Cable for stringed musical instruments

1. A cable comprising

(a) a center conductor having an effective outer diameter;

(b) a dielectric material around said center conductor;

(c) an outer conductor, or shield, around said dielectric material; said shield having an effective inner diameter;

(d) wherein said center conductor has a cross-sectional area of 3.141×10 −4 in 2 or less;

(e) wherein the cable has a capacitance of about 15 pF/ft or less;

(f) wherein the cable maintains electrical continuity under a tensile force of 25 lbf or greater;

(g) wherein the cable has a flex life of greater than about 30,000 cycles; and

(h) wherein said cable is a musical instrument cable.

2. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said center conductor has a cross-sectional area of 1.767×10 −4 in 2 or less.

3. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said center conductor comprises copper.

4. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said center conductor comprises copper that has tensile strengths greater than about 35 ksi.

5. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said center conductor comprises an alloy.

6. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said center conductor comprises an alloy of beryllium and copper.

7. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said shield is a braid where the strands are at an angle less than 40 degrees from the axis of the braid.

8. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein a ratio of said shield effective inner diameter to said center conductor effective outer diameter is greater than about 8.

9. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein a ratio of said shield effective inner diameter to said center conductor effective outer diameter is greater than about 10.

10. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein a ratio of said shield effective inner diameter to said center conductor effective outer diameter is greater than about 12.

11. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said capacitance is about 12 pF/ft or less.

12. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said capacitance is about 10 pF/ft or less.

13. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein cable maintains electrical continuity under a tensile force of about 50 lbf or greater.

14. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein cable maintains electrical continuity under a tensile force of about 100 lbf or greater.

15. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said flex life is greater than about 150,000 cycles.

16. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said flex life is about 275,000 cycles.

17. A cable as defined in claim 1 wherein said musical instrument comprises a passive magnetic pickup.

18. A cable as defined in claim 17 wherein said musical instrument is a stringed instrument.

19. A cable as defined in claim 18 wherein said center conductor comprises an alloy of beryllium and copper and has a cross-sectional area of 1.767×10 −4 in 2 or less; a ratio of said shield effective inner diameter to said center conductor effective outer diameter is greater than about 8; said capacitance is about 10 pF/ft; said tensile strength is about 100 lbf; and said flex life is about 275,000 cycles.

20. An article comprising the cable of claim 19 in combination with a passive magnetic pick-up.

21. An article as defined in claim 20 further comprising a stringed musical instrument comprising said passive magnetic pickup.

22. An article comprising the cable of claim 1 in combination with a passive magnetic pick-up.

23. An article as defined in claim 22 further comprising a stringed musical instrument comprising said passive magnetic pickup.

24. A cable comprising:

(a) a center conductor having an outer effective diameter;

(b) a reinforcement layer around said center conductor;

(c) a dielectric material around said polymer reinforcement;

(d) an outer conductor, or shield, around said dielectric material; said shield having an inner effective diameter;

(e) wherein said center conductor has a cross-sectional area of 3.141×10 −4 in 2 or less;

(f) wherein the cable has a capacitance of about 15 pF/ft or less;

(g) wherein the cable maintains electrical continuity under a tensile force of 25 lbf or greater.

(h) wherein the cable has a flex life of greater than about 30,000 cycles; and

(i) wherein said cable is a musical instrument cable.

25. A cable as defined in claim 24 wherein said reinforcement layer comprises ePTFE.

26. A cable as defined in claim 24 wherein said reinforcement layer is selected from the group consisting of fluoropolymers, thermosetting or thermoplastic polymers, cellulose-based materials or metallic foils.

27. A cable comprising

(a) a center conductor;

(b) a non-metallic strength fiber contacting said center conductor;

(c) a dielectric material around said center conductor;

(d) an outer conductor, or shield, around said dielectric material; wherein said center conductor has a cross-sectional area of 3.141×10 −4 in 2 or less;

(e) wherein the cable has a capacitance of about 15 pF/ft or less;

(f) wherein the cable maintains electrical continuity under a tensile force of 25 lbf or greater;

(g) wherein the cable has a flex life of greater than about 30,000 cycles; and

(h) wherein said cable is a musical instrument cable.

28. A cable comprising

(a) a center conductor;

(b) a strength fiber not contacting said center conductor;

(c) a dielectric material around said center conductor;

(d) an outer conductor, or shield, around said dielectric material; wherein said center conductor has a cross-sectional area of 3.141×10 −4 in 2 or less;

(e) wherein the cable has a capacitance of about 15 pF/ft or less;

(f) wherein the cable maintains electrical continuity under a tensile force of 25 lbf or greater;

(g) wherein the cable has a flex life of greater than about 30,000 cycles; and

(h) wherein said cable is a musical instrument cable.