Lava Piston vs Lava Tightrope assembly comparison

Assembly speed comparison for compact right-angle TGHTROPE and PISTON LAVA CABLE plugs
Official Russian reseller - shift-line.com
Поставщик в России - www.shift-line....
music: Bajjjan - 1404

[@Harnessingtheuniverse]

Easier and faster doesn't always = better. I've used both styles of plug and my experience has been that the piston plug leaves more room for error in making the cables and also that those set screws will, at some point, become loose over time. I'm sticking with the Tightrope / Evidence Monorail SIS type of systems for their better durability over the long term.

[@Deneteus]

I would like to add that if you use the Piston version and add some liquid locking agent they will never come apart. Especially with the type of movement that happens around a pedalboard.

[@Gem-Ex]

Which liquid locking agent would you recommend ?

[@Deneteus]

@@Gem-Ex Orange Loctite, Red Loctite, any agent thats stronger than that will work.

[@MrUltraworld]

The center conductor and the ground braid are 1/16" apart from each other, and sooner or later (like in the middle of a set, that set screw will come loose. The tightrope connection will last longer. I'd buy a reel of Belden RG59 and a bag of Switchcraft right angle plugs, a $10 iron and solder up my own. That reel of cable will last you forever, and those soldered right angle plugs will never come apart. Your initial investment won't cost more than a few of these kits, and you'll have enough high quality cables for many many years.

[@XChristianNoirX]

Fred Garvin The set screw just holds the cap on. Not that big of a deal. If one really wanted to make it more permanent, one could use locktite on the screw. Sure, soldering is probably more reliable, but it's more of a pain to customize quickly for something you're gonna change in a week anyway. The advantages of the piston system are the super low profile connectors and speed in changing your configuration. Wanna shorten it? Cut and re-screw. Wanna fix it? Cut and rescrew. No heat time. No extra equipment. No burns. No fire hazard. No solder fumes.

[@newgunguy4176]

@@XChristianNoirX The set screw also makes electrical contact.

[@Gem-Ex]

Thanks

[@martinskanal]

If my main worry was saving one minute of assembly, I´d buy ready-made cables. The tightrope is a better, longer lasting design.

[@Tomsjamb]

Looking at the simple cable connection the fastest connector looks it might have more failure from loose set screw over time the other Cable taking more time to assemble would definitely have much less failure on stage then the other cable connection. The effects pedal board set up is constantly being banged or kicked, dropped which to me would cause a simple connection even if it is less time to assemble and connect more able to fail and, try finding an Allen wrench when you really need one on stage.

[@Deneteus]

Please see my comment.

[@XChristianNoirX]

All the set screw really does is keep the cap on.

[@XChristianNoirX]

Everyone should have an Allen wrench in their guitar case. Try finding and heating up a soldering iron on stage in the middle of a show.

[@XChristianNoirX]

If there is stress on the connectors from moving a pedalboard, maybe one needs a new, proper pedal board or proper velcro/dual-lock.

[@newgunguy4176]

@@XChristianNoirX No. It also makes electrical contact with the braid inside.

[@scottpinkey9210]

The problem with the piston's is due to i'ts sloppy tolerance between the Allen wrench and the screw, which causes them to strip out easily and completely renders the whole plug useless, it cost me hundreds of dollars, really hating on that design right now!

[@scottpinkey9210]

@aluminumfetish I have made many of these cable and it's about a 20% failure rate, as I said, it is due to the tolerance between the allen wrench and the screw, I have actually discussed this issue with the original owner of the company before he lost it in a divorce and then upon regaining it, selling it, he acknowledged that fact. That is why I exclusively use the Tightrope system which I believe to be the best out there.

[@newgunguy4176]

@@scottpinkey9210 Get a better fitting hex key. You shouldn't have to if it comes with the damned thing, though.

[@The_Bit_Player]

DO NOT BUY LAVA CABLES!!! VERY POOR QUALITY. EVEN WORSE CUSTOMER SERVICE. SAVE YOUR MONEY. 👎👎👎