RE: [Harp-L] Microphone Cable

["John Balding" <John.Balding@xxxxxxxxx>]

With the XLR cable, you could connect one of the center wires to the
"hot" (+) of the element, and the outer shield wiring to the negative
(ground) side of the element. This is the way a standard 1/4 inch cable
is put together. Of course, don't forget to insulate the tip (or cut
flush with the casing) of the remaining unused center wire. Shielding is
no better with this setup, because both types of cables use the same
shielding methods. (Although some manufacturers claim that their
shielding is better, due to tighter mesh, revolutionary materials, etc.
But essentially what you have in any cable is an insulated wire wrapped
in a flexible copper or aluminum "meshing", which serves as the
shield/ground.)

In my opinion, it is rarely beneficial to do this "surgery", except in
cases of emergency. i.e. - when no other option exists. By the time you
buy the 1/4 plugs, you've got at least 2 or 3 bucks into it, and you
still have all that tricky labor ahead of you. Even the cheapest guitar
cables can be found with lifetime warranties now. I would spend the
extra 5 or 6 bucks and get a new guitar cable. If money is an issue, try
a pawn shop, flea market or garage sale.

John Balding
Tallahassee, FL

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Christopher B
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 10:52 PM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] Microphone Cable

Hi All
     In a normal cable used with 1/4" jacks do I have to use the usual 
cable that is used for this? Or can I use the sort of cable used with 
XLR connectors? 
XLR has two wires down the centre, if I attach one to the tip connector 
and the other to the barrel connector, do the copper sheild wires need 
to be grounded?
Would there be any advantage to this? Better shielding maybe?

Have a Nice Life
  Christopher
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