    Dave

    You might try Parts Express.  They used to have ozite.  I don't
    remember if they carried black or not, but it's worth a try.  I don't
    have their number available right now, but maybe someone else does.
    
    Greg

     >Can anyone tell me where to get black ozite carpet?  I called Penn

     Dave,

     I get Ozite and other spkr building stuff from:

     Parts Express Int'l, Inc
     340 E.First St
     Dayton, Ohio 45402-1257

     To order: 800-338-0531
     Local: 513-222-0173
     FAX: 513-222-4644

     Part # for Ozite is:

     Black - MA-260-765  $7.95/yard x 54" wide
     Gray  - MA-260-767		"     "

     They take MC/Visa/Discover and will do COD. Ask for a catalog.

     Neal

Try Capital City Music in Augusta Me. (207) 622-6522 last I knew Al had some in
stock...

dbii

    I bought some grey ozite from Music Factory in Manchester, NH.  I don't
    know if they have black.
    
    	Willy