It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:22 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 22 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 5:42 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:01 pm
Posts: 1598
This is just my own opinion...and I suspect I'm gonna to be the odd man out here...

Personally I don't pay too much attention to "brand" when it comes to cables...mainly I look at construction more than anything. With jacks/cable ends for example, you can usually tell with a quick glance the difference between something comparable to Switchcraft and something that looks like it was made for Radio Shark. Same goes for the cable itself...you can usually tell just by looking at it if it's a decent gauge wire or something thin and crappy.

I will say that I'm NOT from the "over-kill" side of the isle. Decent cables pay for themselves, however things have gotten a tad ridiculous over the years...there's folks out there who will drop $70 or more on a guitar cable and in my book, that's just insane (for that kind of money, I'll just solder my own!). I'll usually pay $10 - $20 for a cable, but no more...in fact the cables I'm currently using were found at a "Barrel Sale" a few years back...got 3 new cables for $10 and they have served me just fine! LOL!

Now, because I DO know how to solder, often I'll do just that...pick up some used cables for cheap somewhere (flea market, garage sale, etc) and just solder new ends on them (if needed)...recently snagged some REALLY decent speaker cables at a garage sale for $3 each. The greatest majority of my mic and speaker cables were all second hand and/or re-soldered cables...nothing wrong with that at all. Of all the things I might get GAS over, cables are usually very low on the list.

As far as length goes, I will say that for myself at least, it depends on the gig. If I'm doing a show on a small stage where I know I'm not going to be moving around much, yes, I'll use a shorter cable...if nothing else, just to keep things a tad more tidy (cable spaghetti can get VERY unruly rather quickly). On the other hand, if I'm playing a larger venue where I may get down on the dance floor while I'm playing, then I'll use a 20 footer so that I can move around a bit. Chances are that in a club that large, the difference in sound between a 10' and 20' cable just isn't going to be significant at all. Just because you think you can hear a difference in your bedroom or your basement studio doesn't mean you can actually tell in a crowded club (or that anyone else will). Seriously..."Wow dude, that was an AWESOME lead, but maybe you should try a shorter cable....". Yea. Right.

With all of that, regardless of how much you may decide to pay for something like a guitar cable, I will say that the best way to get the most out of one is simply to take care of it! I've seen quite a few guys over the years who just rip the cable out of their amp at the end of a gig or who just can't be bothered to "tie" the cable to their guitar strap and such...then wonder WHY they always need new cables. Be it guitars, amps, pedals or yes, cables, I do try very hard to take good care of my gear...people who trash their toys shouldn't expect them to last.

Again, just my own opinions.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 5:59 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:57 am
Posts: 2238
Location: UK
Bluer Monkey wrote:
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


Well, for the money, I would expect all of them to be awesome. As I noted regarding speaker wire, I doubt I would be able to hear the difference.

A working cheap cable is much better than a faulty expensive one.

_________________
John

After all this time I should be better.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 6:10 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:57 am
Posts: 2238
Location: UK
lomitus wrote:
.... I'll use a 20 footer so that I can move around a bit. Chances are that in a club that large, the difference in sound between a 10' and 20' cable just isn't going to be significant at all. .....


I like to use a 20' cable to sound check so that I can move around and get more of a feeling for the over all sound. After that I may swap to shorter.

I have actually found Maplin cables great for band work. The have some terrific bright colours which makes sorting who is who, and what is what really easy. They are pretty cheap and have ends that you can resolder (which is probably the most important aspect).

I have tried the screw on cables which, in theory you just cut off and re screw when they go bad. Good idea except they go bad a lot as a result of the "push and touch" type connection. To be avoided IMHO.

_________________
John

After all this time I should be better.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 10:21 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 2:14 pm
Posts: 2561
John Sims wrote:
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.


Doesn't surprise me !

Not that you lied... :lol:

But, that you had an issue w/ a Whirlwind elite cable.

They're ungainly on stage because they only 'coil' one way, but they're 'de rigeur' in a studio setting because of their excellent lack of signal degradation. I've seen oscilloscope testing of these and they truly pass on a better signal than any of the popular brands out there.

While spendy, bear in mind that they have an undisputed Lifetime Warranty - if you have an issue of ANY kind, Whirlwind promptly replaces the cable - NO QUESTIONS ASKED !

Their quality and warranty pretty much make them the last cable you ever have to buy.

cheers!

_________________
Image

'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 10:44 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:56 am
Posts: 1677
Location: Coastal Bend, Tx.
John Sims wrote:
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.


I use the Silver Series, they are about $25 for the 12 footer (moderately priced, imo). Yeah, you could also spend in excess of $150 for their top of the line. My one time experience w/ the custom shop cable (lasted less than 6 months in-home use only) was enough for me to shop around when it became to annoying to continue using. I paid about the same for the custom shop cable w/ an in store discount, but it was marked around $45.
I believe all the custom shop line have a lifetime warranty, so if I happen back to the store I got it at, yeah I'll take it back and get a new one. But I wouldn't buy a new one, I'd buy another Silver Series Mogami. As Arjay says, YMMV.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 12:35 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:10 pm
Posts: 2261
Location: Elay
My problem with a Fender Tweed is I buy straight ends and at the guitar, I wrap the cable under my strap, so I can't pull it out if I step on it. This puts a lot of pressure on the cable to end joint. Even on a Strat, but it's worse on an LP. I should buy cables with a 90 on one end, at least for my LP. I'm going to try bringing my one Tweed back to GC, and see what they say.

_________________
'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: cables....think they're good ?
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 8:48 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:56 am
Posts: 1677
Location: Coastal Bend, Tx.
Drew365 wrote:
My problem with a Fender Tweed is I buy straight ends and at the guitar, I wrap the cable under my strap, so I can't pull it out if I step on it. This puts a lot of pressure on the cable to end joint. Even on a Strat, but it's worse on an LP. I should buy cables with a 90 on one end, at least for my LP. I'm going to try bringing my one Tweed back to GC, and see what they say.
+1 exactly the problem, they eliminated the problem of twists/kinks and created the high stress point problem at the join w/ the tip. Coulda' used a spring/barrel swivel near the end to relieve the pressure build up.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 22 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: