SRV's fave guitar cable

[Terry McInturff]

I had dinner with the late great Cesar Diaz a number of years ago. It was a good time.

Anyway Cesar expressed his frustration with the fact that...after spending untold hours tuning-up SRV's amps, etc for recording sessions...SRV insisted upon using a Radio Shack curly cord for recording because of the capacitance.

So there you have it!

[flyingvees]

Cesar came to Florida to visit a mutual friend who is a vintage dealer to the stars and I being the young geek asked if he could make my Reverbarockets sound like SRV, his reply was " If I could do that to any amp then we would be on my Yacht sipping gold martini's " or something to that effect. He actually came to a gig of mine and during break checked my amps out and gave me a few tips on how to wring out a little more mojo...Super nice guy and a wealth of knowledge...

[soli528]

Jimi said the same thing. Tames highs, less brittle. Great for a bright rig. A dark-ish amp with humbuckers, not so much. YMMV of course. ;)

[guitargeek83]

Wow!..... I wonder what he would of that about all these fancy dancy high end expensive cable non-sense. If radio shack was good enough for SRV I think it's good enough for any body

[Terry McInturff]

Wow!..... I wonder what he would of that about all these fancy dancy high end expensive cable non-sense. If radio shack was good enough for SRV I think it's good enough for any body

Well, they ARE of use....but....they are plenty microphonic and not at all sturdy. Id be hesitant to gig with one.

But I am hip to the fact that a higher-capacitance cable can be really handy when recording...it can be a very "organic" sounding filter! If you can get your hands on an old '80's Whirlwind "half-and-half" cable (half curly, half straight) do so. They sound great with Strats and Teles if you want to roll off some 7K or thereabouts.........

[Jamie_Mitchell]

If radio shack was good enough for SRV I think it's good enough for any body

Why?

[amc]

the only reason i would not consider the radio shack coiled cable gigworthy
are the cheap plugs.

install some new quality plugs properly and you have a useable darker sounding cable.............

[78deluxe]

Wow!..... I wonder what he would of that about all these fancy dancy high end expensive cable non-sense. If radio shack was good enough for SRV I think it's good enough for any body
You did read the part where his golden ear amp tech Cezar Diaz was frustrated with SRV using them?

High end cables are not non-sense.

I'm curious, are you running a wall of amps full blast in the studio like SRV did?

I think they have their place for use, but they are not my personal choice.

[aeolian]

Just goes to show that it is the whole rig together, each part working synergisticly and complementing the players technique. Take any one part out in isolation and there's no magic in it. And why if you swap any part of it out with something that is apparently interchangeable, a player with ears and feel will immediately notice. They may like it better, or they may want the old one back.

Tone is like a recipie. Bit of this, balancing out a bit of that. All under the hands of a master chef, and you get something great.

[It's Time!]

Everybody run down to Radio Shack and buy a curly cord :D

[turtleheadblues]

Terry he also preferred a non boutique guitar :0)

I love the coily cables.

[Tone-Control]

Well, they ARE of use....but....they are plenty microphonic and not at all sturdy. Id be hesitant to gig with one.

But I am hip to the fact that a higher-capacitance cable can be really handy when recording...it can be a very "organic" sounding filter! If you can get your hands on an old '80's Whirlwind "half-and-half" cable (half curly, half straight) do so. They sound great with Strats and Teles if you want to roll off some 7K or thereabouts.........

Does anybody make "half-and half" cables anymore? I think they would sell.

[FrankieSixxxgun]

Just plug into like 30 feet of regular cable, it does the same thing. :D

[VaughnC]

I'm still using a couple of Radio Shack grade curly cables I originally purchased in the late 60's. Every other cable I try sounds worse so I figure why fight it and believe in what my ears tell me. I've replaced the plugs numerous time but they still deliver the tone I like. I've even tried long straight cables to simulate the tone of my curly's but they just don't sound the same. IMO, cables are part of the tone chain and should be treated as such. And, some input cables I've had, not all, sound directionally different...so mine are marked for what I deem to be the best tonal direction. The cable my guitar sees first makes the biggest difference.

