Kohlman cable @ TYMC

It's about time I do this so here goes... 😁

The Kohlman brand of instrument cables is an in-house name for TYMC. These are currently offered in 3m/ 4.5m/ 6m lengths featuring Amphenol plugs which are shrink wrapped at both ends. The cable itself features OFC material with a rubber inner jacket doubled with plastic braiding you see here unlike other off-the-shelf models where rubber-based material serves to be the final, outer-most covering. 

In use, the cable offers a full-bodied midrange performance with lots of clarity. This would be a good discourse for both humbucking & single coil pickup guitars where tonal details are the order of the day. One of my test set up featured a bottom-heavy tone courtesy of a bottom heavy cab & an EQ setting devoid of much top end response. This really brought out the sparkle from the cable & prevented a mud-out experience at high volume performance. The entire cable length proved to be quite tug resistant & crackle free during a tough love session where it was stepped on & used as a proto-whip (do not try this with yours).

Some contentions:

1. In use with entry-level guitars with cheap default pickups, the cable manifested excessive treble responses
2. The plastic outer-most 'braided' jacket is a little stiff & hampers flexibility at times

Why go with Kohlman & not other boutique brand names which are readily available at the stores here? The good people at TYMC promised a customizable length should you need this to be looked into for performance considerations. Also, you can negotiate the type of plugs you prefer; straight at both ends or straight plus an L-type at one end (SG players, you'd appreciate this consideration. The Kohlman is also durable to begin with & it's blessed with proper shielding so your signals don't pick up radio waves during play. That's right, this is what manufacturers out there do not tell you when it comes to their 'mid-range' instrument cables. Despite manifesting them as somewhat durable & no frills, they pick up external signals readily, meaning, the cable itself is like a radio antenna once you plug in. All in all, the Kohlman currently stands a tier above the fundamental standards offered out there so spending money on one is a wise move. 

Rating: 8/10

Availability: TYMC

List: Prices according to prescribed length, please call TYMC for further queries

Some (recommended) stuff

You might have seen a similar set up to the one depicted above; guitar- pedal- pocket/ desk top amp. I'm an advocate of simple set ups  especially when focus is the order of the day, not a flashy display of possession. Despite the fundamental line up of gear here, it's actually a display of discrete quality & certainly not a boutique affair:

1. LTD ST-213 I refer to my LTD instruments as 'LTD' & not ESP LTD because it's not an ESP to begin with. No doubt, the LTD label is a sub company of the ESP name, I do not wish to ride on the safety of a higher brand name & let the reference be; it is as it should be referred to, not something else. With that said, I am totally happy with the Series 200 LTD instruments & it's unfortunate that the manufacturer had decided to do away with these models early this year. Unfortunate because the ST-213 is a quality instrument from head to toe, much overlooked by people who are too busy chasing after a Fender-backed alternative when hunting for instruments in this price bracket.
2. Tesla Plasma 1 Tesla is one of Korea's pride & joy in terms of quality manufacturing. Despite the different ingredients used for pickup concoction unlike its American counterparts, this brand name still deliver the goods. Totally happy with these pickups in this guitar.
3. Graphtech Tusq I'm totally happy with Graphtech products as well, the Tusq range included. They are affordable. They are reliable. They are fuss-free. The reason why I have them here- to replace the default set of vintage-type saddles with protruding screws that kept jabbing my hand. While at it, why not invest in something with a little extra in terms of delivery? So, there.
4. Amphenol plugs Beez introduced me to this brand of cable plugs when he was still operating at Roxy Square. I remember bringing him a crackling cable for a re-solder job. The soldering came off at the plug end simply because the default rubber/ plastic plugs were not meant to last. He mentioned the Amphenol brand as a personal recommendation & I gave it a try. They lasted till today. Eight years & counting.
5. CMATmods I first bought a CMATmods pedal from SV Guitars at its Marsiling branch. I don't look up to boutique brand names because they are costly. Not all boutique pedals out there are pleasant sounding in terms of tones, the cost to satisfaction ratio is bordering on the ridiculous. The availability of affordable alternatives just proves the fact that boutique brand names are selling you subjectivity more than anything else. However, the CMATmods people know what they are doing & they don't promise you something they can't deliver. I own three CMATmods pedals in the mean time, the Brownie here is one of them.
6. Blackstar I must say the Blackstar brand had gained positive momentum over the years not just based on reputation per se but on delivery. I will give my backing to their non-digital amps any time & these amps are worthy drive-wise as well as cleans. The FLY 3 desk top amp here is in my opinion, a break through; something this small yet pleasant sounding for a quick grab-&-play application. Highly recommended.

PRS 30W combo amp

It's a fresh involvement for PRS in the amplifier turf but the manufacturer has this 30W combo to appease us bedroom tone buffs. These days, if you don't cater to the different spectrum of players out there, chances are, your coffers wouldn't be as filled up as your adversaries but let's not see this move as a commercial gambit by the manufacturer per se, especially before we hear the product in person...

Planet Waves: Custom Pro cable

One of the most anticipated product in my books late '08 was indeed a cable (how exciting... *yawn*) from Planet Waves' Custom Pro range.

I've been buying cables from BEEZ with Amphenol plugs which prove to be durable & provides excellent contact- it's good to see manufacturers like Planet Waves incorporating tried & trusted parts in their products.

Canare cable/ Amphenol plug

I just got my custom length Canare cables (2m each, nothing too long for domestic use) from LOOK FOR BEEZ today. As you can see, I've chosen brown with black/ chrome plugs, which are of the Amphenol brand. As the spouse puts it, brown represents ageing & retirement befitting of a selfless character who puts negligible value to cosmetics due to excessive exposure to quantity, opting for quality intrinsics instead- a perfect description of yours truly...


However, if you are interested in this cable brand, be assured that Beez has colour assortments in stock with varied thickness. You can also specify a patch cable type length with relevant discounts for liberal quantity acquisitions.

As you can see from this heap, Beez also has other brand name/ shape plugs for your selection, the cost of which hinges on the material used as oppossed to the county of origin.
How much? You pay for your personal selection, which is the sum of the cable/ plugs/ service charge. An estimate of a 10ft long cable equipped with a pair of Amphenol plugs: $22.00, 1/2ft patch cable starts at $6.00+ with the relevant plug charges included. If it's your maiden purchase, drop by LOOK FOR BEEZ & ask for selection quotes. If you decide to purchase on the spot, Beez would effect your order immediately unless he has his hands full.
After telling Beez what I wanted, he took 10min to complete the cable termination- the Jedi Master at work...