Author Topic: How to make a Series Stereo Cable ? (Read 411 times)

Jan R · « **on:** November 19, 2003, 01:50:32 AM »

Does anyone know the exact partnumbers off the Switchraft 5 pin XLR connectors and the Belden cable Alembic currently ships with their series basses ?

I want to make some spare cables. I already found this wiring scheme somewhere on usenet :
pin 1 : signal ground
pin 2 : neck pickup
pin 3 : bridge pickup
pin 4 : +20V
pin 5 : -20V

Anything else that is important ?

Thanks
Jan

alembic76407 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2003, 06:12:27 AM »

jan,
have you found the switchcraft 5 pin plugs?, if so, how much, and where?

dela217 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2003, 06:23:45 AM »

Everyone - I don't think that the Switchcraft 5 pin plugs are hard to find. I have seen them in my local electronics supply house. Just an FYI, I have made some GREAT 5 pin cables for my Series basses. I use Canare Star Quad cable. I find it MUCH more flexible, and supposedly is a better quality cable. I also use the Neutric connectors on the ends. They come in silver or black and have gold connection points. Good stuff. I was able to order the cable by the foot and the connectors. In fact the Canare Star Quad cable comes in any color you would want. I have a green cable and a brown one. This helps eliminate the confusion when everyone is breaking down after the gig. I have had sound companies try to suck up my 5 pin, thinking it was one of there mic cables. Not any more with a green cable! Anyway, you can get everything to make these cables from www.markertec.com, and to make one of these cables costs under $20. The only problem with making one of these cables is that the wires on the inside are not color coded. So, you would need a meter to test for continuity. I have been using the Canare Star Quad cable now for several years, and have not had a problem yet..Michael

palembic · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2003, 06:54:10 AM »

Everyone too

I REALLY would like a RED cable with black Neutric or switchcraft connectors but the supply stores I visited in Belgium only have BLACK cables (sorry, there was 1 grey and I had to take 100 m of them DOH).
So until now I didn't got a spare cable yet. Jan keep me posted!

Paul the red one

Jan R · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2003, 07:10:34 AM »

Finding someone who sells switchcraft connectors or Belden is not the problem. If you check their websites, the information is there.

I just wanted to know the exact partnumbers.
Mica ? Val ? Anyone ?

Thanks
Jan

mattheus · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2003, 08:31:20 AM »

You can easily find connectors in the cases of a light-engineer. Nowadays all (inteligent) light are controlled by DMX, which uses 5 pin XLR connectors. Both Switchcraft an Neutrik make them.
Good luck

Ps. Paul (tbO), you can always paint your cable red.....

Jan R · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2003, 02:47:16 AM »

The chase goes on ...

I found out that the 5 pin Switchcraft connectors are very hard to find in Belgium, but I learned that Neutrik can offer the same high level of quality with their NC5MX-B and NC5FRC-B connectors. Neutrik is easy to find here, so the connector part isn't a problem.

However, the Belden 8424 cable is another story .... Minimum order is 1000 ft (or +- 300 meters !) If you know the price per meter, ordering 1000ft is not an option if you want to make a few spare cable.

So, I am chasing for high quality alternatives for the Belden 8424 cable, available in Europe in low quantities.

Michael, could you please inform us of the exact partnumber of the Canare Star Quad cable you use ?
I saw on www.canare.com that they make different kinds of Canare Star Quad cable ? which one is the best for this application ?

Thanks
Jan

(Message edited by janriviere on November 21, 2003)

(Message edited by janriviere on November 21, 2003)

Jan R · « **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2003, 03:50:08 AM »

For those who might be interested : The newer Switchcraft partnumbers are AAA5MBAUZ and R5FBAUZ.
If someone can get those in Europe, that would very nice.

Cheers
Jan

David Houck · « **Reply #8 on:** November 21, 2003, 04:27:38 AM »

Jan; one slight technical correction.
100 feet = 30.48 meters
300 meters = 984.25 feet

Jan R · « **Reply #9 on:** November 21, 2003, 04:41:26 AM »

oeps... I corrected the orignal post, thanks Dave ;-)

dela217 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 21, 2003, 07:25:27 AM »

I am an idiot! My apologies to everyone. I tried to go to the link I supplied to get the part numbers, but it was the wrong link!!! Go here instead - www.markertek.com. Sorry about that.

Once you get to the site, there is a search feature so you can search for Canare Star Quad. The list for Canare comes up and you can choose CANARE STAR QUAD 4 CONDUCTOR MICROPHONE CABLE. Then you will see the list of part numbers with the colors. The part number for the cable is 4E6S. That is a Canare number and not just a Markertek number. You will see that it comes in a lot of different colors. If you want black, the number would be 4E6S BK, or red 4E6S RD and so on. The cable is great quality, very flexible and really holds up from walking on it. I have been using this cable for years. This stuff is sold at this site by the foot, so there is no need to get a whole spool. It is really cheap at .34 a foot. I would choose this over Belden any day just on the standpoint of it's flexibility. Good stuff. Also on that site, you can find the NEUTRIK 5-pin XLR connectors. Do a search and you will see a list for NEUTRIK. Just choose NEUTRIK 5-PIN XLR CONNECTORS FOR CABLE ENDS. They have them straight, angled, in black and silver. The connectors are just 3 or 4 dollars for the straight ones and 8 or 10 dollars for the angled ones. Good luck...Michael

Jan R · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2003, 07:42:47 AM »

Thanks Michael, I will have to settle with the Neutriks I guess. I got an answer from a Dutch importer : 16 euros for the straight and 30 euros for the rightangled Switchcraft connectors ! Ridiculous.

I am still waiting for a reply from the European Canar importer ...

Pfff ...

alembic76407 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2003, 01:37:57 PM »

Mica or Val, how much would all the 5 pin plugs cost form Alembic, I would like to replace the 5 pin on my bass and the 5 pin on my power supply and the 2 Quarter inch plugs on the power supply and get new ends for my cable. I think after 28 years it may be time, I'm having some shorting problems

thank
David T

Jan R · « **Reply #13 on:** November 27, 2003, 06:31:28 AM »

Ok, we are getting somewhere. I finally found a Dutch company (ROMAL B.V. in Utrecht, www.romal.com) who can deliver the Belden 8424 cable for a reasonable price per 100ft (=30m).

Cheers
Jan