Oric, I don't know where the term came from, but Every Scot,Brit, and Patty I know always calls our " Cables " Leads. It may just be a europe thing instead of an American thing. We don't call out guitars " Axes " either. We use those to get fire wood.
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BASS CORD?
- Thread starter rzinszer
- Start date
Get a 15 or 20ft one. It's just a little more $ but if you get a 10ft one, you'll definately get a longer one later on because you'll want to move around freely when playing sometimes.
Also figure out if you want to get a right-angle or a straight plug for the end that goes into the bass - this depends on where your output is on the bass. If it is flat on the body next to the controls, you're better off with a right-angled one as there is less tension on the wire. If the output is on the side of the bass, then a straight plug would serve you better.
As with all things bass, buy as good as you can afford - leads to savings at the end of the day from not having to upgrade and have a bag full of nick-nacks that you don't use anymore but don't find it worthwhile to sell.
I got myself a Planet Waves "Circuit Breaker" right angled 20ft for about USD$19.
Also figure out if you want to get a right-angle or a straight plug for the end that goes into the bass - this depends on where your output is on the bass. If it is flat on the body next to the controls, you're better off with a right-angled one as there is less tension on the wire. If the output is on the side of the bass, then a straight plug would serve you better.
As with all things bass, buy as good as you can afford - leads to savings at the end of the day from not having to upgrade and have a bag full of nick-nacks that you don't use anymore but don't find it worthwhile to sell.
I got myself a Planet Waves "Circuit Breaker" right angled 20ft for about USD$19.
Any cable with Neutrik plugs - can't go wrong with that. If the plugs are Neutrik the cable itself is also probably decent enough. Monster and Elixir cables are BS, no audible difference in tone when compared to Cordial cable that costs 1/10 of the price and I'm sure they're just as durable too .
most important thing is how you take care of it, dont wind it on your elbow when you store it back, to many people do that and complain that their cable is dead after a few months, just do some loops twisting everytime so its nicely folded!
I don't completely agree with the above post - you can wind them loosely on your elbow but do not wind them tightly on your elbow.
For cables, obviously everyone has their preferences. I like the right angled plug into my bass, and I like 15" or 20". Plan to spend about a buck a foot. Cheaper ones often sound compressed, or thin, and sometimes when you throw really cheap ones around on stage you can hear it out the amp.
Personally I'm a believer in Monster - when I got my first one I had a helper blindfold me and switch between it, a regular-priced cable and a cheapie. The cheapie was easy to tell, the regular and Monster were a lot tougher but I could do it. I get mine replaced for free every few years, usually because I did something stupid while drunk.
But at your stage, just spend a buck a foot. You'll be fine. Also - get two. They're cheap enough and essential to making the instrument work, having only one is just a shame.
For cables, obviously everyone has their preferences. I like the right angled plug into my bass, and I like 15" or 20". Plan to spend about a buck a foot. Cheaper ones often sound compressed, or thin, and sometimes when you throw really cheap ones around on stage you can hear it out the amp.
Personally I'm a believer in Monster - when I got my first one I had a helper blindfold me and switch between it, a regular-priced cable and a cheapie. The cheapie was easy to tell, the regular and Monster were a lot tougher but I could do it. I get mine replaced for free every few years, usually because I did something stupid while drunk.
But at your stage, just spend a buck a foot. You'll be fine. Also - get two. They're cheap enough and essential to making the instrument work, having only one is just a shame.
i don't care what the price is when i buy mine. i prefer monster. heavy duty ends, lifetime guarantee. you can't go wrong. our guitarist just got a monster and the guy goes thru cables like i change socks. i dunno what he does to destroy them, but i told him to get monster because of the lifetime guarantee.
but i think it's been said above, whatever you get, get two, so when one finally starts to pop and crackle, you've got a back up. and really, don't get a ten footer.
i think john myung plays with a 3 foot cable from his bass to his pedal board. i've never seen him move very far away from it...
but i think it's been said above, whatever you get, get two, so when one finally starts to pop and crackle, you've got a back up. and really, don't get a ten footer.
i think john myung plays with a 3 foot cable from his bass to his pedal board. i've never seen him move very far away from it...
