Using a 2 conductor (mic) cable as a guitar cable

[larry_emder]

Went to my local electronics store today to get some single conductor co-axial cable, but they didnt have any. Spoke to one of the salesmen and he told me i could use a 2 conductor cable instead - by wiring the two inside wires to the hot connection.

He also said that this works even better than a single conductor cable, by reducing hum (in some way...he didnt explain it any further)

So my questions are:

Can i use the 2 conductor cable with a mono 1/4" plug, by wiring the 2 inner wires to hot?

And

Will it be less susceptible to hum, as Mr. salesman stated?

Thanks if you can help!

 

[travelin travis]

I've done it and noticed no benefit or ill effect.

 

[Track Rat]

The cables I'm using right now are old mic cables for no other reason than I had some mic cable and needed instrument. As stated no difference that I can hear. They are beefy though.

 

[antichef]

"balanced" cables may hum less than "unbalanced" cables, and arguably, the TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) mic cable is balanced, while a TS (tip-sleeve) instrument cable is not. By resoldering the mic cable, I think you're turning it into an unbalanced cable, though, since the same signal is traveling through both wires (essentially just making the wire twice as beefy), so I wouldn't expect a difference in hum.

 

[larry_emder]

Thanks for the quick responses dudes.

About to plug in the iron

 

[Richard Monroe]

It will work fine, but if you had hum before, you will probably still have it. And it will *not* balance the signal, which might get rid of *some* kinds of hum, especially with long runs of cable.-Richie

 

[travelin travis]

Thanks for the quick responses dudes.

About to plug in the iron

keep it clean and hot, tin everything, and avoid getting an eye hit.