Hello
Great forum! Look forward to getting into it and learning more from you wise folk.
I recently launched my humble brand Loaded for Bear Audio to bring together some ideas and cable designs that I've been working towards for just over a couple of years. A full time job, a house renovation and two young kids have forced me to take it slowly, but I think that's a good thing and I'm pretty happy with where I'm at to start with. There's a lot more to come.
I've been an audio engineer for just under 20 years now and have been making my own cables for much longer than that since I started playing guitar when I was 11. However simple they are, I have always had an appreciation for their importance in maintaining a reliable signal chain and probably get more excited than I should do over braiding, connectors and heatshrink!
I wanted to make a cable that would not only perform to a high standard, but that would look great too. I find it a real shame when I see great kit hooked up using mediocre and generic cables.
Many cables often use plastic moulded connectors which are impossible to repair and as such can only be disposed of once faulty. My cables are fully repairable as all components are replaceable and reusable. The braiding makes them more robust whilst maintaining great flexibility and makes coiling them less troublesome. I want to reduce the amount that ends up in landfill or waste recycling processes by experimenting with the model of the circular economy, but with cables. So, I offer I lifetime guarantee with all cables that covers free repairs or replacements in the event of a manufacturing or component fault. In time I will attempt to reuse or repurpose stock and components to get the most use out of the materials. These will be resold in a new section of the shop as 'remodelled' and at a reduced rate (not yet live).
I currently have instrument (guitar) cables, pedalboard patch cables and instrument kits listed on my site. Very soon I'll be introducing Eurorack patches with other types planned for the near future and I'm very happy to take custom orders that fall within my brand identity. I have specifically chosen components that work for my cables so if I can't offer exactly what you're after then I'm happy to suggest alternative cable companies who may be able to help - I recognise that there may be others out there who suit your needs better. I'm ok with this.
I'd really appreciate your comments and feedback on any part of what I do. I'm just here to share my ideas and to learn, so please be honest. Just a note: there are tons of people out there who love to get into arguments about the tech spec of system designs, cable capacitance and tone, the correct way to solder etc. I'm not one of them. I find it all too subjective. While I appreciate there's a place for this type of conversation, I've been doing this too long and don't have the energy. I have confidence in what I do and accept it may not be aligned with every other person's idea of what is correct. These days I tend to be more interested in how folk use their kit and what they do with it, so if you want to challenge me on my choice of solder, the conversation probably won't get very far. However, if you'd like to discuss spoon carving and homebrewing alongside cables, we're good!
Check out
@loadedforbearaudio on Instagram for updates and please check out my site
https://loadedforbear.co.uk/I'm currently running a welcome offer of 15% discount on orders of £20.00 or more until Halloween. Use voucher code
HEY!BEAR Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Cheers! Jon
Comments
All sounds great and the website is really nicely done. The cables look fantastic quality too.
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
Thanks for the feedback and the welcome!
Premium braided audio cables, hand crafted in the UK | https://loadedforbear.co.uk/
XKE is 90pf/m
Van Damme Lo-cap is 55pf/m
George L 67pf/m
Summer Spirit LLX 52pf/m
Etc.
I'm still working on the site and a way to provide this info that suits a more general user experience. The comments I'm receiving here are already helping out a lot. I have a list of cable stock that I'll be introducing as I develop the brand and the Van Damme was chosen as a good all-rounder for a starting point. I have to start somewhere and allow for growth...
Premium braided audio cables, hand crafted in the UK | https://loadedforbear.co.uk/
What's the advantage to Switchcraft plugs over Rean? Genuine question as I need a new 3m cable and I'd rather you had my money than Mr Anderton!
Cheers!
Premium braided audio cables, hand crafted in the UK | https://loadedforbear.co.uk/
Thanks for the welcome and your comments.
Not stupid at all, there are so many choices out there it can be hard to know unless you're in a position to try them all. It comes down to personal preference. I personally like the two brands we currently stock as it's possible to get really good solder joints on the contacts and their strain relief is good. The Switchcraft plugs are constructed from nickel plated brass and are considerably heavier than the Rean. From my understanding of alloys, brass is malleable and less likely to crack, whereas zinc, being a base metal perhaps doesn't display the same properties. So I guess it comes down to durability and whether you need something a little more weighty and potentially more robust. Have look at our FAQ page for more info and links to the manufacturers websites.
So, that's what I think you'll notice more about using the Switchcraft over Rean and I'm sure others will have different opinions or further useful comments on material conductivity etc. Does that help at all?
Cheers!
Premium braided audio cables, hand crafted in the UK | https://loadedforbear.co.uk/
This is one of the practical reasons why I have chosen not to go with them. I have used them a lot in the past and still do, but they're not practical for this style of cable.
Premium braided audio cables, hand crafted in the UK | https://loadedforbear.co.uk/
Thanks!
Premium braided audio cables, hand crafted in the UK | https://loadedforbear.co.uk/
Apologies if the information is confusing or unclear. This is why it's great to have feedback from folk like yourself.
By using the term 'generic brand' I hoped I had conveyed that they are essentially unbranded. They are quite easy to find from a variety of suppliers and marketplaces and from the options available offer a good compromise between affordability, quality and practicality (being low profile).
I'm interested to know if this didn't come across clearly and the type of information you would like to see on the product page.
Cheers
Premium braided audio cables, hand crafted in the UK | https://loadedforbear.co.uk/
I'm totally comfortable that not everybody that visits my site will become a customer, that's the way it goes and I would encourage folk to support other small businesses who may better suit their needs.
Cheers
Premium braided audio cables, hand crafted in the UK | https://loadedforbear.co.uk/
Thanks for your interest!
Premium braided audio cables, hand crafted in the UK | https://loadedforbear.co.uk/
https://loadedforbear.co.uk/shop/
Hope you've all had a good one so far!
Premium braided audio cables, hand crafted in the UK | https://loadedforbear.co.uk/
Buy with confidence folks!
Thanks for your comments, really glad you're happy with your cables and service, AND thanks so much for coming back to us.
Cheers!
Premium braided audio cables, hand crafted in the UK | https://loadedforbear.co.uk/