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XLR's as used by Kortwich


Malcolm Davies Amps CAS

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Does anyone know if and where it's possible to buy the colour coded low profile 3 pin XLR that Kortwich use on their 788 snake? Kortwich apparently machine them out of existing XLR's but the cost of the modified connectors is prohibitively expensive

Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s.

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I made these two connectors today by drilling a 4.5mm hole into the side of the connector, soldered the cable to the contacts (this is a little tricky but not too much of an issue) and mixed a clear epoxy with a pigment die and partially filled the connector with the mixture. For identification, I put a printed L and R onto the dried epoxy (aprox 15 minutes after I put in the initial mixture) made up a fresh clear batch and filled in the rest up to the top of the connector. Job took half an hour and looks really cool. Naturally, once the epoxy hardens, that's it for life. There is no repairing it down the line.

I applied the same trick to other connectors using casting resin. This worked very well too but takes a bit longer to cure. The finish is a little glossier but the epoxy works just fine. Total cost: about $5.00 and a bit of labour time.

post-1674-0-79330400-1317927425.jpg

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I made these two connectors today by drilling a 4.5mm hole into the side of the connector, soldered the cable to the contacts (this is a little tricky but not too much of an issue) and mixed a clear epoxy with a pigment die and partially filled the connector with the mixture. For identification, I put a printed L and R onto the dried epoxy (aprox 15 minutes after I put in the initial mixture) made up a fresh clear batch and filled in the rest up to the top of the connector. Job took half an hour and looks really cool. Naturally, once the epoxy hardens, that's it for life. There is no repairing it down the line.

I applied the same trick to other connectors using casting resin. This worked very well too but takes a bit longer to cure. The finish is a little glossier but the epoxy works just fine. Total cost: about $5.00 and a bit of labour time.

Those look great, too!

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" Kortwich apparently machine them out of existing XLR's "

you answered your own question! ::)

Thanks to everyone who answered the post except studiomprd who has a wonderful way of pointing out the bloody obvious but for Kortwich to charge $54 for a $1.25 XLR with a hole drilled in the side (this is the only machining that is done ) plus the coloured cap is a bit over the top in my book. I must not forget the Fed-Ex charge of $23 for shipping a small quantity. Anyway I sourced some coloured caps for the equivalent of 30 cents each, drilled the hole and what do you know? Job done.

Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s.

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Thanks to everyone who answered the post except studiomprd who has a wonderful way of pointing out the bloody obvious but for Kortwich to charge $40 for a $1.25 XLR with a hole drilled in the side (this is the only machining that is done and) plus the coloured cap is a bit over the top in my book. Anyway I sourced some coloured caps for the equivalent of 30 cents each, drilled the hole and what do you know? Job done.

Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s.

Malcolm, where did you get the colored caps? I've been making these low profiles for a while but was never happy with the capping technique.

Thanks,

Bernie

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Malcolm, where did you get the colored caps? I've been making these low profiles for a while but was never happy with the capping technique.

Thanks,

Bernie

Bernie!

The caps can be obtained from www.mossexpress.co.uk. They are the standard ribbed ones 16mm diameter.

Regards,

Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s.

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  • 2 years later...

Bernie!

The caps can be obtained from www.mossexpress.co.uk. They are the standard ribbed ones 16mm diameter.

Regards,

Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s.

Malcolm,

Could you please provide a link to the actual cap you mean - I've had a look at their site but couldn't find a 'standard ribbed 16mm' plug or cap.

 

Thanks,

Jez Adamson

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Malcolm,

Could you please provide a link to the actual cap you mean - I've had a look at their site but couldn't find a 'standard ribbed 16mm' plug or cap.

 

Thanks,

Jez Adamson

Jez it's part number 12512 but I must be honest the job is not as good as Kortwich or Stuart Torrance who is UK based. Eric Toline or Matt Raudler or the people on the other side of the pond. Stuart has done a superb job for me.

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Thanks Malcolm.

 

I've actually done a few homemade short XLRs myself over the years - the cheapest and easiest solution was using the (older) X series Neutrik plug, removing the rubber at end, then wiring with 2-3mm (belden?) cable, which is flexible enough to wrap back snugly onto the body of the XLR rather than stick out of the back (the common problem with so many 'short' mics and plugs) but saving me the hassle of drilling a side hole. My end plug was simply a rubber washer (2mm hole for cable) which happened to fit perfectly inside the XLR. Short enough (just) for 2 8040s on a custom bar arrangement in a side address AC-AF rycote (at most rotation/angles required).

 

On the expensive end, I bought and imported two of the KTek side address XLRs, butchered a high quality cloth patch cable, and made hops for my SD302 to microtrack. It worked out at £80 for the 2 short cables but several years on I still think what a damn fine piece of work!

 

Jez

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Thanks Malcolm.

 

I've actually done a few homemade short XLRs myself over the years - the cheapest and easiest solution was using the (older) X series Neutrik plug, removing the rubber at end, then wiring with 2-3mm (belden?) cable, which is flexible enough to wrap back snugly onto the body of the XLR rather than stick out of the back (the common problem with so many 'short' mics and plugs) but saving me the hassle of drilling a side hole. My end plug was simply a rubber washer (2mm hole for cable) which happened to fit perfectly inside the XLR. Short enough (just) for 2 8040s on a custom bar arrangement in a side address AC-AF rycote (at most rotation/angles required).

 

Jez

Nice, any pictures?

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