DIY Instructions for Ric-O-Sound Cable?

[cassius987]

I would really like to construct my own stereo Y-cable so I can start using Ric-O-Sound. Are there any good sets of instructions to do this? I went to RadioShack and they didn't seem to know what parts I needed when I described a cable that had a stereo plug on one end into two separate (left and right) mono plugs... Can you all help me? Where should I buy my parts? Etc...

[johnallg]

Josh, this has come up before so I drew this on 10/19/2006:
http://www.geocities.com/johnallg/temp/ ... _Cable.jpg

[cassius987]

That is very handy... I have never been inside the guts of a TRS connector before but I guess the sleeve just pops off revealing obvious points to connect left, right, and ground?

Thank you John.

[winston]

Nicely drawn John.

[beatlefreak]

There are plenty of good stereo to two mono cables out there for not a lot of money. Why not just buy one? Here's a good one:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/IPBQ2Q20/

Twenty feet long, lifetime guarantee, for thirty-six bucks. You'll probably spend that much on quality parts to make one, plus the time involved, and it still might not hold up long term as a guitar cable.

[dog]

+1
IMO, the box setup is not desireable. Too many connectors and cables to potentially fail. I went with a Planet Waves Pro stereo cable to a Monster Y. Still, more connections than I want. In hindsight, I wish I had found the cable at Sweetwater (which is near my home) or bought the cable being offered by POTR.

[cassius987]

Part of my desire to DIY is so that I can learn something about the stereo wiring. I know it's not that complex but I haven't fiddled with it much yet. In addition I figured if I did it myself I could control quality of the cable and length, etc., but then I haven't looked much yet and there may not be much option.

[dog]

Well Joshua, as you can see by John's diagram, TRS wiring is really quite simple. The tip and the ring are both 'hot' and the sleeve is a common ground. From the stereo jack, the tip goes to the tip on one mono jack, and the ring goes to the tip on the other mono jack. If this is understood, forgive my going over it again. As for maintaining the quality of the components by making it yourself, may I make a suggestion. "The more you overtake the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain". I have watched guitar players with a gaggle of stomp boxes, patch cables, batteries and power supplies struggle to find the weak link when something doesn't work as it should. You may find that a simple setup is more reliable and cost effective. But if you are anything like me, once you have an idea stuck in your head, you have no choice but to follow through

I will be curious to hear what your final choice will be

[cassius987]

I just need to hack open one of my old cables. That's why this is scaring me. I've never done it.

[beatlefreak]

All the more reason to just buy one.

[ric330]

Josh, this has come up before so I drew this on 10/19/2006:
http://www.geocities.com/johnallg/temp/ ... _Cable.jpg

Great drawing John,
Thanks for the clearification.