Pedal Board Cable kits ~ Lava mini ELC

[Fusion1]

I was wondering if anyone tried the Lava kit and can compare it to the others like the George L's, Planet Waves or the Core X2 (I have this but never used it as I may return it as the cable is VERY thick, and small patch cables might not be flexible enough for a compact board). I've read for years about George L's but everything else isn't talked about so much. I bought the X2 since it seemed like a quality product that got good reviews. I have and use an X2 speaker cable for my Polytone and it seems pretty transparent.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Pedal Board Cable kits ~ Lava mini ELC

I have wired three pedal boards and have done all of them with George L. I have never see any reason to go elsewhere. They work fine. One of my boards has been together for over 5 years and I have never had a problem with any of the cable. I don't do anything fancy. On my home board I use 2 amps. I have a CE2, DD3 and a Custom OD pedal feeding into one amp and then to a A/B/Y box. My other amp has an effects loop, so I have a CH1, DD3 running into the loop. I have a TS9 running straight in. This also comes to my A/B/Y box. From the A/B/Y to my Wah and tuner. As I said earlier I have all this wired with George L cables....... No problem and sounds great.

I use the .155 cables to connect from pedal to pedal. I use the .225 to connect thae Amps to the board and the board to my guitar.

My main Gigging board is set up a little different. I use a DOD TR3 which has chorus delay and OD (never use the OD). This runs into the effects loop of my Marshall 900. I have a Bluesbreaker OD running straight in, then Wah and tuner. For this amp the DOD was the only pedal that I could get to work properly in the loop without kiling the tone. It works. Again all George L cables. Oh and I have all of these boards powered with a One spot. except the DOD this is AC powered.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pedal Board Cable kits ~ Lava mini ELC

Bill Lawrence. Great connectors (not as frustrating as George Ls, Ive used both) and he gives you 50 feet of wire.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Pedal Board Cable kits ~ Lava mini ELC

I wanted to try the George L's but the wire looks so flimsy and reminds me of the cheap cables I made back in the day with bulk wire and cheap Radio Shack 2 piece right angle connectors that crackled, popped and fizzed if you just looked at it the wrong way never mind touching it...

Those 1-spots seem pretty popular and surprising they work so well for so cheap. I splurged for the Dunlop DC-Brick and I can't say I regret it. I like the idea I can power 9v or 18v effects and pretty much why I bought the Brick. I have 2 MXR pedals 10 band EQ and Double Shot Distortion that need 18v. The others are a Seymour Duncan Booster and I've been subbing in other OD/Distortion boxes the past few weeks (Marshall Guv'nor 2, Metal Muff, Sansamp GT2, Ibanez Phat HEd)

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Pedal Board Cable kits ~ Lava mini ELC

Too bad the Bill Lawrence kits don't come with right angled plugs. Plus the 50 feet of cable is nice but all you really need is 10' unless you are going to make a long guitar cable and only use 4 patch cables for your board.

 

[liono9]

Re: Pedal Board Cable kits ~ Lava mini ELC

I,ve used planet waves kit and it works super.Very easy to do the whole thing,and the good thing is if you need more connectors guitar center sell em individually too, you can buy straight or angled. I totally reccomend it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pedal Board Cable kits ~ Lava mini ELC

You dont need right angle plugs. Their normal plugs that come with the kit are smaller than georgeL's right angle plugs. And extra cable is always nice. Order 2 more ends and make an awesome guitar cable. I used GeorgeLs for years and I am sick of using them.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Pedal Board Cable kits ~ Lava mini ELC

How reliable are the needle pin that connects to the ground on many of these types of cable kits? I've heard the George L's have problems after time or if the cord is bent around a bit and the cable needs to be routinely cut to a new piece and re-attachment of the plug. Not sure how often this is needed to be done, but over the years I have heard this as a common complaint.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Pedal Board Cable kits ~ Lava mini ELC

the lava solderless set is awesome ... i did my board in less than 30 minutes and they were perfect ....

very pricey, but very high quality ... i'd try the lawrence's next - i've heard the quality is just as good and the price is way less

dont be swayed by # of ft they give you ... on a pedal board, you need more ends, not more cable

t4d

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pedal Board Cable kits ~ Lava mini ELC

How reliable are the needle pin that connects to the ground on many of these types of cable kits? I've heard the George L's have problems after time or if the cord is bent around a bit and the cable needs to be routinely cut to a new piece and re-attachment of the plug. Not sure how often this is needed to be done, but over the years I have heard this as a common complaint.

GeorgeL's do have problems from time to time. With the straight ends, the GeorgeLs are fine, but the right angle connectors GeorgeL uses are the problem. It is *very* easy to have a loose connection after awhile- I had too many gigs where I plugged into my pedalboard and didn't get a signal, and had no time to figure out which of the 6 patch cables I made were the culprit (turns out, it was 2 of them!! figure that out at a gig!!). I read on The Gear Page about the Lawrence cables, and how people (like me) were fed up with the GeorgeLs.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Pedal Board Cable kits ~ Lava mini ELC

So the problems you have had with the George L's are not present with the Bill Lawrence cables?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pedal Board Cable kits ~ Lava mini ELC

no, completely different design. the lawrence are much, much better.