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Bass Cables - Which ones are worth it?

#44
I will mention the ones that were not good for me first. YMMV. I have an Asterope that shorted out. I sent it to Asterope for repair, was charged a flat fee, and after I used it for less than 2 months it had the same problem. (I am not tough on cables; this was studio use.) I have an Alessandro Guitar One that shorted out and I had to send it for repair, and it went bad again. I have an Evidence Audio Lyric that shorted out that I sent in for repair and it's fine, and my several other Evidence Audio cables have been fine. I had a Solid Cable (they are now out of business) and it failed. I ceased using Monster cables years ago because of reliability issues. I have a Spectraflex that seems to dull the sound (higher capacitance?) so I stopped using it. Lately, I am using an Intex cable and it seems very well made, sounds good, and is reasonably priced. So, for me, the best so far have been Evidence Audio and Intex -- both of which have lifetime warranties. Don't overlook bongomania's Instrument cables rated and compared. A buyers' guide!
 
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#47
I searched and found this thread only to learn there are others who are in the same situation as me....

Instrument cables seem like one of those things you don't neccesarily get what you pay for. Sure, a $150 cable will be a good one, but you can find one for a fraction of the cost that is just as good. I have this one yellow tweed cable that I've had for years. At least 10. I had two of them at one time. I think my daughter took it. I wish I knew could remember where I got them because I would get them again. No name on them.

With all the real smart people here, I'm suprised there are not more folks rolling their own.
 
#52
I make my own. They're Mogami or Canare cable, Neutrik connectors and TechFlex covering. Similar cables run $120 from companies that I won't name and I an build them for about $35 in parts. The downside, I had to buy $300-400 in tools and supplies to start doing it. There are cheaper paths, but hell, it's TB, we buy the best. Heh.

IMG_0158.jpeg
 
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#53
MultiScaleMale said:
I make my own. They're Mogami or Canare cable, Neutrik connectors and TechFlex covering. Similar cables run $120 from companies that I won't name and I an build them for about $35 in parts. The downside, I had to buy $300-400 in tools and supplies to start doing it. There are cheaper paths, but hell, it's TB, we buy the best. Heh.

View attachment 3583628
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Just used mine yesterday and the day before. Excellent cable and I haven't destroyed it yet after 2 years! Thanks Rich!
 
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#55
I bought a couple Planet Waves American Stage cables a while back and love em. I have a bunch of other cables of various brands lying around but the planet waves always work. I've had to do minor repairs on most the other brands. The Pig Hogs had some poppers,too.
For what its worth,I have an old GLS Audio cable that has never given me poopie no matter how many times I threw it in the closet or in a box of random cords to tangle with. Dont wanna repair cables or drive the 50 miles to GC to exchange them so Planet Waves for me. Your results may vary.
 
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#56
An old thread, but to make a point about the wire…..

I don’t know if I’ve ever actually bought an instrument cable from a store. Working with the production companies and backline people, there are always instrument cables being left behind (guitar stands, case covers, etc as well). I do my due diligence to contact the potential owners and either I can’t run down or determine an owner or I get “Keep it, it’s not worth the trouble to go get them or to ship them to me” (boy, now more than ever on that one!). So I have a crazy HUGE inventory of instrument cables.

A lot of times, I’ll change wonky connectors or cut some down for short jumper use, but there’s only one cable over the years that I was able to identify as sounding really bad. The bass tone was muffled and attenuated quite a bit. There was no labeling on the cable itself. Might have been an undetectable internal problem. I always check the cables out before I toss them into That Box.

Point being, I really noticed brand names on the cable, but they’ve all been fine, save the replaced connectors.

And I’ve said it before, but Monster Cable can go blow chunks….
 
#57
I’ve had pretty good luck with just about all but the cheapest cables over the years.

Store brand cables tend to be microphonic, unreliable junk and I’m not all that crazy about the molded connectors on Planet Waves’ cables but just about any cable with quality wire and either Neutrik or Whirlwind connectors is likely to be just fine.

The Spectraflex 18’ cable in my gig bag has been there for about 15 years and it’s worked fine for hundreds of gigs. I replaced one end with a 90 degree Neutrik for convenience shortly after buying it (the original was fine, I just prefer 90 degrees) and I replaced that one about ten years ago after I cracked it on a concrete floor. That certainly wasn’t the cable’s fault. I have lots of other cables that get used less often but I’ve only ever had the very cheapest fail.
 

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