Musicians Friend and the High (er) End cable sale.

[munkeyfish]

Hey Guys,
Not sure is this is the right forum, but I seen Musicians Friend is having a Cable sale. I went to order some Monster Bass Cables, but they were out of stock of the 21' Right into straight for a few more days.

Went to my local Guitar Center.... They matched the price. Got a 21' right into straight for $25.47 and a 12' Straight/straight for $28,59. Why is the shorter more? Beats me, but they were asking $55 plus change for the 21' @ GC.

Just got home and haven't had a chance to try them yet, but I read good enough things about them and they have to be better than the no names I was using since my Planet Waves Cable took a poop and waiting for the RMA to send them back to PW for replacement since GC wouldn't exchange my old PW cables.

If this is the wrong forum or bad form, I'll delete the thread ASAP, just thought I would pass on my good fortune.

[munkeyfish]

Ok, just tried these cables, Holy Sh*t! They are all that and a bag of chips. Tone is WAY better and that wee bit of hiss that I thought was just part of amp? GONE! I am a instant fan. Will see what time will tell.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by munkeyfish

Ok, just tried these cables, Holy Sh*t! They are all that and a bag of chips. Tone is WAY better and that wee bit of hiss that I thought was just part of amp? GONE! I am a instant fan. Will see what time will tell.

Are they really?

Monster Cable = Corporate Bullies:

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/legal/mcp/index.htm

Monster Cable = Snake Oil and Voodoo Sales Tactics.



Granted,...these are within the A/V consumer product market, but I see no reason to give Monster Cable money;.......for any reason;......ever.

EDIT: Please note that Monster now charges between $25 and $100 for a 4' HDMI cable,...but still,....$1-$10 for a cable,...or $25 for one from a corporate bully.

I don't mean to pee in your Cheerios,...but I don't believe that Monster deserves to be in business,...I mean kudos to them for duping the masses; it's a lucrative business model. Not really ethical,...but why let ethics stand in the way of profit.

[Hutzbordello]

life of the product insurance for a brand new one no questions asked? i think thats like 20 years as weve discussed earlier on this forum, as far as how long "life" means.

other than that awesome graphic

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by Hutzbordello

life of the product insurance for a brand new one no questions asked? i think thats like 20 years as weve discussed earlier on this forum, as far as how long "life" means.

other than that awesome graphic

Most stores around here will replace a cable no matter what the brand as long as you bought it from them, and short of severing the cable completely in half,...the only thing that could go wrong with a cable can easily be fixed without leaving the house; unless it's to go to the store and buy a soldering iron.

Ahh soldering,....I lifetime of pleasure; and insurance.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by munkeyfish

that wee bit of hiss that I thought was just part of amp? GONE!

That is because the "bass" cable has high capacitance, and rolls off the highest frequencies--and most hiss is found in that frequency range. So that may be great for you, it may be exactly what you want or need--but it is not a sign of a better quality of cable. It is just reducing the volume of the hiss that was in fact coming from the amp.

[lefty1979]

Whether or not you like Monster they sure as heck aren't the only company selling crazy expensive HDMI cables. They also aren't the only company selling expensive instrument cables. I never read this kind of stuff about Mogami...

[jasonbraatz]

Mogami doesn't BS, deceive, or beat you over the head with marketing anywhere near where Monster does. That's why.

[warwick.hoy]

Does Mogami go after small companies because their connectors (whose design is dictated by function) are similar in form to their own?

A google search of "Mogami Corporate Bullies" netted a lot of,..."don't buy Monster,.... Mogami instead" but not the other way around.

To my ears; I have a hard time discerning the difference between a cheap cable and a "high end" or "booteek" cable, but here is a analysis with graphs provided by bongomania,...who is better equipped to explain the details of the analysis.

http://www.ovnilab.com/articles/cables.shtml

I'm not sure if I'd buy Mogami cable, but they are highly thought of and carry a good reputation. Probably helps that they aren't corporate bullies.

I'm planning on going with EWI; whose bulk prices are $.25 to $.35 (cents) a foot, when I start soldering up my own cables. Good luck finding bulk prices for Mogami online. Canare appears to about a $1.19 a foot through Sweetwater; who will only sell in amounts over 25 feet and charge a "cutting fee".

I'm not a proponent of higher price = better,...but I'm definitely an opponent of companies that bully the little guy.

A google search of "Monster Cable Sues"

http://www.google.com/search?q=monst...ient=firefox-a

FWIW,...I use a combination Live Wire, Hosa, George L's, and DiMarzios and have never had one fail nor do I feel like I'm missing out by not dropping $25 and up on an instrument cable. I'm pretty sure almost all of the ones I've listed have a lifetime warranty,...but again,...you can ensure your own "warranty" by buying cables that have plugs with easy access to the solder points and doing your own repairs.

