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Bass specific instrument cables?

AL!EN BA$$

AL!EN BA$$

Nov 12, 2006
211
0
Hudson Falls NY 12839
www.myspace.com
#1
Is there such a thing? I know they sell them but does it really make a difference? I've used Whirlwind Leader for ever and never really had any issues with any of them? My guitarist, who plays and 8 string, was told to get a bass instrument cable? And I didn't know if they just wanted to make more money off of him or there is an actual difference?
 
#5
AL!EN BA$$ said:
That's what I though,my guitarist just wasted $50 on a 21 ft Monster cable! Haha no doubt they are good but I think they are a waste of money u could get two cables for the price of one
Click to expand...

i'd rather buy that one lifetime guaranteed cable than two $25.00 crap cables (unless they have the same return policy). my Monster cable is over 20 years old,... seems like good money spent to me.
btw, i've never had a cheap one last more than a few years!

on the other hand, there are 21ft cables that are over $100. those are the ones i avoid. but if i lose my well-built Monster or Mogami's, i buy another because they have never failed in the field...
if it fails,... they replace it,.... for life!!! :bassist::hyper::bassist:
 
#7
pacojas said:
i'd rather buy that one lifetime guaranteed cable than two $25.00 crap cables (unless they have the same return policy). my Monster cable is over 20 years old,... seems like good money spent to me.
btw, i've never had a cheap one last more than a few years!

on the other hand, there are 21ft cables that are over $100. those are the ones i avoid. but if i lose my well-built Monster or Mogami's, i buy another because they have never failed in the field...
if it fails,... they replace it,.... for life!!! :bassist::hyper::bassist:
Click to expand...
Pah. If you take reasonable care of your cables and you get decently made ones to begin with, you'll never need that warranty. I've got plenty of 10-30 year old cables that are working just fine, and not a Monster among them.

And bass specific cables? Don't waste your money.
 
#8
Monster cable plays that game. I'll take live wire elite and mogami cables over them any day. But any qaulity instrument cable will work fine. Monster cables also use oversize 1/4 plugs that can cause problems later on if you switch back to cables with regular size 1/4 plugs.
 
#9
Yeah, monster cables are actually fairly high capacitance, the plugs stretch out and ruin your input jacks over time, and their customer service is lackluster.

Lifetime replacement? What happens when you spend 50 dollars on a Monster Jazz Cable, it breaks a month later, and you go to replace it? Nothing. They stopped making it. You are left with a broken cable and no fifty dollars.

You're much better off getting a nice, quality low capacitance cable that will last you the rest of your life.

Butch Ammons over at Bayou Audio makes really solid, decent sounding cables using Canare cable and G&H or Neutrik connectors. Thats what I use. I've had a 20 foot and a ten foot for a year and a half now and they are still like new. Canare is a bit dark sounding, but in a good way IMO.

If I ever decide to upgrade, I would buy from Lava Cable-even better- that's where I purchased my solderless patch cables.
 
#10
Monster is the Bose of cables. We refer to Bose as "Better audio through marketing". Monster is mostly spin and PR. Not worth the money. Whirlwind, ProCo, Bayou, etc. are all great cables with great sound at half the price.

There is no such thing as a Bass Cable! (unless it means one that is not good enough for full-range audio).
 
#11
Hi.

I have mostly rolled my own for the last few decades, and most of those cords are still in use (the ones that haven't been stolen).

Neutrik ends and any quality cable will last a long time.
If ones sodering skills are not top notch, the only break will happen next to the solder joint, so clipping 5 to 10 cm off the end and re-soldering the plug will take care of that problem.

There are instrument specific cables in the market, but it's just passive filters to alter the sound, I'd avoid those like a plague.

Regards
Sam
 
#13
Speaking of marketing, anyone saw this signature cable?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

"Original Xotic Cable (XGC-1) was developed with three strict requirements: sound should not be thin, sound should cut through and it should have minimal noise. We utilized spirally structure copper wire shielded with conductive vinyl and wrapped with an flexible outer coating. The result; an easy to handle cable providing superior sound with minimal noise. We used the gold standard of plugs, Switchcraft (straight #280, right-angle #226). Since most high-end guitars use Switchcraft jacks, matching the brand of plugs with jacks minimizes any electrical connection issues."
:eek: :eek: :eek:​
 
#14
ex-tension said:
Since most high-end guitars use Switchcraft jacks, matching the brand of plugs with jacks minimizes any electrical connection issues."
:eek: :eek: :eek:​
Click to expand...

Actually, that's true. Matter of fact, I use this principle in everyday life. Since my TV is a Toshiba, I specifically ordered a Toshiba wall socket. It minimizes any electrical connection issues. Also, I only eat Bush's Baked Beans with Bush's brand forks. It minimizes any plate to mouth transmission issues.
 
#18
ggunn said:
Pah. If you take reasonable care of your cables and you get decently made ones to begin with, you'll never need that warranty. I've got plenty of 10-30 year old cables that are working just fine, and not a Monster among them.

And bass specific cables? Don't waste your money.
Click to expand...

+1 Same here.
 
#19
I make my own patch cables with television coax cable and switchcraft ends.

I use ProCo instrument cables, 10-15 footers, and they have yet to fail on me. Same with "Ibanez" and "Peavey" brand cables.
I also use Rapco cables that have a 5 year warranty, and are relatively cheap and sound just fine. You're fooling yourself if you hear a difference.

I don't get the hype over high dollar cables, at all. Diminishing return, if you ask me.
 

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