Why Microphonic Cords

Questions and Answers

From electro--(at)--rapevine.net.nospam Tue Feb 29 15:30:03 CST 2000
From: "Robert M. Braught"
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Newsgroups: alt.guitar.amps
Subject: Re: What makes a shit cable?
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Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 06:41:10 -0600
Xref: geraldo.cc.utexas.edu alt.guitar.amps:236409

No wankery; as Chris said, one of the noise sources is a 'condenser
mike' phenomenom ('space charge'); however, of more significance (my
favorite) is the 'triboelectric' effect, which are charges created
between a conductor and an insulator due to friction. Think of static
electricity, cat hair/rubber balloon, free electron transfer.
Historically, graphite can be used as a lubricant/ground path inside the
cable for the shield (usually braided, for flexibility/durability) to
dissipate the charge/prevent it from occuring in the first place.
GeorgeL's is actually a paste/semi-liquid. I've also seen thin
carbonized plastic 'tween the braid and the center conductor insulation.
Some insulating materials can generate a 'piezoelectric' effect too,
this can come up in an old cable that's hardened.
Never have figured out how to squirt WD-40 down through my cables to get
the tribes to stop being electric..... ;-)
Regards,
Robert
QTS
www.Braught.com

Index:

Amp Shipping	Dealer Cost Vs List Price	Death Switch	Diodes on Plates
Dont Use Stereo Speakers	Effects FAQ	Effects FAQ	Effects FAQ
Fix Reverb Ground Hum	Flea Market Checkout	Hammond Organ Buys	Hammond Tonewheel Organs
How Long Do Tubes Last	How Many Watts	Magnetics for Morons	Microphone Placement
NOS defined	Stage Placement	What Are Optoisolators	What are orange drops
What Dealers Pay	What is 6V6GTA	What is a Fetron	What is a Klystron
What is a Plexi	What is Bias	What is Blue Glow	What is Ground Lift
What is Kinkless Tetrode	What is Single Ended	What Is Tube Glow	What JBL Means
Which 4x12 Impedance	Who Made Delco Tubes	Who Makes Kendrick Spkrs	Why 16ohm Loads
Why AC on heaters	Why Blackface an Amp	Why Bleeder Resistors	Why Cap Value Spread
Why Care About Phase	Why Change SF Lead Dress	Why Microphonic Cords	Why Not Bias By Scope
Why Opto Trem	Why rectifier is separate	Why Select Highest Z Tap	Why Sprague Caps
Why Use Grid Stoppers	Why Use Standby