Looking after your guitar cable | Mark Wilkes
The guitar, like any musical instrument, needs basic care and maintenance to keA damaged cable is the usual first check when we are looking for an answer to a crackling sound in a guitar. It is one of the most-handled parts of a guitar rig, therefore one of the first parts we check when things go wrong.

Looking after your cable is relatively easy and will give you many years of smooth playing. Here are four tips...

1. First buy a quality cable. Many guitars and guitar packages come with a cable. It is usually a bit average. A guitar company makes guitars, not cables. Buy a good branded cable and you will get a good cable.

2. Remove it carefully from the guitar and amp, pulling straight out. Keep the metal ends screwed tight.

3. Look after it. Pack it up after use. Don’t leave it lying all over the bedroom floor ready to be dissected by your best stilettos. Small cuts in a cable can cause problems, as can sharp bends. Put it away.

4. Learn to roll it correctly. A guitar cable is made up of two wires, however they are not side by side. There is a centre cable and a second braided cable that circles around the centre one. This means the guitar cable cannot be simply wound up. It needs to be carefully rolled to prevent breakage.

Hold one end in your hand and start rolling the cable up without gripping it. Notice how it wants to turn in you hand. The cable must not be twisted but must find its own plane. By holding loosely as you roll it will most times do this on its own. If your cable is already damaged with kinks inside it will most likely not roll flat and will look twisted when rolled. Time for a new lead.

Mark Wilkes

 

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