Opions on bass cables ?

ThomasG · #1 07-21-2007, 05:32 PM

I am in the process of buying new equipment, basically getting back into playing etc. I play Jazz, funk, soul, smooth Jazz. From your expierences, what bass cables seem to stand out, and provide the best sound, and the reasons. I respect all you cat's opions. Thanks !

i_got_a_mohawk · #2 07-21-2007, 05:57 PM

I use Klotz Cables. Venom Cables and Bayou Cables.

If your in the US id strongly recommend Bayou Cables, hand made to spec, and cheaper than most name brands, aswell as a hell of alot better quality.

tplyons · #3 07-21-2007, 06:05 PM

I'll take Bayou Cables made by our own Butch Ammons anyday.

www.bayoucables.com

Anything else you're really just paying for a name.

John Wentzien · #4 07-21-2007, 06:10 PM

George L's have great tone for bass..

Dave · #5 07-21-2007, 06:14 PM

Another +1 for Bayou cables...last place Ill ever need to get cables from.

Eric Perry · #6 07-21-2007, 06:15 PM

Bayou. No question.

A9X · #7 07-21-2007, 09:37 PM

There are two components in an instrument cable: the wire itself and the connectors. Use quality parts eg Belden or Mogami cable and Neutrik, Switchcraft or G&H connectors, well assembled and you will have a fine cable. Take care of it, and it will last for a very long time. Bayou gets a lot of praise in the US, I know a similar guy in Australia and there are no doubt others. If you can solder, make your own.

DO NOT buy into most of the brand name marketing hype that prevails in the cable industry. There are no different cables for different styles, and I doubt anyone would be able to reliably choose between two well made, quality cables by listening to them (lots of experience with this in the audio and broadcast field).

JimmyM · #8 07-22-2007, 12:18 AM

I use whatever's on sale. Never been one for cable voodoo.

kipsus · #9 07-22-2007, 02:27 AM

Heck, I once found some at least 15 years old soviet production microphone cable that my bro used to connect his guitar when he was a teenager. Put some midrange connectors on it and voila. Looks really awful but it took all kinds of treat and mistreat without a single problem and I have absolutely no complains about it. Same goes for any cable, just because it's old, doesn't mean it's bad.

EricF · #10 07-22-2007, 02:43 AM

Bayou Cables.

It's like an echo in here.

Vandelay · #11 07-22-2007, 03:30 AM

Lately I've been buying Monster Cable Standard 100s:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MONS100I

Mainly because of their lifetime guarantee -- if it fails, just bring it into a retailer and they'll replace it free. I've had to do it once, and it was very simple.

caesarbass · #12 07-22-2007, 03:34 AM

Mogami Gold!!! I've compared them to other cables and they sound best to my ears, and they're not too expensive.

saxnbass · #13 07-22-2007, 03:43 AM

I just made a Bayou order last week, eagerly waiting for their arrival.

62bass · #14 07-22-2007, 06:06 AM

I've used the cables sold under the Peavey name and others sold by Long & McQuade as a store brand and found them as good as anything. I also made a few of my own with Belden cable and Switchcraft connectors. Currently I've been using a couple Planet Waves cables. They all sounded fine and I couldn't hear any difference between them. I also tried some ridiculously expensive silver instrument cable that came in a fancy cloth bag and cost somewhere around $150 and it was no better. Complete waste of money in my opinion.

My homemade cables, the Planet Waves and the Long & McQuade cables have stood up forever without breaking. Two of the Peavey cables failed somewhere along the length of the cable, possibly from being run over a number of times by cabinets on casters.

ibz · #15 07-22-2007, 06:41 PM

If you know how to do simple soldering make 'em yourself, you have great quality cable for cheap and you can customize them to whatever is ideal to you.

groove pump · #16 07-22-2007, 07:12 PM

All you need for putting a George L's together is a pair of snips and a small flathead screwdriver. Zero soldering and you can whip up any lengths you want in just a minute or two. I've also gotten used to how thin they are - regular old cables now seem a lot more cumbersome.

Rattman · #17 07-22-2007, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

Another +1 for Bayou cables...last place Ill ever need to get cables from.

The more I use my 13' blue Bayou instrument cable, the more convinced I am that I did the 'right thing' when I took a chance and placed an order with Butch. He's "one man shop" that does it all.. and does it so darn well.

m.oreilly · #18 07-22-2007, 10:19 PM

whatever is cheap and has good connectors. maybe beyond 20ft i would think about designer wire (if passive, hi z pups w/o onboard buffer/pre). crate has decent cable for the buck.

#19 07-22-2007, 10:32 PM

I use Zaolla Silverlines for my basses and I have a backup George L's with Neutrik ends. for my head to cab cables I use Monster Pro-Link 1000's. All have served me well.

George

steve66 · #20 07-22-2007, 10:37 PM

As long as the cable doesnt cut out or become noisy, I cant tell the difference between them. To me a cable is a cable. I heard there is a difference between a speaker cable and a instrument cable, so I make sure it says instrument cable on it if I am buying it for the bass.