Cable Question Help

[TheDialog]

Two questions:
What are the cables called that don't actually have length to them? They just have two quarter inch ends and are used to link pedals together.

Does anyone use high end cables with their pedal board? Please don't say the name George in this.

Thanks!

[kuys]

They are called patch cables.

Also a cable is a cable, boutique cables are snake oil scams.

[TheDialog]

Right, that's what I thought, but I can't seem to find any that don't have "length". I keep finding 6 in. versus 0.

Well, a cable can be made with better components and transfer better.

[Wud]

EBS call them Interconnection Plugs -

http://www.bass.se/
You'll find them in the strings and accessories section

I've got a few and never had any issues with them.
Some people fear they can cause damage to the input/output jacks if the pedals are misaligned by too much, as they can possibly cause strain to one pedal, when you stomp down on the other pedal.
High quality patch cables and connectors will generally last longer than cheap ones, obviously.
However I'd partially agree that there are a lot of bogus claims made about many cables, and the improvements in tone they can provide.
like anything there is a point where the improvements are hard to quantify.
A case of diminishing returns.

[scotch]

Why the negative George L's bias?

[kuys]

Originally Posted by TheDialog

Right, that's what I thought, but I can't seem to find any that don't have "length". I keep finding 6 in. versus 0.

Well, a cable can be made with better components and transfer better.

Not actually, a cable is a cable. As long as the solders are good it's not going to get any better regardless of manufactures claims. Of course things can be done to improve the overall durability but that is it.

Comparing the tone of three different "boutique" cables

[fivestringgecko]

See links below, I use the Musicians Gear couplers occasionally and haven't noticed any problems with sound quality. Most of the time I just use a 6" patch cable with right angle plugs though, because I swap pedals in and out frequently and some pedals don't line up or have the jacks on the top. The couplers take up about the same space between pedals as the jacks on the 6" cables, about an inch. Also, when using those couplers, you can't just lift ONE pedal off your board, I always have to pick up whatever pedals are coupled with them because it's a solid unbending connection, rather than a cable with some give.

The pedal couplers that Digitech uses in their Hardwire displays take up maybe 1/4" between pedals. That'd save some pedalboard space, but I can't find them anywhere. My contact at GC thinks they're specially made for the Hardwire displays. You'd still run into the same problem as the connectors above anyway.

Musician's Gear Pedal Coupler Straight
Musician's Gear Pedal Coupler Offset
Plane Waves Adapter straight
Planet Waves Adapter Offset
Switchcraft coupler

5sg.