How to Fix an Instrument Cable

By eHow Electronics Editor

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If you play an "electric" instrument, you already know about the perils of non-functional instrument chords. There are always ones in a gear case or gig bag that buzz, pop, or just plain don't work, and it's likely somebody has left it sitting with all of the other cords, so you don't know until you plug it in. What do musicians do about faulty cords? There are a couple of common ways musicians quickly test bad cords, but they're still likely to end up buying new ones.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Check your amp and instrument connections first. Take the cord out and feel the openings of the two receptacle to see if the problem might be with the gear. A loose or wiggling nut on the guitar connector can signify the receptor inside the guitar is bent or broken. If so, the cord is not your problem.

Step2

Pick up the cord and look for loose ends. Feel for a slack part of the covered wire, or looseness in the metal parts of the cord's "caps." A rattling sound in a cap can show you that the end of the cord is not fastened correctly.

Step3

Try unassembling and reassembling your caps. Unscrew the metal covering and look at where the wires come into the metal rod that fits into the receptacle. Make sure the wires are connected, and then screw the cover back on tightly, and test the cord again.

Step4

Try a "switch ends" fix. Busy musicians sometimes react to buzzing or other cord problems by reversing the structure, putting the amp end into the guitar and the guitar end into the amp. This sometimes provides a temporary fix for the problem.

Step5

Replace your cord. If the above tips don't work, it's time to buy a new cord, and do yourself a huge favor, throw the old one away, or at least mark it with colored tape to help you remember that this one is FAULTY. Next time you see it snaking across the floor, you won't have to go through the whole testing process again.