Question Stereo TRS cable question

[Zaarin]

Quick question for all you knuckleheads. A TRS cable has a tip and a ring that are used to send signals. Can I use a stereo cable with a mono instrument? It seems like it would work since the tip is exactly the same as a regular mono cable. I don't think that the ring part of the TRS cable would do anything... Any ideas?

I am going to borrow a guitar with a mono output and test my idea out. I ask because I need some smaller patch cords and I wanted to order some TRS cables from monoprice.com since they have good quality cables. They only have 1/4 inch TRS cables, and no mono cables.

Thoughts?

 

[Spudmurphy]

I just tried my stereo lead on my mono AL into my mesa and it works fine.

Just tried it into my smokey amp and it doesn't work - so Caveat Emptor!! (Beware)

 

[Octavarius]

It works fine with my mono 20th Silo and my Mesa Lonestar.

Why it doesn't work between certain amps and guitars could be difference between the jacks; for instance, one the amp, the ground "clamp" only touches the ring, while on the guitar it touches the sleeve, or perhaps it is stuck between the ring and sleeve. But I believe it should work with most equipment using current production std. jack connections.

 

[the24thfret]

Yup. Works on some stuff depending on the jack.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Just to add to this - the jack in the Mesa is the metal "skeleton type" - does that make sense cos I know what I mean?
Whereas the jack socket in the smokey is the plastic encapsulated type.