Which cords to use?

[Ajrocks]

I searched and couldn't find this exact question/answer.

Which cords to use. In one of the posts, maybe which cord was better, but there was some talk on why to use a certain cord.

I'm lost. I thought a cord is a cord, okay some will last longer, some you get free replacements; but there was something about sending the signal better. Obviously I can't even ask the question cause I don't fully understand it.

Is there a good site on cords and the uses?

Thanks for the input.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Ajrocks

Is there a good site on cords and the uses?

Thanks for the input.

Without getting all caught up in the snake pit of voodoo mumbo-jumbo and marketing B.S.....probably not.

Butch has some worthwhile info at the bayouaudio page.

He's a board member an does benchmark work at reasonable cost.

IF you have all state of the art gear, ears and environment, you MAY be able to hear a slight difference from cord to cord.

If you play REALLY LOUD you can hear noise if someone steps on a cheap cord.

Other than that, cord voodoo is just one more thing to distract you from improving your own personal performance.

IMHO of course.

Some will have very strong opinions to the contrary.

[Geoff St. Germaine]

First off, I assume we're just talking about patch cords. If so, what you should be looking for is a durable cord that is going to last a while. IME, every durable, well constructed patch cord I've owned has had suitable cable for properly transmitting the signal from the bass to the amp. I make my own because it is cheaper and I can make them the exact lengths that I want.

The electrical properties of the patch cord also make less difference for an active bass than a passive bass because of the low output impedance of an onboard preamplifier (generally around 100 Ohm or so).

[Ajrocks]

thanks for the info, actually I meant all cords, head to amp, bass to head, or bass to effects to head...

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Ok, well speakers require different cables than what's required for bass to head (patch cord) for instance. Speakers use (generally) two parallel heavy gauge conductors whereas patch cords are shielded cables with a single inner conductor and a shield around it (coaxial). As to what you need for a speaker cable: sufficient gauge size for the length of wire you are running.

[SuperDuck]

Cords are cords. Don't get lost in the hype. I bought six cheapie "Sam Ash" brand cables almost five years ago, and they've worked perfectly. I only bought six because cables tend to get lost, stolen, or misplaced. I sure feel better when something happens to my $6 than my $40 cable, and I have never heard a difference between cheap and expensive.

[Deacon_Blues]

I bought a cable with "lifetime guarantee" last year and it was good until it broke.... That sucked, it was a rather expensive one with blue and red ends.

Perhaps lifetime guarantee means "until it breaks"... ?

High-quality cables (soundwise) are probably necessary in the studio, but not at gigs. There, the robustness and handling is more important. Anyone else except me that hate fabric (cotton?) cables?

[Ajrocks]

So I'm suppose to use 2 cords from the head to the speaker
i've only ever used 1.

Is this important?

why 2?

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Originally Posted by Ajrocks

So I'm suppose to use 2 cords from the head to the speaker
i've only ever used 1.

Is this important?

why 2?

I'm not sure I follow. A speaker cable or a patch cord both contain two conductors. The layout of the conductors (and generally the size) are different. One cable, two conductors.

[Ajrocks]

[quote=Geoff St. Speakers use (generally) two parallel heavy gauge conductors whereas patch cords are shielded cables with a single inner conductor and a shield around it (coaxial). [/QUOTE]

Maybe I misunderstood?

[hyperlitem]

When your playing live most of you are right, you cant tell a huge difference, dependant on who you are. Recording is a whole different story. I can definately tell a night and day difference between cords when im recording. Assuming you are recording in a deceant room with good converters why ruin all that good expensive stuff with a bad cable. Live i use the most durable, not best sounding, cord i can find. Recording i always use george L's. they are the best cords ive come across soundwise. They are very clear and open. They are terrible live though, very fragile.