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Post subject: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 9:44 am
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i thought my most favorite cable was good 'till i went and picked up 2 new cables for my fx loop. i just grabbed one to use for a second and found that ALL my stats sounded suddenly wonderful...more than they usually do. i've had several cables for years and never thought they were affecting my sound so badly. has anyone else found this to be true. i'm not saying who makes the new ones just that they did cost a bit more than i'm used to paying to save argument.


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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 10:18 am
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The simple fact of the matter is, some cables sound better. Some cables are more durable. Some cables cost more. Finding a balance between those three parameters is often a challenging task. But once you do, stick with that brand.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 12:32 pm
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I've heard that shielding, the type of conductive material and length make a difference.

So what is a good inexpensive cable and length to choose from?


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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 2:30 pm
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Here's my beliefs about cables. No cable will add anything to your sound that wasn't there in the first place. All they will do is take something away, and that will normally be the high end. If a cable is too long, you will start to loose high end. A shorter cable doesn't have anymore low frequencies, it just doesn't strip the high frequencies. I don't believe in cheap cables, but I also don't believe that the super high quality cables are necessary. I usually buy a medium quality. My biggest problem is with ends going bad.

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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 2:35 pm
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Paris; it's usually said that cables over 18 feet will start to shed high frequencies. I usually stick to 15 footers. I don't move around that much on stage, so they do the job.

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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 2:46 pm
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I agree. It doesn't matter how good the bit in between is if the connection to the plug goes bad.

Fortunately, better cables seem to have better plugs.

I do endevour to keep cable lengths as short as practical - in part because it looks tidier, but a birds nest of cable isn't going to do anything for its sound.

After that, I really like Fender Custom Shop tweed cables. They seem to have good plug support, don't tangle and look cooler than a cool thing with a great retro look about them.

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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 3:17 pm
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Thanks for the incites.


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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 4:58 pm
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John Sims wrote:
After that, I really like Fender Custom Shop tweed cables. They seem to have good plug support, don't tangle and look cooler than a cool thing with a great retro look about them.


I used to like these cables also, but found the anti-kink/tangle aspect will always loosen or even break the solder at the connection. Sure they have a great warrantee, but who wants to keep up with all the return trips.

I am very happy w/ a 12' of Mogami amphenol gold tip. Very moderately priced.


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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:05 pm
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sfceric64 wrote:
...I am very happy w/ a 12' of Mogami amphenol gold tip. Very moderately priced.


Well I don't know what you pay but (in the UK) at 3 times the price of the Custom Shop Tweed cables, which aren't cheap, I would struggle to describe Mogami as moderately priced.

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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 8:38 pm
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sfceric64 wrote:
John Sims wrote:
After that, I really like Fender Custom Shop tweed cables. They seem to have good plug support, don't tangle and look cooler than a cool thing with a great retro look about them.


Sure they have a great warrantee, but who wants to keep up with all the return trips.


Why, what is the warranty on the Fender Tweed cables? I have one with the end starting to act up. Do I need to have the receipt to get it replaced?

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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 11:44 pm
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Lots of Wisdom expressed here...

As Arjay states, any cable choice is a trade-off... cost, convenience, sound...

Since Sound is really what it's all about... Whirlwind Elite is the answer. :wink:

Yea... They're more expensive... Yea... they're less convenient... :shock:

But, if Sound is you're thing, Whirlwind Elite is the answer. :!:

Good stuff at both ends... amazing reproduction :!: :!:

Not practical for every situation... but they're the undisputed BEST !!

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 11:55 pm
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I remember when an old school friend of mine used to make his own cables (this is back in the days when probably the only Fender Strat in the UK was Hank Marvin's)
Anyway, I had gone along to see his group do a set and after the first set he was telling me that he had found co-axial wire (TV cable) worked great , just a little stiff........ as he was telling me this .(he'd left his guitar plugged in with the volume off leaning against the amp), there were strange crackly voices heard ....his guitar and cable were picking up the radio calls from a taxi firm

Not having a proper cable with him , he had to carry on all through the second set with things like "Can you go to Falcon street and pick up mrs Murphy " messages coming through

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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 1:45 am
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I have two Whirlwind cables. These are both 1M long used to link pedals, rack gear etc. so static use. Both have failed and seemingly in the cable length not at the plugs. I'll not be buying any more.

Cables are fascinating as it links to speaker wire. I have a number of audiophile chums who swear by different speaker wire. Perhaps watching too many rock bands as a yoof but I'll admit that I can't tell the difference.

I too am old enough to have enjoyed taxi transmissions coming from my Marshall MV50. Back in those days the curly lead was the norm. I had leads that I'd repaired so many times that there was no straight bit left before the curl. Happy days. :-)

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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 4:52 am
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John Sims wrote:
I have two Whirlwind cables. These are both 1M long used to link pedals, rack gear etc. so static use. Both have failed and seemingly in the cable length not at the plugs. I'll not be buying any more.


I lied! :oops: The two poor cables are (rather misnamed) Rhino cables.

My Whirlwind cable is still going strong, although it is probably the most tangley cable of my collection.

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Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 5:03 am
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Interesting article in Guitar Player Magazine (January 8, 2015) entitled Eight Great Guitar Cables. I'd be very curious to see the results of a double blind test with these as well as other guitar cables.

Cheers!
BM

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