How you coil a cable decides how long it lasts. The over-under method is what studio and touring crews use, because the cable comes off the coil flat, with no twists or knots.
Why Not Wrap It Around Your Elbow
Wrapping a cable around your arm puts a full twist in it on every loop. Over time the twists stress the conductors and the shield, and the cable starts to kink, tangle and eventually fail near the plugs.
The Over-Under Method
- Hold one end of the cable in your left hand, with the plug hanging down a few inches.
- Make the first loop the normal way: bring the cable over and lay it in your hand. Let the cable turn naturally as you do it.
- Make the second loop the opposite way. Turn the cable a half-twist in your fingers so it comes under, and lay the loop in your hand. The loop should hang the same size as the first.
- Keep alternating: one over, one under, until you reach the other end.
- Secure the coil with a hook-and-loop tie, not tape or a tight knot.
The alternating loops cancel each other's twist. If you did it right, you can hold one plug and throw the coil across the floor, and it will lay out straight.
A Few More Habits
- Pull the plug, not the cable: Grip the connector when you unplug.
- Keep loops loose: Tight loops put a sharp bend near the plugs.
- Store it dry and off the floor: Hang coils on a hook or keep them in a case.
Built to Last
Every Ghost cable is hand-soldered in Los Angeles and covered for life against defects in parts and craftsmanship. Coil it well and it will last a very long time.