Do Planet Waves Circuit Breaker cables work well with active basses?

soong · #1 09-24-2010, 05:46 PM

Hi all.

Been looking at these leads and was wondering if the silent switches on these leads work with active basses. I dont see why not, just making sure before i make a purchase.

I've also been looking at the Mogami range of silent neutrik cables..

Any experiences with either or both?

One Bad Monkey · #2 09-24-2010, 05:49 PM

They work, sure. My circuit breaker cable, after a couple months of regular use, would not stay on reliably. Because the ends are such that you can unscrew it and replace it, Planet Waves will not warranty them at all, but recommend you just buy a new end and switch it out.

Planet Wave regular cables are great. Their circuit breaker ones are junk.

dmusic148 · #3 09-24-2010, 05:49 PM

I have a couple of the Planet Waves ones. They work fine. Active makes no difference.

**nutdog** · #4 09-24-2010, 05:53 PM

Been using in church now for a year or two. Could never rely on sound guy to mute before unplugging. I tried it, worked, so they got them for the guitars also. So far no problems. My bass is active. It's just an on/off switch in the cable so it doesn't matter what it's plugged into.

**line6man** · #5 09-24-2010, 05:56 PM

I don't see how having an active bass would make things any different?

Just as long as you are using a mono TS cable to allow the short between the ring and sleeve, it should be fine.

kesslari · #6 09-24-2010, 06:01 PM

I've got one. It was in the gig bag of a bass I bought on Ebay.
It works fine with my active basses, and I use it on gigs where I switch basses.

dmusic148 · #7 09-24-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Bad Monkey

They work, sure. My circuit breaker cable, after a couple months of regular use, would not stay on reliably. Because the ends are such that you can unscrew it and replace it, Planet Waves will not warranty them at all, but recommend you just buy a new end and switch it out.

Planet Wave regular cables are great. Their circuit breaker ones are junk.

Huh,go figure. I've been using mine for two years or so with no issues. Don't know what to say about that- maybe they made a bad batch? Or I've just been lucky.

One Bad Monkey · #8 09-24-2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Huh,go figure. I've been using mine for two years or so with no issues. Don't know what to say about that- maybe they made a bad batch? Or I've just been lucky.

It could also be amount of use. I used that cord daily, flipping that switch to change between basses for a couple of months straight. Then, it started having a hard time staying on, at which point I looked into having it replaced and finding out about their warranty with those pedals.

It could also be that they've improved their components. I had that cord about six years ago when they first came out.

soong · #9 09-24-2010, 06:14 PM

Thanks guys. If i leave the cable plugged into my active bass, while having the switch off on the cable, will my bass' 9v still be drained?

emblymouse · #10 09-24-2010, 06:16 PM

One Bad Monkey · #11 09-24-2010, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soong

Thanks guys. If i leave the cable plugged into my active bass, while having the switch off on the cable, will my bass' 9v still be drained?

Yes. The cable is still in the input jack, keeping the 9v engaged and on. The switch only controls the sound from the bass to the amp.

McSpunckle · #12 09-24-2010, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Bad Monkey

They work, sure. My circuit breaker cable, after a couple months of regular use, would not stay on reliably. Because the ends are such that you can unscrew it and replace it, Planet Waves will not warranty them at all, but recommend you just buy a new end and switch it out.

Planet Wave regular cables are great. Their circuit breaker ones are junk.

With the circuit breaker, you can remove the end, clip the end off the cable, and put the end back on to fix them. I hate that as well, but the end itself never broke for me. The connection just got loose.

I prefer the Neutrik Silent Plug, but it's a bit fragile. Drop your bass on it, and it'll bend. Leave it in your bass and let the bass sit on it, and it'll bend. Snag it a few times, and it'll bend. You can bend it back, and it'll still work, but, again, it's a hassle.

One Bad Monkey · #13 09-24-2010, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McSpunckle

With the circuit breaker, you can remove the end, clip the end off the cable, and put the end back on to fix them. I hate that as well, but the end itself never broke for me. The connection just got loose.

I prefer the Neutrik Silent Plug, but it's a bit fragile. Drop your bass on it, and it'll bend. Leave it in your bass and let the bass sit on it, and it'll bend. Snag it a few times, and it'll bend. You can bend it back, and it'll still work, but, again, it's a hassle.

I had a couple other silent plugs too, and in the end I spent the money on a solid A/B box instead of continually buying cables that would break on me due to regular use.

Showdown · #14 09-25-2010, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kesslari

It works fine with my active basses, and I use it on gigs where I switch basses.

I just step on my Boss Tu-2 tuner pedal to mute, then it doesn't matter what cable I use.

I do like the regular Planet Waves cables. I've used the same two at every practice and gig for 8 years without issue. Pretty much every other piece of equipment I have has changed during that time, but those cables just keep going. Very reliable cables.