Cloth Covered Wire

[talbany]

In the past I've seen several mentions of the cloth covered wire issue...
After going through my anal stage of Apex Teflon vs PVC vs Cloth....I come back to cloth eveytime.. Absolutely nothing wong with the sonic qualities to a cloth covered wire.. We've built some great sounding amps with cloth wire.
As long as your layout is clean and sound you can make a dead quiet amp with cloth.. My opinion is not based on ten's of amps but hundreds.....includeing kits, clones, and our own designs.... Just an opinion!!



Tony VVT

[BobW]

I agree. Sonically there's no difference Teflon vs. Cloth Covered.

However, Gil gave me some great advice on my last build (Thanks gil). If you care how the layout looks then go with all teflon. I do find the teflon is easier to work with. Stripping with an exacto knife works well, at least for me, and there's no problem with fraying as with the cloth. Plus, the teflon looks neater and more professional.

my .02

[talbany]

You do have to use a real sharp pair of cutters.... But nothing wrong with the way this looks.....

[tubedogsmith]

What kind of cloth wire are you using? Can you get it in big rolls?

[Funkalicousgroove]

It is my understanding that you can not pass a UL inspection with cloth covered wire, and it should NEVER be used for HT or screen supplies, I have worked on enough old fenders that have had the screen supply short through the cloth right to the chassis.

[tubetek]

I don't know the brand, but Doug Hoffman sells the cloth wire that is laquered and doesn't fray. I've tried other suppliers and usually it winds up being the stuff that frays. Also, Dougs wire really is push-back; others have a PVC insulated wire inside the cloth; THE WORST to work with, IMO.
Tom
EDIT- If selling the amp, see funk's post above!

[talbany]

Sure 1000 ft spool $120.00 last forever... Wax coated @ New Sensor...Or Gavett...

[talbany]

We did have 1 100watt amp that shorted to the Chassis w/ cloth wire on the screens..So I do recommend the higher current places be thicker coating... But 1 amp out of hundreds... Personally I think cloth wire done right looks much cooler and more boutique looking...Just Me!!!




T

[BobW]

It is my understanding that you can not pass a UL inspection with cloth covered wire, and it should NEVER be used for HT or screen supplies, I have worked on enough old fenders that have had the screen supply short through the cloth right to the chassis

Yet, two more great reasons to use teflon. I imagine UL performs a highpot test (voltage unknown), and that's where the cloth wire fails to meet dielectric strength.

Also, carbonized cloth wire from socket or tube failure would be impossible to clean away compared to teflon.

my .04

[talbany]

Come on guy's were talking Miliamps here...

T

[butwhatif]

teflon is the ugliest lookin stuff imho, cloth rocks

[Funkalicousgroove]

tell me how ugly this looks?

[butwhatif]

Are you referring to the layout, or the wire?----It's nice lookin' work, I just can't dig the looks of the wire fwiw. Don't think I even own any orange wire---

[talbany]

Here ya go check out this MONSTER!!!The Baffeling thing to me is this amp KICKS!! ASS!! Great OD!!! done by amp Guru!! Jim Handley!!
That's not all..I've seen some amps by him that are worse!!! One of the best sounding Marshall's I've ever played was one Modded by Jim!!! Owned by my Friend Bill Holter...
I don't promote this kind of behavior and our amps look nothing like this...But to all those guy's out there worried about the silver content in there solder it makes you stop and think!!! Proved to me it ain't all looks!!



Tony

[Funkalicousgroove]

Just can't do it, the slop doesn't add to the tone, however, it does add to oscillations.

Mark Cameron Marshalls are the same deal, sound great, look like Hell inside!