Guitar Cables... Your opinion needed

[sajs]

There is a thread on another site that claims guitar cables have a polarity.
Meaning, it will affect your tone if you plug the wrong end into your amp. I can't remember the brand but they actually have a red band around the side of one jack that you are suppose to plug into your amp.

 

[David Katauskas]

Always used "Live Wire"...not sure why...just have.

 

[ggunn]

this is true.

some people actually use the higher capacitance as a means to tailor their 'eq'.

That's not exactly what I meant. If the capacitance of a cable is low enough that it doesn't affect the sound at all, then making it lower doesn't buy you anything. I think that most decent cables fit that bill; I've got a raft of cables of all makes and I haven't noticed any diff in the high end with any of them.

I don't know about those old coiled cables as far as capacitance is concerned; I just know that mine were noisy as hell. Every time I moved, snap-crackle-pop. Plus, there was no good way to transport them; they would tangle up and ensnare anything else in there with them. Good riddance!

 

[ggunn]

There is a thread on another site that claims guitar cables have a polarity.
Meaning, it will affect your tone if you plug the wrong end into your amp. I can't remember the brand but they actually have a red band around the side of one jack that you are suppose to plug into your amp.

My advice: don't spend your money on stuff like that.

 

[Thurgood]

Bump to all the skeptics. (sp?) Look for solid construction and quiet. I generally make my own cables and find that they are cheaper and sound as good as the $$$$ varieties. Granted, I am using them to pass guitar signal to an amplifier which is already distorting. RF rejection and low capacitance are the other areas. Now, truth be told if I were running GML eq's, or other high end gear in an $$$$ mastering situation that would be different. .02. The $20.00 rule is a good one for gtr cables.

 

[theclashrock]

They're okay, I prefer my own combinations of neutrik connectors and either klotz or van damme instrument cable.
I have a pete cornish I use for gigging which is phenominal, so if you want the best and don't mind stumping up £70-£80 pete cornish cables are ace.
But yeah they'll do the job, not as well as some but they aren't bad cables.

(I just don't trust the connectors, i'm so used to the neutrik strain relief system)

I always think with cables, we spend thousands of pounds on the instruments and rig, why put a piece of string in between it?

 

[ggunn]

I always think with cables, we spend thousands of pounds on the instruments and rig, why put a piece of string in between it?

Maybe because that "piece of string" works as well as anything in that application? But go ahead on, that's the attitude that the makers of Snake Oil Cable want you to have. ;^)

I'm certainly not saying not to spend money where it has an effect. I'm just not into throwing it away on "status" cables that don't do anything for my sound.

 

[Anfontan]

Bump to all the skeptics. (sp?) Look for solid construction and quiet. I generally make my own cables and find that they are cheaper and sound as good as the $$$$ varieties. Granted, I am using them to pass guitar signal to an amplifier which is already distorting. RF rejection and low capacitance are the other areas. Now, truth be told if I were running GML eq's, or other high end gear in an $$$$ mastering situation that would be different. .02. The $20.00 rule is a good one for gtr cables.

I've built my own as well for at least the last 15 years, as long as I take my time and solder clean connections, they serve me very well. And if one does go bad on me, I can repair it in 5 to 10 minutes and I'm ready to go.
Plus I make enough to have spare cables just in case.

 

[mixmkr]

The $20.00 rule is a good one for gtr cables.

potentially...., except that is $16 more than the 20ft cables I got a Musicians Friend. For the twenty smackers, I got five cables (plus shipping of course).

I will have to say, I like something that feels solid and will hold up. These MF cables, like I alluded to in my earlier post are on the tad skinny side, but otherwise sound and perform as well as any other cable I have used in the last 40 years or so.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Musicians-Friend-Instrument-Cable-14-Straight?sku=333210

Shoot...I see they are for 3 bucks now

 

[TragikRemix]

you can make your own, with neutrik connectors and mogami cable for a little more than the musicians friend cable price.

mic cables cost about $12 for a 20ft cable if you DIY.

 

[TragikRemix]

this review is kinda interesting...

Aug 16, 2006 - The musicians friend cord is great for the price of $2.99, but you have to take care of it, it won't break on its own, but if you step on it a few times it will break, as long as your careful and you don't go crazy with it or trip on it your good.

so this cable breaks if you step on it? but its a good cable anyway.

a good cable is one that is roadworthy, i think.

 

[TragikRemix]

and this one too...

I just got this cable in the mail today and boy is it great. I used it right out of the box great for the price. cheep enough to keep extras on hand.

you used it right out of the box? as opposed to what? darn, those fancy cables, they take atleast 30 minutes of configuration to work..

 

[mixmkr]

well....reviews you can take with a grain of salt... just like my reviews.

I'll just [re]mention that I have bought 40 or so of these cables, use them live on a regular basis, roll over them with my office chair, and I haven't had one go belly up on me in the couple of years I have owned them.


"right out of the box".... that IS a good one!! (funny, I think mine came in a plastic bag!!!)

 

[TragikRemix]

i have some MF mic cables. i had to re-solder all the ends, but other than that, they're fine.

 

[mixmkr]

yeah...I see guyz ripping mic cables outta mics, by strickly pulling on the cable and not even laying a finger on the XLR connector ...maybe NOT even realizing they are "locked in".....



(btw... I'm joking at your expense... carry on!!)