The most common breakage I've seen is the joint between the plug and the cable. Even if you sever a cable you can still use it if you have soldering and wire stripping skills.

[munkeyfish]

Well, I Opened a can of worms here. Sorry about that, didn't know Monster was a bad word around here, I did searches for Cables and came up empty.

Regardless, There are others on sale as well, I went with monster because a guitar buddy of mine has used the same ones for 15+ years with no issues. I was using Planet waves, but they all have failed me in the past year and having a hard time getting them replaced under warranty local. Plus GC says they are phasing out the PW cables.

Snake Oil or not, they are better that the old $5 or free cables I have been using the past few days.

[metalmariachi]

Canare appears to about a $1.19 a foot through Sweetwater; who will only sell in amounts over 25 feet and charge a "cutting fee".

Procable and sound doesn't charge a cutting fee.

http://procablesnsound.com/items/bul...gs6-detail.htm

Markertek also no cutting fee.

http://www.markertek.com/Cables/Bulk.../GS-6-BK.xhtml


MM

[C.Linton]

The thing about Monster is as I understand it, even thought it has a lifetime warranty, you can get cables that are just as good and last just as long, at much better pricing. I would like to see some actual statistics comparing Monster cable fail rates as opposed to other cheaper brands. I really doubt the rates are superior enough (if at all) to justify their cost. It would be nice to know, though, just to be fair.

[Eliot L]

I've had my Monster bass cables for some years now and I want to switch to Mogami but the lifetime warranty thing has me feeling pretty much stuck with all these cables and I don't feel I can justify buying new cables but the damn Monsters are pretty cheaply made. But it could be worse and I honestly feel you can't tell that big of a difference. Ever so slight maybe but it isn't destroying my tone. I still sound like me. It just annoys me when GC tries to not replace the cables when one of the ends are broken saying it was "negligence". I just say nope, lifetime warranty means lifetime warranty :-)

[TheWoodShed]

Monster is like Craftsman Tools- if they fail for whatever reason you can walk into a local store no matter where you are and get a replacement. I have done this before.

Now many of their claims of superiority may not be all that and a bag of chips, but when I am short on cash and have a gig in a half an hour and am in a strange town, this can bail your butt out of a sticky wicket.

[iamdenialNJ]

Originally Posted by TheWoodShed

Monster is like Craftsman Tools- if they fail for whatever reason you can walk into a local store no matter where you are and get a replacement. I have done this before.

Now many of their claims of superiority may not be all that and a bag of chips, but when I am short on cash and have a gig in a half an hour and am in a strange town, this can bail your butt out of a sticky wicket.

+1 and till this day I've never had to do this. I have 2 monster bass cables. I don't notice a difference in sound but I bought the cables for the lifetime warranty not for the name.

[NecroticImbecil]

I've bought them when the price is right. On sale, etc. For my purposes a cable that works and doesn't introduce noticeable noise suits me fine. If I can get a lifetime free replacement guarantee, so much the better. I've used it a few times. Bring it into any store, "This is broke," sad face. Nice mans gives me new one. Happy face, "Thanks!" and out I go. Didn't matter if it broke because of human stupidity, accidental damage, or actual failure. No questions asked. That might just be my local area though, don't know how the guarantee is interpreted elsewhere.

I get my HDMI cables from Amazon. I buy the cheapest ones that are the needed length.

[Eric Scholz]

Slightly off topic, but GC should have replaced your Planet Waves cable for you. In the two years I worked there I never denied a free cable exchange for a customer. Most GC employees just don't know things, or are douche bags and want to sell you something.

[Febs]

Originally Posted by TheWoodShed

Now many of their claims of superiority may not be all that and a bag of chips, but when I am short on cash and have a gig in a half an hour and am in a strange town, this can bail your butt out of a sticky wicket.

Don't overpay for Monster in the first place, and you can have enough cables on hand to have some spares so that you're not running around trying to get a cable replaced 1/2 before a gig.

[Kosko]

I've broken my monster cable several times and have always gotten a new one on the spot, I like their instrument cables for that reason alone.

On the other hand I would never go near their AV components.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by munkeyfish

Well, I Opened a can of worms here. Sorry about that, didn't know Monster was a bad word around here, I did searches for Cables and came up empty.

Regardless, There are others on sale as well, I went with monster because a guitar buddy of mine has used the same ones for 15+ years with no issues. I was using Planet waves, but they all have failed me in the past year and having a hard time getting them replaced under warranty local. Plus GC says they are phasing out the PW cables.

Snake Oil or not, they are better that the old $5 or free cables I have been using the past few days.

