I'm looking for a good lay

[Bob Ross]

...cable lay, that is.

(I know, cheap trick. But I got you to read this thread!)

Lately I've been building extra cables for electric guitar or bass out of whatever bulk cable I have lying around...typically Canare Star-Quad or Mogami, shielded twisted pair that I use for microphone runs or balanced line level interconnects. (When wiring them up to 1/4" TS plugs for guitars I build them w/ a telescoping shield so they aren't balanced.)

The problem with these cables -- or at least the problem that I'd like to address with this thread -- is that these cables don't have a particularly forgiving lay. They don't lie flat on the floor, they tend to maintain their kinks, they basically get all twisted or stupid between the instrument and the amp, and then I trip over them and feel like an idiot.

So, is there any bulk shielded cable (either single conductor or twisted pair) that you've used to make instrument cables that has excellent flexibilty, coils up and back easily, that has a good lay?

The much-maligned (potentially with good reason) Jon Risch recommended Belden 83393 for this application, but that's a rare cable that's only available in huge put-ups, and I'd prefer something I can buy in 50' or 100' lengths to experiment with before I commit.

Thanks.

[BOWIE]

OK, I guess I'm the only pervert who clicked on the thread...

I've built mamy cables and Mogami and canare (especially) have been, by far, the most forgiving as far as lay goes. Star quad always lays kind of bad but, still, those two brands are an absolute joy compared to most of the others I've used and the EA Lyric I currently use (which is like a coathanger).