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Topic: Amphenol connectors |
Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Posted 10 Oct 2007 3:16 pm |
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Hi folks,
Does anyone else use the (new) C.B.I. cables with the "Switchcraft Inc." amphenol connector?
I think it is great that cables with this contact is still available, but I find these Switchcraft connectors to have a short lifespan. I have "gone through" two of them in the last half year, and I've only played these lap steels at home (and I have avoided disconnecting/connecting as much as possible). The (solder?) "blob" in the middle gets worn, and crackling and interrupted signal starts, and soon the contact is useless. (I must add that Elderly, where I buy these cables, are great and have sorted out two replacement contacts that are on the way in the mail - free of charge!).
Now I will start gigging with my New Yorkers and I don't need/want any cables giving up on me mid-song. As the new back-up cables I've ordered and the replacement contacts are still in transit (due to a mail strike over here) I turned to the old cables that came with these lap steels for back up.
I used the one that came with my 1947 New Yorker (probably a 1960s cable) for ages without any problems - it still works fine - I just bought new ones because I wanted spares, and started using them instead as I assumed they would be more durable.
And now I tried the one that came with my 1937 New Yorker, and it is for sure of the same vintage - ancient connectors, the amphenol side branded "Amphenol", green cloth covered thin cable. I hadn't tried it before, and IT WORKS PERFECTLY!  The brass screw-on ring fits more snugly than the new ones.
Things were made to last once upon a time, weren't they?  How come the new ones have this soft-ish soldering blob that gets worn down so soon when the pre-WWII one is still going strong?
A question: Are there any safety hazards in using ancient instrument cables?
Cheers,
Fred
_________________
www.fredrikkinbom.com - New lap steel album out now - listen here: fredrikkinbom.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-lap-steel-and-harmonium |
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Harry Sheppard
From:
Kalispell, MT USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2007 4:07 pm
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Fred,
If you are going to gig with the New Yorker, be sure to have a spare amphenal cable because it WILL break. I have been gigging with my New Yorker for years and I can not tell you how many time that cable broke (usually at the worst time possible). The location of the connector requires the cable to be bent at a pretty extream angle and after a while of flexing the cable, the center wire will break and short out. I have put everything from the heavy heat shrink and even stiffenened it with coat hanger wire to keep the flex at a minimum but it never lasts for more than a few months. It has to be the worst design for a connector ever invented.
There is a solution though. Switchcraft makes very nice amphenal to 1/4" adapters that will screw right on. Plug in a regular 90 degree angle guitar cord and it drops right between your legs pefectly. If you put the guitar on a stand it will swivel around and is easy to manage. This is the best $10.00 I have ever spent. When you are done just unscrew it and keep it in the case. Mine has never failed and I don't have tocarry around spare cables anymore.
Good luck. |
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John Dahms
From:
Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2007 6:01 pm
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As Harry said,
Switchcraft adapter is your best fix.
_________________
Time flies like an eagle
Fruit flies like a banana. |
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Gary Lynch
From:
Creston, California, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2007 6:28 pm
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Fred,
As far as just the guitar cable goes, I got real tired of buying junk and wasting my money. I found that Zaolla are the finest I can find. You most likely already knows this but maybe others reading this post can check them out.
http://www.zaolla.com/ |
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Blake Hawkins
From:
Florida
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Posted 10 Oct 2007 8:14 pm
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Fred, Those connectors were used on many Public Address systems in the '30's, '40's and 50's.
It is possible that the new connectors are put together with "lead-free" solder.
The old ones used 60/40 radio solder which is why they are more robust.
If you can get some of that, just clean all the bad solder off, redo the end of the wire and put it back together.
In the old days, they would frequently get a little loose and pick up broadcast stations or police calls.
I frequently cleaned and polished the blob.
Not a great connector but was sort of an industry standard for high impedence microphones. |
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Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Posted 11 Oct 2007 1:33 am
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Thanks all for the input!
Regarding these Switchcraft adapters, I am a bit concerned that pulling the "normal" plug out of these will put quite some stress on the connector on the lap steel in the long run. Is this not the case? Does the plug come out quite easily?
Who sells these Switchcraft adapters?
Cheers,
Fred
_________________
www.fredrikkinbom.com - New lap steel album out now - listen here: fredrikkinbom.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-lap-steel-and-harmonium |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 11 Oct 2007 2:36 am
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332A
Thats one suplier, hereʻs another
The adapter is Switchcraft part no. 332A |
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Terry VunCannon
From:
Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2007 3:04 am
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| Fred...You can un-screw the connector from the instrument, then pull the cord out if you are worried. I have been using these connectors for years with my National Dynamics with no problems...Terry V. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 11 Oct 2007 9:40 am
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If you are able to do it, replace the solder with silver solder. It's stronger than the lead rosin core solder. It has a higher melting point, so you'll need a robust iron.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Max Laine
From:
Pori, Finland
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Max Laine
From:
Pori, Finland
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Posted 11 Oct 2007 11:19 am
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| What's the use in using the adapter? You are unscrewing it just like the original cord, so the solder joint in the adapter will wear out... |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2007 11:39 am
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| It's not gonna wear out any faster usin one or the other but it's nice to be able to use a standard 1/4" cord instead, plus you can use a cord with a right angle on it. |
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Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
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Posted 11 Oct 2007 12:59 pm
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| I had many problems with the cables as well. They never seemed to last more than 2 months or so. I bought a few adapters and have not had any problems since then. It may seem that the adapters should be just as delicate but that has not been my experience. I did have to have the blob of solder replaced once but that was an easy fix and it's been working great ever since. |
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Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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