[78deluxe]

Everybody run down to Radio Shack and buy a curly cord :D
SRV's old guitar tech recommends Canare instead:

http://www.guitar.com/content/rene-martinez-stevie-ray-vaughan%E2%80%99s-guitar-tech

I've read that SRV specially asked someone to get him the Grey Radio Shack coily cables. I don't think Radio Shack even carries them anymore, AFAIK.

[landru64]

I'm still using a couple of Radio Shack grade curly cables I originally purchased in the late 60's. Every other cable I try sounds worse so I figure why fight it and believe in what my ears tell me. I've replaced the plugs numerous time but they still deliver the tone I like. I've even tried long straight cables to simulate the tone of my curly's but they just don't sound the same. IMO, cables are part of the tone chain and should be treated as such. And, some input cables I've had, not all, sound directionally different...so mine are marked for what I deem to be the best tonal direction. The cable my guitar sees first makes the biggest difference.

i wonder what it is about the older cables you have..... maybe the long straight cables are just not long enough.

i personally like the sound of a higher cap cable for many uses...

[cheesey]

i remember reading how cesar met srv, he was stoked by his playing but thought his amp sounded like shit lol!

[DC1]

And if that EQ curve sounds good in your music, then there you go.

BUT, here is a better, more precise and versatile way to do the same thing:

http://www.stellartone.com/images/global/ad-center-home.jpg

www.stellartone.com

These things are really musically useful.

As fas as "if it's good enough for SRV than it's good enough for anybody"

:facepalm


Well it wasn't "good enough" was it? It was bad enough, in truth, but gave him a musical result.

I don't want to sound like him, I want to sound like me.

Time moves on.


dc

[pickaguitar]

I just knew DC1 would be along at some point today to point out a way to spend more money.
A $79 tone knob...really? :rotflmao

And hellz yes...if it was good enough for SRV than it's good enough for me

[DC1]

I just knew DC1 would be along at some point today to point out a way to spend more money.
A $79 tone knob...really? :rotflmao

And hellz yes...if it was good enough for SRV than it's good enough for me

I'm glad for you. But I couldn't care less what Stevie played. pffftttt..

:idea

I've played since '67 and know exactly what I want to sound like, and it ain't him.

BTW, that tone pot is so musically useful that it has done more for me than some PU and speaker changes have.

dc

[FrankieSixxxgun]

Looks like a Varitone. :dunno

[DC1]

Looks like a Varitone. :dunno

There's a difference, but I don't remember what it is.


dc

[SkippyD]

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?p=8070266#post8070266

see post #40

I don't care to sound like SRV in the least...but I do like how the cheap cable sounds with my single coil guitars into my Fenders. Live I wouldn't trust them...and I get all tangled up in them...so I only use them for home or in the studio.
Now I don't need a fancy device with a knob on it...I just use the $12 cable:D

[silencer eleven]

And if that EQ curve sounds good in your music, then there you go.

BUT, here is a better, more precise and versatile way to do the same thing:

http://www.stellartone.com/images/global/ad-center-home.jpg

www.stellartone.com (http://www.stellartone.com)

These things are really musically useful.

As fas as "if it's good enough for SRV than it's good enough for anybody"

:facepalm


Well it wasn't "good enough" was it? It was bad enough, in truth, but gave him a musical result.

I don't want to sound like him, I want to sound like me.

Time moves on.


dc

I thought that tone pot thing was a joke......

[aeolian]

There's a difference, but I don't remember what it is.


dc
Just from the picture, I see two large SMT parts, which are probably either inductors or large value caps, and some smaller parts. I suspect some multi-stage filter where the pot is bypassed or has less effect at midrange frequencies and a more dramatic effect higher up. Maybe somewhere around 5-7k. That would kill some icepickyness, and still not sound like a wet blanket. Similar to a somewhat overwound pickup, but with a sharper knee in the roll off.

