WTF is going on with my cables?

[Randall]

I have been making custom cables for a long time. Recently, I bought a couple hundred feet of Canare GS-8 instrument cable and a bag of Switchcraft plugs. Something very strange is happening. 3 out of the last 4 cables I made are reading anywhere between 2K - 12k ohms from tip to sleeve. They all work, no noises, although some do actually sound fuller than others. I have been very careful not to use too much heat that would melt the insulation, and have cut connectors off and had several more goes, with the same results.

On the last try I narrowed it down to this. Measured the cable and connector first, no continuity. Carefully soldered the first connector on, still no continuity. Soldered only the tip wire to second connector, and I have 6K ohms between shield and center, without the shield even touching the connector! How can this be? I unsoldered the tip wire, no continuity. Touch the tip wire to the center lug, still no continuity. Check the connector, open. Tack it back on, 6K ohms!

I am going out of my mind trying to figure this out, it just makes no sense. I have dissected the cable a couple of times, and nowhere can I see where the insulation had melted and possibly shorted. What am I missing here? Strange. Please help me brain trust, I am lost.

[olddawg]

Try this. Cut 2" off of each end of the cable. Use 2 new plugs. Scuff the surfaces you are going to solder with some Emory cloth. Use liquid flux on both surfaces and solder. Sounds like you may have an oxidation layer on the plugs.

[Randall]

That does not explain why I would get continuity by only soldering the tip to one connector. Plus, I did try different connectors and clipping the cable back.

[Justin Thomas]

Can you put up a picture of the cable you're using? Is it like this: inner conductor-insulation-thin layer of black gooey film-shield-outer insulation? I had the same problem with my cables until I realized that black crap is conductive. Once I started peeling it off as a separate step from the inner insulation, and leaving a fraction of the clear, I was good. Some junk about "reducing capacitance," I'm sure. It's a $&@#ing guitar cable!

To be clear, if that black junk melts through any of the other layers or contacts any of the other conductors, no good.

Just speculating.

Justin

[52 Bill]

When you measure this resistance are you touching any of the metal parts, plugs, meter probe tips, etc.?

[tedmich]

could this have something to do with it?

"Important Wiring Note:
Canare GS-4 and GS-6 utilize a specially designed Conductive Carbon Plastic Shield to protect against undesirable microphonic handling noise. This inner sleeve can cause a short circuit if allowed to come in contact with the OFC center conductor. Please be very careful when stripping cable and remove this material from exposed insulation before soldering."

I can't find Canare GS-8 anywhere, is it new??

[frus]

+1 to black plastic

confused the hell out of me too, till I found out

[Enzo]

That was my though the moment I read your complaint, the conductive film around the inner insulation.

[Randall]

First off, it is actually Canare CS-6, my old eyes strike again. And, the conductive sheath was exactly what was wrong. I had failed to trim it back, and it was contacting the center lug after soldering. I trimmed it back a bit on all ends, and now all cables are fine. What an odd experience! It showed some continuity on cables I have been using regularly for months with no perceived problem. Thanks for the help, gang. It was right there in plain sight, I just couldn't see it!

[tedmich]