LITTLEWING Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 Wow!!! I haven't used or trusted curly leads for years, but as I kept treading all over my straights I thought I'd try out a new version, so I bought a nice white one by Fender for less than a tenner and used it last night. FREEDOM!!! No more trampling on leads, getting caught round a cymbal stand or having to keep flicking it behind me as I wander around like you do. The new ones are quiet, don't crackle or pick up local radio stations and are nice and secure using modern tech strands and connectors and to my ears didn't compromise the tone to any degree. There are dearer ones on the market but I'll see how this goes. I am a happy bunny! Quote
karlfer Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 I had the same issue as you couple of years back. Got a bullet curly and never looked back. Pricey but worth it's weight in gold over the last 100 or so gigs. Quote
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 Love the look of curly leads. Maybe someone should start a thread on them Quote
Les Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 I want one. Can I have a link to the Fender one you bought please. Les Quote
Dingus Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 Curly leads! Whatever happened to curly leads ? They used to be the "in thing" when I first started playing. When I think about it, it seems like no one has used them in a [i]very[/i] long time. I just presumed that Mankind had abandoned the idea in favour of wireless systems and tripping over conventional guitar leads on the floor. Quote
Immo Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 The basic problem about curly leads is that they're springy. This means they could slap you or something in the operational diameter, they can entangle with other cables and some say they really love to pop out of jack sockets before even stretching into full length. However, those arguments were used by people who begun their sentence with "Well, they say that...", so I think they're not that bad. I really want one. Besides... Quote
gjones Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 (edited) I bought a Fender curly lead 3 years ago. Took it home and it didn't work. Went back to the shop and they replaced it. Before I plugged it in I read all the bumf on the packaging from fender about how 'curly leads have changed' and that they 'don't 'suck the tone out of your guitar any more' etc, etc. So I plugged it into my bass and it sounded horrible. There was no high end at all and it sounded very muddy. I still have the lead but I don't use it any more. They sound bad enough with a bass guitar but I'm sure a guitar would sound horrible using one of these. Maybe the newer ones sound better I don't know? Edited December 1, 2013 by gjones Quote
Immo Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 [quote name='gjones' timestamp='1385914635' post='2293545'] (...)I read all the bumf on the packaging from fender about how 'curly leads have changed' and that they 'don't 'suck the tone out of your guitar any more' etc, etc. So I plugged it into my bass and it sounded horrible. There was [b]no high end[/b] at all and it sounded [b]very muddy[/b]. I still have the lead but I don't use it any more. (...) [/quote] Funny, cause DeeDee Ramone used them and he had LOTS of midrange and high end. Quote
Cat Burrito Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 I love the retro look but I found mine (fender also) just didn't last very long. I think that is Fender leads in general as I had the deluxe bass leads too and they didn't last long either. Quote
discreet Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 I've been thinking about getting one of the chunky Bullet Curly or Lava Morph Coil leads, but they're bloody expensive for what they are. [size=4]And as usual if you buy a cheapie you are likely to get problems... what to do..? I nearly broke my neck at rehearsal the other day with my usual lead. Again.[/size] Quote
gjones Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 They are very heavy too, as you can have 20ft of lead condensed into 4 or 5ft (because of the curls). Quote
discreet Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 (edited) [quote name='gjones' timestamp='1385916956' post='2293586'] They are very heavy too, as you can have 20ft of lead condensed into 4 or 5ft (because of the curls). [/quote] Lava claim to be the lightest coiled leads out there, but they're not cheap!! [url="http://www.lavacable.com/index.php?id=26"]http://www.lavacable.com/index.php?id=26[/url] Edited December 1, 2013 by discreet Quote
LITTLEWING Posted December 1, 2013 Author Posted December 1, 2013 [quote name='Les' timestamp='1385910651' post='2293474'] I want one. Can I have a link to the Fender one you bought please. Les [/quote]Hey Les, check out Fender Koilkord on Ebay, there's loads on there as little as £9.00 free p&p. Quote
discreet Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 (edited) [quote name='lojo' timestamp='1385917889' post='2293599'] Wireless ? [/quote] Ideally yes, but again not a particularly affordable option. This is the cheapest one I can find at short notice... don't know if it's any cop though. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/line6_relay_g30.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...6_relay_g30.htm[/url] Edit: No I lied, there's this... [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tbone_tws_one_a_guitar.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tbone_tws_one_a_guitar.htm[/url] Edited December 1, 2013 by discreet Quote
winterfire666 Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 The new alesis wireless says it is suitable for all instruments including keys and bass and is only £65. According to early reviews (for guitar use) its very good too. Quote
LITTLEWING Posted December 1, 2013 Author Posted December 1, 2013 (edited) [quote name='lojo' timestamp='1385917889' post='2293599'] Wireless ? [/quote]Most low-enders don't stand any more than 2 metres from their rig. Why would anybody want wireless at 200 squids a go?? Jeez!! Edited December 1, 2013 by LITTLEWING Quote
winterfire666 Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 I hate curly leads, you feel it there all the time as if you are tethered to your rig. It is not good. They are ugly bugly too. Normal leads get tangled. Its gotta be wireless for me. Quote
discreet Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 (edited) [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1385918651' post='2293609'] Edit: No I lied, there's this... [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tbone_tws_one_a_guitar.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...ne_a_guitar.htm[/url] [/quote] Looking into whether the 'D' option is preferable over the 'A' option re digital change-over of frequencies in 2015... I may take a punt on this. Not much to lose and all to gain (pun intended). Reviews are favourable. [quote name='winterfire666' timestamp='1385919204' post='2293623'] The new alesis wireless says it is suitable for all instruments including keys and bass and is only £65. According to early reviews (for guitar use) its very good too. [/quote] That looks interesting too. [url="http://alesis.com/guitarlink-wireless"]http://alesis.com/guitarlink-wireless[/url] Edit: But of course you don't get the 'retro rock 'n' roll' vibe with a wireless system. You also don't trip over your lead, fall on your arse and make a spectacle of yourself in public... Edited December 1, 2013 by discreet Quote
jezzaboy Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 I have used a white and red Bullet lead for the last couple of years. They are heavy but look cool. I paid £40 for mine but it is decent and has lasted so far. Curly is the new straight.... Quote
allighatt0r Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1385918651' post='2293609'] This is the cheapest one I can find at short notice... don't know if it's any cop though. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/line6_relay_g30.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...6_relay_g30.htm[/url] [/quote] The Line6 g30 is a fantastic bit of kit. Highly recommended. Quote
BassTractor Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1385919664' post='2293634'] You also don't trip over your lead, fall on your arse and make a spectacle of yourself in public... [/quote] Never realised that! I was gonna go wireless, but now I'll just drop the whole plan. Thanks for the heads up! Quote
lojo Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 [quote name='LITTLEWING' timestamp='1385919313' post='2293626'] Jeez!! [/quote] Suggestion wasn't that bad was it? Quote
LITTLEWING Posted December 1, 2013 Author Posted December 1, 2013 [quote name='lojo' timestamp='1385925159' post='2293726'] Suggestion wasn't that bad was it? [/quote] Quote
Thunderbird Posted December 1, 2013 Posted December 1, 2013 [quote name='LITTLEWING' timestamp='1385917667' post='2293597'] Hey Les, check out Fender Koilkord on Ebay, there's loads on there as little as £9.00 free p&p. [/quote] I just looked at those they look like the power lead from a 70's hairdryer Quote
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