Best cable for Bass Guitar

I’ve been using Mogami Platinum with good results. I’m sure others are good too. At some point there must be diminishing returns with high end cables, but I like using good ones.

 

Buy your own low-capacitance instrument wire & put on some Neutrik jacks & you're good as gold.

 

Any decent cable. There's no magic. I get mine from here. GBND Premium Series Guitar & Instrument Cable with Neutrik® "X" series Right Angle & Straight 1/4" slim cord ends

 

Forgot to add that I'd avoid any instrument cable that claims it's specifically for BASS.
Those are infamous for having high Capacitance, which bleeds off all the highs.

If you're going to compare instrument wire look at the Capacitance per length.
That's a real comparison!

 

Stay away from gimmick cables, glow in the dark, bigger head, rare metals.

The secret is they don’t last forever. It’s the physical wear and tear perhaps, coiled most of the time, stepped on, pulled against the jack when you wander too far.

Get a ten footer if you’re a homebody, more likely a 15-20’ although cost goes up.

I like the right angle Fender that is covered with a vinyl weave. Looks good, works well and last me, playing 4-7 times a week about a year.

I also pack a 20 footer with a kill switch in case I have to hot swap basses during a show.

 

I find good value in the D'Addario/Planet Waves American Stage line. I have one 10' and one 20'.

 

Like many have said, get a solid quality instrument cable and you'll be fine.

Personally, I use (and endorse) Tsunami Cables. They've taken a huge beating from all the gigs I've done over the four years I've had them and sound great. But more importantly than that, Keith (the owner) is a great guy who stands by his products.

 

Another vote for Tsunami cables. I just recently started using them and really like them. I'm slowly changing over all my cables to Tsunami as they also make patch cables as well as speaker cables.

 

Best cable for bass? The one you have.

 

Exactly!

A little over 20 years ago, I went to a guitar show where a guy was selling George L cables. Bought a 15ft'r

Fast forward to present, I still have the same cable.
I've used the cable for at least 1 gig a week, and countless hours of practicing since I bought it.

The cable failed me twice, with one time during a gig. Took out my Leatherman, sniped off an end tightened the set screw, and I was back playing before the end of the song.

Reliability, longevity, and relatively low capacitance. Kind of a no brainer

 

I look at stress relief on the cable ends as my chief way to choose cables.
Been really impressed with Pig Hog - SOLID construction for not a ton of money
Instrument Cables

 

That’s what I do an gladly pay a lot less to enjoy

 

I like (and use) Cordial CGK-175 cable with Neutrik connectors. Robust and reasonably priced low capacitance cable, well worth the money. Not so for more exoteric and expensive instrument cables, IMHO.

 

I have been using the planet waves with the kill switch built into the plug. They work well, except some recessed jacks and specific jacks keep on popping them out.

I have no idea why this happens. It isnt like they arent fully in the plug hole. Other than that, the ability to kill the signal at the plug is really nice. I wish more companies would do this.

 

Audiopile Distributing - Pro Audio / EWI Cables and Cases has them. Give them a try, you must Whippet.

 

I had the Lyric HG. It went out on me at a gig after about 5 years of use. Its a very stiff cable which is the only thing I did not like about it. As far as sound it was a great cable. I have challenged people to try it (mostly Guitar Players ) at the gig and they agreed there was a difference. The evidence forte might be better as it's advertised as similar but more flexible (and more money). Lava makes a cable called soar which a bassist I know uses it and loves it. He wouldn't use anything else. I know many feel there isn't a difference and they have the right to believe it as no questions about it. On a loud gig no one has said the cable made the bass sound great. A very good friend of mine suggested a company BTPA Categories I have ordered cables here and make a very good high definition model which is strong flexible and sound as good as many upper popular brands. But I have my eye on another Evidence HG but not for gig use.

 

Well built and flexible are my choices. Is there a difference in sound? Maybe, but I'd chalk that up to some people's hubris that their ears are better than others. I've rarely been around non-bass players that could tell a difference between J or P bass, let alone the tone affects of a cable.
I like shorter (10') versus longer cables mostly cause I'm playing seated and not wandering about the stage. I've never had any luck with special ends, like the magnetic disconnect or on/off switches etc. Just something else to break.
In the end, you'll need to replace whatever it is you're using. The good ones last a long time and are worth it for reliability if nothing else. But even the best cable given the best care will take a beating, stepped on rolled up tossed around, drowned in beer etc.... they do give up the ghost in time.