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Post subject: Best Patch cord
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 10:01 am
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I want to know if right-angle connectors are as good as a straight connectors?

I also wanted to get a cord w/gold connectors, but Whirlwind only offers them in 20' length. Does the gauge and/or length of the cord from guitar to amp make a difference?

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 4:47 pm
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I would say it's mainly preference. However, I've found the right angle cords can be handy depending on the guitar/use.

When I play my tele, or gibsons sitting on/in my bed, I like the right angle. It's doesnt bend the heck out of the cord. I also like the right angle cord on stage plugged into my amp in case someone steps on it. They dont pull out as easy.

Gold conducts electricity better. Go gold!!!

Length is also preference. Sometimes its easier with a shorter cord. Sometimes its nice having a long cord. None of my cords are over 20ft.

Check out Monster cables. They cost more but have a lifetime warranty. :)

Cheers!


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Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 6:25 pm
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Actually gold does not conduct electricity better than copper or silver.

Anyway, IMO right angle connectors are just as fine as straight connectors.
Naturally you do not want a 50 foot run of instrument cable. Keep it less than 25'. I suggest several different lengths for different needs. I have instrument cables from 3' to 25'. Learn to solder, if you don't know already, and make your own. I make mine and have had no problem. I use Canare GS-6 and G&H plugs, mostly right angles.
The Monster and Mogami brand cables are expensive to some and have that lifetime warranty (which is fantastic, I have used it) but are they really worth it? I can make a 10' cable with G&H black and gold plugs for 1/3 of their price, and I offer myself a lifetime warranty too. :wink:

This is the place I get the majority of my cable needs and I have nothing but good things to say about them.
http://procablesnsound.com/PCNS_Main.asp


Here is some reading to go cross-eyed over.

http://www.elevation-music.com/sconinspca.html

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthrea ... ight=cable

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthrea ... ight=cable

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthrea ... ight=cable

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthrea ... ight=cable

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthrea ... ight=cable

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthrea ... ight=cable

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthrea ... ight=cable

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthrea ... ight=cable


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:43 pm
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So we have several questions here and one you didn't ask but I'm going to sound off on anyway.

You mentioned gold connectors. All gold connectors are chrome plated underneath the gold plating. There is no advantage whatsoever to having gold connectors. The gold is purely cosmetic and some very knowledgeable people say it actually colors the tone by increasing resistance but I can't really tell any difference in sound myself. Yes, pure gold is a great conductor, but they aren't using pure gold. Some really good cables use gold plated connectors and some don't. It doesn't matter in my opinion. What does matter is the quality and durability of the plug construction in the first place. G&H, Neutrik and Switchcraft all make good plugs. A good quality right-angle connector by any of those companies will be just as good as their straight ones.

The most important factor in a passive instrument cable is capacitance. The lower the capacitance the less the cable colors the tone. This is less of a consideration with active instruments, but in passive instruments capacitance matters a lot.

The second factor is resistance, but the current from a passive pickup is so low that resistance doesn't really impact the tone much at all.

The third factor is shielding, the cable must be well shielded and I'd consider 90% shielding to be the minimum acceptable shielding level.

The fourth factor is handling noise. Cables can pickup mechanical noise. Good cable construction minimizes this noise.

The fifth factor is flexibility. I find some high end cables like Monster Bass cables to be really stiff.

In general with a passive instrument the shorter the cable the better. The longer the cable the greater the capacitance and resistance. With a passive instrument anything over 20 feet is approaching the point where you will really hear a difference. With an active instrument a longer cable is OK.

Elixir is entering the cable fray with a totally new product line of Elixir cables. They sent me a 20 foot one to try out. I've been using it at home for about the past two weeks. It has really impressed me in about every area. It isn't as flexible as I like, but the fidelity is second only to the $150 M.I.T. Ripcord bass cable I've been using for the past three or four years. (If I could find any more of the discontinued MIT cables with a right angle connector I'd buy at least one more.) With M.I.T. instrument cables off the market, the Elixir cables will be one of the best, if not the best, cable out there for the money with ultra-low capacitance. The new Elixir cables will have a lifetime guarantee like the Monsters. I don't know what their price point will be but the Elixirs will probably be about the same price as the Monster cables. The Elixir cables are a charcoal gray color, not black and they have gold plated connectors.

There are way more expensive cables out there like the Lava cables. There are also custom cable makers like Stompin Ground, Pro Cables & Sound and others that will custom make cables. But for most people ordering a custom made cable is not in the cards because we usually don't buy a cable unless we need one and usually we need one fast. I do use custom cables in my amp rack and pedal board.

I also have two Monster bass cables. At gigs I use three long cables. 1. A 12 foot Monster from pedal board compressor output to the amp. 2. The 20 foot M.I.T. cable from my number one passive bass to the pedal board Whirlwind Selector A/B/Y switch. 3. 21 foot Monster Bass from my number two active bass to the pedal board Whirlwind Selector A/B/Y switch. I'm pretty sure the the new Elixir cable will be replacing cable 3 at gigs.

For a backup I have a Rapco 20 foot instrument cable that is at least 20 years old and still works great. At home I use some old Fender Electrovolt cables. They are very reliable but I can sure tell the difference when I use a better cable.

I love my Planet Waves speaker cables, but I've never tried their instrument cables. However they get excellent reviews and also have a lifetime warranty.


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