Cables, good prices?

  • Thread starter Thread starter therage!
  • Start date Start date
I really like Planet Waves cables. I think they are better quality than Monster and the prices can be cheaper. They have handy interchangeable o-rings with several different colors-- so there are many permutations of colors for all your routing needs!

Plus they have that spring-locking system, or whatever it's called, which is cool because you know when it's plugged in all the way an it stays plugged.

I replaced every cable in my guitar rig with Planet Waves and bought some 1/4" to RCA for connecting PREs to soundcard inputs when recording. I also got some 25' mic cables-- love those. They also include this handy elastic tie so you can keep your cables nice and tidy. They are a little painful to buy ($$$), but if you are willing to buy Monster cables, you will be very happy with PW. Plus they have lifetime warranty.

http://www.samusic.com/accessories/cables.shtml
I've ordered several cables from this website, the service is great.

http://www.stores.ebay.com/theguitargarage
This guy has an Ebay store and a regular website store (don't remember the address). He is an authorized dealer and I've ordered several cables from him. Good service. You can email him (Jack) at: jdgalvin@attbi.com to ask prices, etc.
 
cable recommendations

I'm glad you started this thread, therage. I'm setting up and getting ready to record and am willing to invest the money on a top quality electric guitar cable. I have a Samash a ten minute drive away, so it's easy to hop over and pick something up. I looked at the Planet Wave cables that were recommended, and wonder if they are top of the line... if there is another comparable brand at lower prices, but most of all... if you were picking the best cable for clean sound and no static, what would you choose?

eh?

Jerry
 
I'm definitely no expert on cables, but I've used Monster cables which everyone seems to agree are "good" cables. I think the Planet Waves are higher quality construction than Monster. They just feel/look nice and solid. I'm not at all worried about the solder joints in these cables-- but they aren't too stiff, either.

I know there are several guys around here that recommend making your own Mogami cables. That's always interested me but it's really a time issue for me. I'd rather spend my time recording than making cables. But, apparently, it's much cheaper to own high quality cables if you make them yourself.

Just remember, whatever you do, it doesn't make sense to have a high quality cable in a signal chain of crappy cables. If you get a guitar cable to plug into your amp, but the rest of the chain (mic cables, preamp cables, etc.) are low quality Radio Shack cables, you are kind of shooting yourself in the foot.

Cheers!
 
As for static, etc, from what I understand, there's only two real situations where that is a factor:

1) Bad connection in the cable-- most common with cheap or abused cables. Planet waves have triple molded plug housings or something like that for extra strength and strain relief.

2) Hum and triboelectric noise. I think this can result from neon lights, computer monitors, etc. This is stopped by using shielded cables. I think PW are double shielded. Cheap cables may not be shielded at all.

I hope I don't sound like a Planet Waves commercial. I could really care less what cables you buy... : ).

All I can really tell you is my experience. In my experience, Planet Waves cables appear to be a better constructed cable than Monster. I really like them and I noticed a difference when I replaced all the cheap cables in my guitar rig with PW-- not a huge difference, but they did sound cleaner and more transparent. As for "the best" cables-- I couldn't help you there. I think once you have shielded cables with good wire and good connections, that's about as good as it gets.

But who knows... maybe there are some titanium injected, nitrogen cooled, diamond plated, designed by NASA cables that will make you sound like Jimi Hendrix.. I dunno.
 
Just two cables

Thanks for the response Scottgman. I agree with your observation that every cable (and the mike, and everything else that electricity runs through) needs to be high quality. Fortunately, I'm not recording a whole band, and will be recording a track at a time. The only instrument I'll be recording is an electric guitar, so I just need to invest in two cables... one for the microphone, and one for the guitar. That's why it's to my advantage to get two of the best cables.

Making my own cables? I have enough trouble even knowing which cable is best to buy...

Jerry
 
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