Cables, worth the price?

Ænima · #1 01-24-2009, 05:25 PM

My band and I are in the market for some new cables. We were just gonna buy some $20 Fender Cables from musiciansfriend, and then our guitarist told us that we need to go with the ridiculously expensive Planet Waves gold-plated cables. So now I asking you guys, do gold-plated, (or gold tipped) cables really impact the quality of the sound? If not, what brand of cables do you guys recommend that won't break da bank?

TheWolf · #2 01-24-2009, 05:34 PM

Question for you! If gold plating was do important wouldn't all the pro mixing boards, amps, guitars, etc have it ?? . The only reason it it worth it other than looks is that it resists corrosion. PERIOD. And if you are leaving your stuff in a damp environment shame on you

bearshimmy · #3 01-24-2009, 05:40 PM

I find that nice cables make a huge difference, get a nice cable and play side by side with a not as nice cable, you'll see what I mean.

debassr · #4 01-24-2009, 05:43 PM

Buy cables for build quality, appearance, a lifetime warranty, etc. Do not buy a cable because it has a gold tip. That's silly. 99% of the cables out there absolutely will not produce better sound IME unless you're comparing a really poorly made cheapo cable with an extremely high end cable and even then it's pretty minimal.

kevbassman · #5 01-24-2009, 05:44 PM

two words: Monster cable.

cnltb · #6 01-24-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearshimmy

I find that nice cables make a huge difference, get a nice cable and play side by side with a not as nice cable, you'll see what I mean.

+1
But a gold plated cable... I don't know.
I would like to know a lot more about a cable than that it is gold plated( sounds like a marketing thing to me), before buying it.

Fred19137 · #7 01-24-2009, 05:48 PM

SUPERFLOUS!!!!!!!! gET THE CHEAPER **** JUST MAKE SURE THE WONT BREAK LIKE THOSE REALLY CHEAP INSTRUMENT CABLES THAT FALL APART IN A MONTH.

RobertPaulson · #8 01-24-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevbassman

two words: Monster cable.

god no, you're paying for marketing when you buy a monster cable.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/03/a...ter-cable-and/

diglo · #9 01-24-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevbassman

two words: Monster cable.

I was told by my tech to leave monster's alone. He said they make there tips bigger, to fit fit snug, and over do time they will stretch input jack and make them loose. I had one to go bad on my bass and he asked if i used monsters. He recommended using any brand beside monster.

VegaV77 · #10 01-24-2009, 05:54 PM

since im notorious for having cables give out as soon as i get to a show and ever since i started using planet wave i havent had that problem so to me paying more means spending less in the long run

debassr · #11 01-24-2009, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diglo

I was told by my tech to leave monster's alone. He said they make there tips bigger, to fit fit snug, and over do time they will stretch input jack and make them loose. I had one to go bad on my bass and he asked if i used monsters. He recommended using any brand beside monster.

I've heard that before and I remember someone on here using a digital caliper to measure all his monster cables and standard cables. IIRC, it's a load of horse puckey - they were all the same basically. I think at one time Monster did have an out of spec run of cables but they've long since corrected the issue and in typical Internet fashion people latched on tho this. A lot of people hate Monster because of their bogus claims and high prices which is understandable but I personally believe they do make good quality cables - they're just not a good value.

Jim C · #12 01-24-2009, 06:00 PM

In regards to Monster:
They do offer a lifetime waranty and think that a retailer like GC would be inclined to just hand you a new cable. However, any company that advertises that they make special cables for guitar, keyboards, and bass, or rock, jazz, etc. can not be trusted.

Once spent a couple hours doing an A/B test between a Mogami and a 1970's Whirlwind cable. Same bass, played the same 4 bass lines with both cables, into a DI and into 2 different amps (all individual tests). Our conclsuion was that in a solo'd studio envionrment and only with a quick side by side test (meaning you could only hear a comparison difference), we decided that the Mogami might be SLIGHTLY clearer and brighter. The sonic difference was incredibly small and it could easily have been our imaginations. You would never be able to hear it in a band format studio or otherwise. Always regretted not recording straight to DAT for backup on that one.

Buy the cable that is durable, has quality connectors, and looks good to you.

trb6pJM2 · #13 01-24-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred19137

SUPERFLOUS!!!!!!!! gET THE CHEAPER **** JUST MAKE SURE THE WONT BREAK LIKE THOSE REALLY CHEAP INSTRUMENT CABLES THAT FALL APART IN A MONTH.

*rubs ears* Jeez its loud in here.

Powdered Toast · #14 01-24-2009, 06:25 PM

This is like all the ridiculous audiophille arguments. Or how about Monster Cables for your home theater system?

The insides of your instrument aren't wired with gold. Neither is your amp... or your pedals... or the mic cables recording your music... or the mixing console...

Stumbo · #15 01-24-2009, 06:25 PM

Here's a thread from about a week ago that covers the same topic:
Best cables?

Crazy Ivan · #16 01-24-2009, 06:51 PM

I have one word for you: Mogami.

I've also heard great things about custom Bayou Cables.

I'm now a believer in quality cables, because there is a massive difference between the sound of my el cheapo 6 foot and el cheapo 20 foot, so longer lengths can reach impedance levels significant enough to, well, impede your signal in cheap cables.

dmusic148 · #17 01-24-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debassr

I've heard that before and I remember someone on here using a digital caliper to measure all his monster cables and standard cables. IIRC, it's a load of horse puckey - they were all the same basically. I think at one time Monster did have an out of spec run of cables but they've long since corrected the issue and in typical Internet fashion people latched on tho this. A lot of people hate Monster because of their bogus claims and high prices which is understandable but I personally believe they do make good quality cables - they're just not a good value.

+1, I just did it. Same size as any other.. I should add, I have a Monster 'standard' cable which is about the same price as any ordinary cable and works great.

The Universe · #18 01-24-2009, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diglo

I was told by my tech to leave monster's alone. He said they make there tips bigger, to fit fit snug, and over do time they will stretch input jack and make them loose. I had one to go bad on my bass and he asked if i used monsters. He recommended using any brand beside monster.

Related side-note: Sony does the same thing with their headphones. (Not their earbuds, but the larger cans). If you use Sony cans with an iPod, it will destroy the jack.

bassophil · #19 01-24-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

They do offer a lifetime waranty and think that a retailer like GC would be inclined to just hand you a new cable.

...and thats why i didn't buy an instrument cable in the last ten years.

As far as it's about sound: there a lots of cables that offer you the same for a 1/3 of the price.
But not all! There shure are cables out there that sound like sh*t. Straight-A for example. I changed from a Straight-A to a Monster and there was a noticeable improve.

So if you dont want to spend that much money for a lifetime waranty go with Cordial or something comparable.

Monsters are the money worth but only because of problem-free, lifetime exchange in any authorized shop.

cnltb · #20 01-25-2009, 04:54 AM

If you can get your hands on it, you might like to try an analysis plus pro oval studio.
works very nicely. It is a little stiff tho.

One thing tho... if you play active instruments , I recon the influence of the instrument cable to be not very big at all...
If it is passive, you use, the effect of an instrument lead can be more audible-
I personally think that anyone who has not messed up their ears will quite easily be able to hear a difference between a "good" and a "not so good" cable, when using a passive instrument.