+10
I bought two cables from Bayou in Aug 06 and I've been more than satisfied with their performance on stage. Before that, I used a couple esoteric brands that had custom this and that molded plugs. They failed to perform consistently and caused performance problems on stage. Even though one company replaced the cables, I still encountered failure problems and so I beat the bushes trying to find a reliable cable. Bingo, Bayou cables.
Cheap cables may be ok at home with a practice amp, but don't try doing that on a gig. The first time you have on stage problems with crackling, popping and noise, your attempt to build a reputation for reliability will suffer. Connections between components (instrument, effects, amps) are always the weak link. Don't skimp. Find dependable equipment (cables, plugs, jacks) and keep your weak links reliable. Learn to store cables properly - no tight coils (I keep mine about 7-inch minimum diameter for about 1/4 inch cable, minimum coil diameter depends on the thickness of the cable), and learn how to do a correct coil. That will help your cables last without premature failure due to improper care. Check out this llink:
http://www.wikihow.com/Coil-Any-Kind-of-Cord
Steps 1-8 apply. I think its obvious not to use step 9, which is only for rope, otherwise the same procedures apply. I use velcro on instrument and electrical cables to secure them. Bayou cables come with an attached velcro tie.
Lloyd Howard
Australia - but with our history it makes sense that we would have this in common with Irishmen.
And every time I hear someone over 20 referring to a guitar as an "axe" it makes me smile and wonder . . . .
leads = european
cables = american
cords = wrong. A cord is a length of rope (be it plastic, cloth, etc), not an electrical conductor.
Lavacable.com is a great site for high-end cables for not ripoff prices. Unlike monster, etc, you are actually getting your money's worth in terms of hand-made quality and warranty. You don't need this to start off, though. Planet waves makes decent cables, but stay away from the ones that have the little expanding section in the middle of the plug, those can wear out the jacks in your guitars and amps.
If you learn how to solder, you can make your own quality cables for cheap... it costs about $6 for good Switchcraft ends, plus about $0.60/foot for Canare GS-6 instrument cable if you search around, that gets you a cable that would probably sell for twice what you pay to make it...
cables = american
cords = wrong. A cord is a length of rope (be it plastic, cloth, etc), not an electrical conductor.
Lavacable.com is a great site for high-end cables for not ripoff prices. Unlike monster, etc, you are actually getting your money's worth in terms of hand-made quality and warranty. You don't need this to start off, though. Planet waves makes decent cables, but stay away from the ones that have the little expanding section in the middle of the plug, those can wear out the jacks in your guitars and amps.
If you learn how to solder, you can make your own quality cables for cheap... it costs about $6 for good Switchcraft ends, plus about $0.60/foot for Canare GS-6 instrument cable if you search around, that gets you a cable that would probably sell for twice what you pay to make it...
I'll just add a +1 for the Planet Waves circuit breaker cable. I love being able to push the little button to change basses, or just to kill the sound when I need to. These are high quality cables, too. I've had one for 5 years and it's holding up just fine. They come with straight or 90 degree ends, too.
GE, your new avatar is like freakin me out ya know what i mean, it's like looking straight into my soul, it's like ya inside my head,. ya know?
Plus if you walk too far and stretch them out they will pull the plug right out of the amp, and it will go flying right at you. Don't ask how I know this......
When I was first learning in the '70s they were fairly common and I had one then.
. . . and I'm guessing that ain't no music store special cable/lead/cord. It always surprises me that BM uses one like this.
I used a curly when I was first playing (20+ years ago), but after a while it used to crackle when stretching out and drive me nuts! But it was probably a cheapo then, and I'm sure technology has progressed significantly since then. I still wouldn't use one to this day though - old dog, new tricks - ya know?
Not all of us, I hear cable just as much as lead, if not more.
I'm gonna start callin' them sound ropes.
Bespeco! They use Neutrik plugs so obviously they'd be a good choice. But like, when I was starting out I broke cables all the time. A local store owner recommended Bespeco Vipers. He said you can tow a car with them and they cost around 20€ so I bought two. I lost the other one, but after 6 years or so I'm still using the other Viper cable I bought back in 2002. These cables are indestructible and simply refuse to fail. And come in really funky colors 
I don't know of their availability in the States though...
Check them out:
Invalid Link Removed
I don't know of their availability in the States though... Check them out:
Invalid Link Removed
