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Author
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Topic: Lap Steel Cord
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Doug Beaumier
Member From: Northampton, MA
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posted 03 September 2005 05:21 PM
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The world needs more of these. I recently bought this rugged amphenol to ¼” phono Cord from a guy who put it together on his workbench. A regular guitar cord… cut off one end, solder on the amphenol plug, and add the heat-shrunk black rubber piece. $8-$9 for the cord, $5 or so for the amphenol plug, and it takes about 20 minutes to solder, heat-shrink, and assemble everything.... Why didn’t I think of that! I’ve put together a couple of these in the past, but the amphenol end always seems fragile, and eventually fails. This one looks like it will last a lifetime.  ------------------
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Ron Victoria
Member From: Metuchen, New Jersey, USA
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posted 03 September 2005 05:41 PM
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Sam Ash has that amphenol connector by Switchcraft for $2. |
Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 04 September 2005 10:48 AM
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That does look solid, Doug. Those screw-on connectors can be problematical, so a reliable lap steel cord would be a hot item.
Speaking as the world's worst solderer, I'd sure be interested in acquiring a couple of those . .
RA
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Doug Beaumier
Member From: Northampton, MA
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posted 04 September 2005 11:08 AM
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Unfortunately the guy who made this one doesn't want to make any more, and he keeps telling me that I can easily do it myself! I can solder okay, but I'm not sure about that rubber piece on the end. [This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 04 September 2005 at 11:09 AM.] |
Peter Jacobs
Member From: Northern Virginia
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posted 04 September 2005 01:26 PM
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Doug, that's just "heat shrink" tubing -- it's a rubbery sleeve you slip over the wire and the ardware, then heat. It shrinks to half it's diameter (length doesn't change). Good soldering is the most important thing in cable reliability (I've bought too many off the shelf cords with bad solder joints)-- if you can solder well, no reason not to try. You can get heat shrink at any electronics store, even Radio Shack (of course, they'd rather you bought a cell phone plan...) Peter
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Doug Beaumier
Member From: Northampton, MA
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posted 04 September 2005 03:00 PM
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Thanks, this is all good info. It's good to have a spare cord like this around if you play one of the Valco/Oahu/Supro/National lap steels that require this connection. Maybe it would be better to just change the guitar over to a standard 1/4" output jack? |
William Steward
Member From: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, B.W.I.
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posted 09 September 2005 08:18 PM
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Doug thanks for the inspiration....I took my old D-8 National to a gig last weekend and f____g cable failed when I plugged it in. I vowed to find a better idea without replacing the original connector. This is a great idea. |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 10 September 2005 07:23 AM
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Why not make life easier? No fuss, no muss....  Go to search and type in 332A http://www.switchcraft.com/
Tell 'em "HowardR sent ya'.......  [This message was edited by HowardR on 10 September 2005 at 07:24 AM.]
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Ron Victoria
Member From: Metuchen, New Jersey, USA
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posted 10 September 2005 08:48 AM
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Howard, That's the same one I mentioned above at Sam Ash for under $2. I see it on ebay now and then for $7 + ship!!!! Maybe I should get a doz. and hawk them.Ron |
Jim Keith
Member From: Anna Texas, USA
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posted 11 September 2005 07:53 AM
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Doug is right. Unless you are trying to keep the guitar purely original, change the guitar to 1/4 in. jack. After working for a radio company for 39 yrs. and being a ham radio operator, I can tell you that the phone plug is a far better option.------------------
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