I don't think it's a can of worms,...unexpected perhaps? Many people just aren't aware of Monsters' tactics and corporate history. Seems like we are having a rational and level headed debate.

Even if Monster Cables are on blowout clearence $3 for a 25'er [grossly exaggerating for effect] I won't knowingly and willingly support Monster Cable.

Originally Posted by metalmariachi

Canare appears to about a $1.19 a foot through Sweetwater; who will only sell in amounts over 25 feet and charge a "cutting fee".

Procable and sound doesn't charge a cutting fee.

Canare GS-6 Instrument Cable by the foot

Markertek also no cutting fee.

Canare Corporation Of America Canare GS-6 Premium Oxygen Free Copper 18 AWG Guitar/Bass Cable Bulk Audio Cable at Markertek.com


MM

Thanks MM; Links bookmarked.

Originally Posted by Febs

Don't overpay for Monster in the first place, and you can have enough cables on hand to have some spares so that you're not running around trying to get a cable replaced 1/2 before a gig.

Gigging Musicians 101,...if it can fail; have backups. I used to have a few backup cables but my pedalboard grew so large and elaborate with loops that they are all currently being used.

The likelihood that a cable goes bad 1/2 hour before a gig? IDK,...seems more plausible that a cable would go bad in the middle of a set (if you are a spazz on stage,....even more plausible),...so it doesn't matter if there is a GC 2 blocks away, if you don't have a backup you're asking for trouble.

Originally Posted by Eric Scholz

Slightly off topic, but GC should have replaced your Planet Waves cable for you. In the two years I worked there I never denied a free cable exchange for a customer. Most GC employees just don't know things, or are douche bags and want to sell you something.

While I've never had to take a cable back to GC,...I've heard anecdotes that the local GC is pretty good about honoring cable warranties,...even on Live Wire cables.

Again,...if it's the lifetime warranty that has you sold,...try establishing a rapport with your salesman at your favorite music store and they will probably let you in on a little secret. You'll likely find that every single cable they sell carries and in store warranty in which they will replace a cable no matter what the brand no questions asked.

Monster Cable may have you believing they are the only cable that has a lifetime warranty,...but this just isn't true.

Live Wire Audio Cable - the cable that keeps your sound alive (Live Wire is the value brand you can pick up at GC)

Hosatech » Company » Warranty Information (Hosa Cables,...one of the local shops sells these and will replace them no questions asked)

Planet Waves Warranty (it's in PDF format):

What is the Planet Waves Cable Limited Lifetime Guarantee/Warranty? Planet Waves Cables Limited Lifetime Warranty: Planet Waves division of J DAddario & Company, Inc. (Planet Waves) warrants its cables against any defects in materials or workmanship under normal use. This warranty does not cover cosmetic defects caused by use of the product. Planet Waves will repair or replace, at its option, any defective cable. This Warranty is your exclusive remedy for defective products and is solely for the benefit of the original purchaser. This warranty does not cover damage caused by improper use, accident, solvents, modifications caused by use with other equipment of any other external causes. PLANET WAVES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE, LOSS OR INJURY OF ANY
NATURE INCLUDING LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES OF ANY NATURE, EVEN IF PLANET WAVES HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS
WARRANTY, PLANET WAVES MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IF THE LIMITATIONS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE FOR ANY REASON DETERMINED TO BE INVALID, THEN PLANET WAVES LIABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE PURCHASE PRICE PAID FOR THE PRODUCT. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL PLANET WAVES BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE IN

Something of interest while researching this:

Monster Authorized Dealer and Warranty Statement
Monster is firmly committed to providing our customers with best in class, reliable products through authorized dealers. Our policy is to honor product warranties and to perform services only on products purchased from an authorized Monster dealer. If you purchase a Monster product from an unauthorized dealer or if the original factory serial number has been removed, defaced or altered, your Monster warranty will not be valid.
There are many websites and dealers who claim to be an authorized Monster resellers but they are not. Products sold on these websites or from these dealers do not carry a warranty from Monster. Purchasing Monster products from such entities could be risky as the products may be counterfeit, used, defective, or may not be designed for use in your country. Please protect yourself and your Monster product by ensuring that you purchase Monster products from an Authorized Monster Dealer.
To see a list of Monster authorized dealers, please click here.

Source: Monster Cable® Authorized Dealer and Warranty Statement

Now I'm assuming that most cable companies require that you buy from an authorized dealer to honor warranties,...but I'm finding that most stores are offering a dealer warranty as opposed to a manufacturer warranty.

If you have soldering skillz,....warranties are moot. Even if you sever a cable completely through,...you can still repair it and use it. It may be considerably shorter than before; but you can still use it.

I hate to make it seem like I'm leading a crusade against Monster Cable,...but seriously,...they aren't a customer 1st company IMO.