Cables...

  • Thread starter Thread starter enemyofthesun
  • Start date Start date
E

enemyofthesun

New member
cables

I never really paid much attention to this issue. The guy where I buy my stuff kept telling me to buy monster cables. I kept putting it off because of the cost... finally I went and bought 2 25" cables and mess of monster patch cables for my three pedals and rack. So now I have monster cables thoughout all the way to the cabinets.

The difference is incredible!! The signal is so much clearer. I also have a BBE sonic maximizer and I cant believe how much sound never gets heard till you have this unit and the right cabling.

Sure you dont have to have it, but Im also sure people that grew up watching black and white tv probably didnt realize how much they were missing till they saw color tv either.


If you do get the cables make sure you buy them for the ENTIRE chain all the way to the cabs or it wont make much difference. Also keep in mind they make different types of cabling for different purposes. Get the right one for your instrument (guitar or bass)
 
Just curious which "line" of cable you bought. I know they have different grades of instrument cable. I have a couple of the "Standard 100" cables that were $20 for 12 foot cable. I don't know if all their levels are better than other cables or not. Just curious.

Thanks!
 
If anyone could tell me if they've experimented with the wire actually in their guitar I'd appreciate it. Surely this must make some difference too... do Monster Cable make coax cable to wire your guitar out with???
 
if you play guitar then you need to get the cables that are made for guitar. The standard monster cable is not the same thing. They also make a bass guitar version that is tuned to lower freqs.


rewiring guitar electronics wouldnt do any good. I think the idea behind the monster cables is that ANY length of cable reduces sound quality and they are made to maintain or even enhance a strong signal as it moves away from the last output to the next input.
 
The point about guitar wiring is a good one.We all know that the chain is only as strong as its weakest link.All the solder points for pots and switches in the pickup cavity are UNSHIELDED.Yep,little radio antennae for flourescents and other stray RF.I lined my pickup cavity with foil and that helps.
Keep cable runs as short as possible.I heard somewhere that 18' is the maximum length a guitar cord should be.
Tom

p.s.I've always liked Belden cable
 
Not only does Monster make different cables for different instruments (e.g. guitar, bass), they make them for different applications within that instrument. You can get a guitar jazz or a guitar rock cord, for example.

Now I think this is all a big joke, going this far. Either the signal makes it to the amp intact in its original form or it is attenuated by various amounts across the spectrum. Any non-linear alteration like this has a name: it is "distortion" of the signal. Why change a signal one way for one type of music and another way for another type of music? In fact, why change it at all in the cable? The cable should faithfully transfer that signal, not mess with it. Personally I don't think there is any sonic difference between these bogus delineations; it is a marketing ploy to make the jazz and rock instrumentalists feel special with their tailored apparatus (give me a break). It's like wearing a sign on your cable instead of around your neck.

Now after saying all that, I just ordered a Monster rock guitar cable a few days ago. It is the bogus marketing tactic which bothers me.
 
bamboozled

I received my 12' Monster 500 Rock cable today and compared it carefully with my old Conquest Sound cables. First thing I did was unscrew the plug sleeves to inspect the solder job, insulation between inner and out conductors, and the strain relief. I was unimpressed with the Monster cables. The plug is less sturdy and the assemblers left tiny solder remnants on the insulation which I had to pull off in fear of an eventual short. The Monster strain relief is a piece of plastic that clamps down on the cable as the sleeve gets tightened.

Although my Conquest cables were made nearly 20 years ago, and I have no idea if they still pump them out this way, they cleary exhibit superior workmanship and parts. The Conquest strain relief is such that the plug will hold it's own without a sleeve. It is seriously rugged (how else would they have survived this long without any degradation?), and the solder joints are works of art.

As for any audible differences, I can hear no change. An oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer may reveal some differences, but my ears cannot discern them.

I regret buying into all the marketing hype. Perhaps in enemy's case his patch cords were choking his signal, or the original runs were not at all like the old Conquest cables I compared it too. If anyone else claims to have heard improvements using Monster products please weigh in.



[Edited by pchorman on 12-14-2000 at 04:18]
 
I started using Monster cables for my guitar and mics live and noticed a large difference. >BUT< I had previously been using el-cheapo Mars cables of from whatever music store I was at. Now I use Whirlwind cables and I find that they sound just as good as the Monsters I have.
I think there's just a big difference in cheap cords vs. anything that is good, be it Monster or whatever. But I really like the Whirlwind stuff. I have their XLR's, guitar and speaker cables, and a 100' snake that I love. And it is like half the cost of Monster.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top