The Steel Guitar Forum

I was just reading a few comments and the subject of "cords" was mentioned. Does anyone know which cords are used by the pros on their rigs? Not that this will improve my picking but the sound like Lloyd Green just put out on his CD is so close to perfection........

I switched all my cords last year to George Ls - I'm delighted with them.

They sound cleaner, AND they're more compact - best I've used.

RR

Charles,Buy the best quality you can afford and if you take care of them they should last a lifetime,I believe the secret to long life has a lot to do with the way they are wrapped and stored as well as quality, when not in use or on the road,do not twist the chords out of shape when "rolling" them up, gently follow the natural bends in them with a gentle twist to follow the natural flow..I have had the same chords for over ten years(RODAM) and most of that time,until recently, was "road life".When you have them "rolled" up tie each one off with a twist tie or string to keep them together in your steel seat or chord case.... Happy New Year...

I used a set of Belden cords for 22 years and only bought new ones because the covering was cracking.

Gentlemen; thank you.

I like to buy chords in bulk and then put the ends on them. This way, I can make them just the length I want. It sure makes things a lot neater in my rack and etc.
Erv

"Monster Cords"...
I make my own. Heavy Duty and Clean for sure, not to mention how much they cost.

i do like Erv does and i use George L's products

After years of questionable or homemade cords, I bought a set from Ed Fulawka at the ISGC this year and they´re so good, I´ll never need anything else.

Regards, Joe H.

I have used the same George Ls for 10 years and never needed the ends redone. I had one other cord and changed it yesterday to George L and my wife said what a difference, the sound was crisper and basses were better with the George L.
Jack Stoner repair man for Roy Wiggins shop says George L matches what you need for PSG best.
I have started putting mine in zip lock bags, like thaat better.

ernie

Regarding twist ties -- I use those little girls' pony tail ties with the two wooden balls for all my mic, speaker, and instrument cords -- after doing a gentle, circular "lasso" wrap on each -- practical, economical, and colorful -- and I don't think I've had a cord go bad in the last 20 years.

I've used George Ls for the last 7-8 years and am very happy with them. I also like Ed Fulaka's cords but the ones I like most are the ones I remember to pack in my seat at the end of the job. Had a suprise last month when I got to a job without my speaker cabinet cords.

I was just watching the Bell Cove video again and I think I saw Buddy using a minor seven flat five a couple of times...

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George L's were rated number one in Guitar Player magazine a number of years ago. I was using Monsters. I now use george L's. They have fabulous response.

The Bell Cove video also shows a George L cable, with the gold plug, in Buddy's steel.

If it's good enough for the Big E, ......

Cables are like volume pedals to me. The best ones are the ones that sound like NOTHING. If you can plug your guitar directly into your amp and have it sound exactly the same with your volume pedal and cables connected, IT DON'T GET NO BETTER THAN THAT.

I use GeorgeL cables because I never hear them.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

I"ve been using George L in my studio rack for a while and I love em'. Let Malcolm fix you up if you don't have any .
Tony

I use the Bill Lawrence cords. As near as I can hear, they are totally transparent to the signal.

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<font size="1"><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax</font>

I'm going to check out the recommended cables because I don't know what these are that I'm using, but I believe the problem is the pot in my foot-pedal. It's just bad luck I guess because its not old and the guitar stays in our apartment (too heavy for me to lug around). Thanks again.

Charles,
If I were you, I'd check into a matchbox. It may help clean up your signal more than you would imagine. Goodrich has several models and Keith Hilton builds a 'Sustain' box that also works well.

It won't help the scratchiness of the pot, if that's the problem, so I'd replace the pot first, then get a matchbox. You see the Goodrich units for $50 or less on 'Buy and Sell' often.

The best way to clean up your signal is to use the best components (cables, pedal, pot, etc.) you can. There are two pedals on the market with no pot, one by Keith and one by Goodrich. Both have gotten rave reviews on the Forum and neither are plagued with the problems of strings breaking or loosening and pots wearing out.

That's my suggestion.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

I went down to Orange, Va today to BillyCoopersMusic(.com); purchased two GeorgeL cables and will give these a shot. Going in that store is like being in heaven to me; walking around all those psg set up. He adjusted my Emmons D10 for me, a few months ago and did a great job.

Billy Cooper's shop is marvelous. You can eat off his used steels they are so clean. Wanda and Billy are two of the most upstanding, reputable, ethical people you will ever meet. He has a great selection of steels and has a small machine shop right on the facility. I wish I lived closer to him.

Different cords can greatly affect your tone,as we all know. Personaly I seem to lose a bit of bottom end with George L's originals on my P.P. but that's just my opinion.(and I haven't got $1000,000-honest) I wish suppliers would state the impedance of their cords, which gives a guide to the response.

It's not the impedance you have to worry about.
Capacitance is the major concern.

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I have noticed a positive difference in the tone; never thought much about cables making such a difference. Then too I never really got into this until the past few months and started to practice more. Thanks everybody.