cables... do they really make a difference?

[Thunderbird91]

My guitarist who I dont not like very much told my in a very snobby way that my 20 foot lime green musicians friend braided cord flat out sucked (he also said maybe thats why i have no tone but thats another matter.. ) and that his exspensive monster cable had "time corrected winding's" and that it makes you sound better. He also said since its shorter its better which im pretty sure is true but does that winding thing really make a difference?

[Trevorus]

More shielding=less noise. Other than that, there is not a HUGE amount of difference. I cannot tell the difference between my 20 dollar fender elevtrovolts (fabric braided exterior), and my 100 dollar carver professional cable.

Monster's marketing is mostly unprovable bull.

[lemur821]

For me, the plugs are the most important part after decent shielding. I need something sturdy and basic that I can fix when the connection breaks. After that, nothing else matters (although lime green color would be nice).

[BassGod]

You're playing an active bass, so the length of the cable doesn't matter, and saying that your cable has an affect on tone is total BS.

Crappy shielding, as was mentioned by Trevorus, will make for some noise, but it won't actually affect your tone.

There was an arguement on TB a while back about this issue. Some people said things to the effect of "I think xxxxx cables give a bit more midrange to the tone", and the like. I laughed, and then realized they were serious.

Your guitarist is probably trying to justify spending tonnes of money on a cable that he has realized actually provides no benifit over your inexpensive one. I use Yorkville cables, and at eighteen Canadian dollars for twenty feet, only one has ever failed in the years I've been using them.

Graeme

[Poop-Loops]

Unless you're doing sensetive engineering/physics experiments, I probably wouldn't worry about it too much.

[Nick Ioannucci]

look up the thread in the instrument forum, while monster cable is high quality stuff with very nice connectors good shielding and potted connectors, it doesnt make you sound better at all. your guitarist is just being a prick.

[Jiggybass]

Originally Posted by Trevorus

More shielding=less noise. Other than that, there is not a HUGE amount of difference. I cannot tell the difference between my 20 dollar fender elevtrovolts (fabric braided exterior), and my 100 dollar carver professional cable.

Monster's marketing is mostly unprovable bull.

+1 I spent 12 dollars canadian on my 20 foot cable from Gear Music, a local shop. Has never let me down once in 4 years. My 70 Superhypeduppeiceofoverpriced 70$ cable died on me after a week, had it repaired, it died again. They make no difference, I noticed NO difference at all in the switch of these two cables, or the various cables that I have borrowed when I have forgotten my own.

[Indiana Mike]

Wire is wire.
Good ,proper connections count.
Connectors can make a difference as far as reliability and contact>(transmission of signal).
Shielding? as long as it's there .

I have used cheap and expensive cables and have never been able to tell a difference.

I have had cheap cables last a long time and spendy cables that where crap ,+ visa-versa

Unless you are playing bass in space I wouldn't bother unless it will shut him up , which may be worth it

Tell him I have some time AND space corrected cables I'll sell him for $200.00 per foot,tone that will kill!!!!!!!!

He is full of S**T!

[WalterBush]

Not all wire is the same. One of the primary differences between CAT5 and CAT5e wire for ethernet connections is the purity of copper used. Some companies like Zoalla are using metals other than copper, but those are mostly for studio usage, and not suitable (or flexible enough!) for live use, IMO.

Having said that, any copper wire should do for musical instrument signals. The only difference in cables I've found are the quality of plug, solder work, shielding coverage, and durability. A bad cable will suck tone, but a specially wound super-cable sure won't add it.

Monster tries to tell me that their jazz bass cable sounds different than their rock guitar cable, and I refuse to believe them. If I were using miles of cable wiring up a studio, I might be able to notice a difference, but in the combined 30+ feet used in my bass rig? I don't think so. Even if I did, I'd sooner attribute it to the plugs or shielding than the cable itself.

For the record, I've been making my own cables with Neutrik plugs and Belden or Canare cable for a few years now. I can't hear any difference between what I do for about $15 and what Planet Waves or Monster do for $50. Once again, just my $.02.

[Peter Squire]

It's lime green, so it is clearly superior.

However, not as superior as my pastel purple cord - unless of course yours is curly....

[Poop-Loops]

Originally Posted by Thunderbird91

My guitarist who I dont not like very much told my in a very snobby way that my 20 foot lime green musicians friend braided cord flat out sucked (he also said maybe thats why i have no tone but thats another matter.. ) and that his exspensive monster cable had "time corrected winding's" and that it makes you sound better. He also said since its shorter its better which im pretty sure is true but does that winding thing really make a difference?

Have him explain to you why time-correct windings are better. I'd like to hear this.

Make sure to savor the moment when the look on his face goes from to to to to

It should be in that order, too.

[jwl]

Originally Posted by jabberwock777

Not all wire is the same. One of the primary differences between CAT5 and CAT5e wire for ethernet connections is the purity of copper used. Some companies like Zoalla are using metals other than copper, but those are mostly for studio usage, and not suitable (or flexible enough!) for live use, IMO.

Having said that, any copper wire should do for musical instrument signals. The only difference in cables I've found are the quality of plug, solder work, shielding coverage, and durability. A bad cable will suck tone, but a specially wound super-cable sure won't add it.

Monster tries to tell me that their jazz bass cable sounds different than their rock guitar cable, and I refuse to believe them. If I were using miles of cable wiring up a studio, I might be able to notice a difference, but in the combined 30+ feet used in my bass rig? I don't think so. Even if I did, I'd sooner attribute it to the plugs or shielding than the cable itself.

For the record, I've been making my own cables with Neutrik plugs and Belden or Canare cable for a few years now. I can't hear any difference between what I do for about $15 and what Planet Waves or Monster do for $50. Once again, just my $.02.

i could tell the dif between monster guitar cable and bass cable. i actually liked the sound of the guitar cable better for bass in the studio than the bass cable. i'm using planet waves for my live rig and it sounds better than my old monster cable. there is a slight dif. but maybe because my monster cable was old. jeff

[seanm]

With an active bass, cables make no difference. I generally stay away from the really cheap cables, only because they are cheaply made.

For a passive bass, cable capacitance can make a difference to the treble. But most good cables are in a narrow range.

[bmc]

A little known fact is that left handed bass cables have more mojo than right handed guitar cables.

[baba]

I buy cheap cables and I gig regularly. The only issue I've ever had is soldering in the connectors coming loose after much abuse.

Buy cheap cables and a cheap soldering iron.

[fishstix]

I have fallen victim to the expensive cable brands in the past and have always regreted it. As a matter of fact, I have a Monster brand cable that seems to have a connector on it that is too big for most jacks, (no bad jokes please). I have run into the problem that I simply can't use it with some equipment. Also, before I realized that this was the issue, I went through an abnormal amount of replacements for the jack on my bass. Their extra solid connection actualy caused the plating on the jack to wear out at a rapid rate. I will never use that $50 cable again . I can't even take it as backup as I don't know what equipment will be compatible with it and in the case of an emergency, that's the last thing I need to worry about.

[SteveC]

I've been playing cables I made myself with Switchcraft ends and generic bulk cable at the store. They work great and as I've said before, no one in the bar is going to notice anyway.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

"Time corrected" = "what a marketing BS joke"

[Nick Ioannucci]

time corrected? wait are you telling me that other cables are retarded?

[tplyons]

Monster Cables' line of BS advertising makes marketers like me look bad.

A good cable is a good cable, and will outlast a bunch of cheapies if properly handled and cared for. I use Bayou Cables whenever possible.