Electric Guitar patch cords

[Carlitoboy]

Newb here...

Are patch cords for electric guitars stereo or mono?

If it is a stereo cord, what are the impacts when you use a "1/4 inch to 1/8 inch" adaptor that only accepts a 1/4 MONO plug and fits into a 1/8 inch mono jack?

I'm confused because I was at Radioshack and there was another adaptor that accepts a 1/4 STEREO plug and fits into a 1/8 inch mono jack.

Also, I'm under the assumtion that any sound card 'line in' would accept either a mono or stereo plug?

I don't know much about this stuff yet so please be gentle.

Cheers!

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Guitar cable is usually 1/4" TS (tip-sleeve) - a mono signal.

 

[Ed Dixon]

Most sound cards will handle either mono or stereo connectors for the line in plug. If in doubt, you can get adaptors from RS that go either direction. I prefec to use adaptors as that will virtually always work correctly.

As Blue Bear said, most guitar cables are 1/4 mono. However once you use guitar effects, sometimes patch connections are stereo in format, or other non-mono forms. When the dust settles the final output is usually either 1/4 mono or balanced (1/4 TRS or XLR). Again there are adaptors that will go from about anything to anything. Having a bag full of them in your case is usually a good thing.

Ed

 

[MemoGtr]

Again there are adaptors that will go from about anything to anything. Having a bag full of them in your case is usually a good thing.

hahahahaha yes

hey in trs what does the r stand for?

 

[Emeric]

ring