[DC1]

Just from the picture, I see two large SMT parts, which are probably either inductors or large value caps, and some smaller parts. I suspect some multi-stage filter where the pot is bypassed or has less effect at midrange frequencies and a more dramatic effect higher up. Maybe somewhere around 5-7k. That would kill some icepickyness, and still not sound like a wet blanket. Similar to a somewhat overwound pickup, but with a sharper knee in the roll off.

Sounds reasonable. Sure is a great sounding device.


dc

[turtleheadblues]

Ok if you really want one.....

I will gladly beat the crap out of one of our Coil cables , find a way to make it noisy and microphonic , replace the plugs with the cheapest garbage I can find, replace the hign end copper we use with crackly filler, drag it thru the dirt again for good measure , write Mojo in marker on the heatshrink and throw in an autographed pic of my buddy Steve that works at Radio Shack.


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/4/7720805_e5be96011d_m.jpg

[DC1]

Ok if you really want one.....

I will gladly beat the crap out of one of our Coil cables , find a way to make it noisy and microphonic , replace the plugs with the cheapest garbage I can find, drag it thru the dirt again for good measure , write Mojo in marker on the heatshrink and throw in an autographed pic of my buddy Steve that works at Radio Shack.


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/4/7720805_e5be96011d_m.jpg


:rotflmao:rotflmao



Got my mojo woikin' Got my MOJO WOIKIN' !

But it jest don't work on YOU...



dc

[Ephi82]

Oh man, C'Mon

After all this time, search'n and practic'n, and play'n and doing open mics and gig'n and surfin the web, try'n to get a tone just like SRV I've bought his Fender named guitars, i bought the amps they said he used, I put the tubes in it like they say he had, I followed Diaz's suggestions that he gave Stevie and I even bought a black hat, wear cowboy boots and so much more........

when all the time it was simply the guitar cord!

Oh lord, the humanity!

[DC1]

Oh man, C'Mon

After all this time, search'n and practic'n, and play'n and doing open mics and gig'n and surfin the web, try'n to get a tone just like SRV I've bought his Fender named guitars, i bought the amps they said he used, I put the tubes in it like they say he had, I followed Diaz's suggestions that he gave Stevie and I even bought a black hat, wear cowboy boots and so much more........

when all the time it was simply the guitar cord!

Oh lord, the humanity!


Post of the freakin' MONTH!


:bow



dc

[SgtThump]

Here ya go.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102962

$10.99

[DC1]

Here ya go.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102962

$10.99

Cork Sniffer!

Stevie used the GRAY ones...

:rotflmao

:bonk



dc

[SgtThump]

Cork Sniffer!

Stevie used the GRAY ones...

:rotflmao

:bonk



dc

DOH!!!!!!!!!!! You can spray paint them gray you know.

[Ephi82]

Post of the freakin' MONTH!


:bow



dc

Thank you thank you and thank you

To be clear, I really love SRV.

He was gifted and shared it. But, C'mon!

[DC1]

DOH!!!!!!!!!!! You can spray paint them gray you know.

Oh NOOO

poopie!

That takes all the MIDS out!


:eeks





dc

[aeolian]

Only when you use lead based paint ;)

[55hz]

Oh man, C'Mon

After all this time, search'n and practic'n, and play'n and doing open mics and gig'n and surfin the web, try'n to get a tone just like SRV I've bought his Fender named guitars, i bought the amps they said he used, I put the tubes in it like they say he had, I followed Diaz's suggestions that he gave Stevie and I even bought a black hat, wear cowboy boots and so much more........

when all the time it was simply the guitar cord!

Oh lord, the humanity!

He had white capezio's that is where you went wrong! :D

[Tone-Control]

He had white capezio's that is where you went wrong! :D

Also the black strap with the music notes. That was pretty cool. :p

[gstan]

I've got this monster heavy coiled cable from my college days in the 70's. It's made by Whirlwind, extends to about 25 feet, has unplated brass plugs weighs a ton. Back in the day when I actually used it, it was a pain 'cause it would get nasty dirty and because it was so heavy it wouldn't stretch out unless it was plugged straight in. It would drag my Big Muff around like it was a giant slinky.