I was wondering what bassists generally think of as the best cables for recording, or even live stuff. I know Evidence Audio cables are really good for guitar, but they buff up the highs and mids. What cables are really good for capturing lows and mids and are really durable?
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Best cables?
- Thread starter bass07
- Start date
A lot of people, including myself, will tell you that unless you have a really terrible cable, there's no point in spending tons of money to upgrade your cables. I can't hear an ounce of difference between cables. Silver, Oxygen Free, Gold Tipped, etc.
For durability, though, I really like Monster & Planet Waves, due to their no-questions-asked lifetime warranties...
Just don't expect any audible difference.
For durability, though, I really like Monster & Planet Waves, due to their no-questions-asked lifetime warranties...
Just don't expect any audible difference.
It's just a cable. It can't add anything. It could remove some highs, but that would be lame. Cables should be transparent.
Personally I use Canare GS6 instrument cable, with G&H, or Nuetrik plugs.
This is what I have been using for years, and Butch at Bayou Cables uses the same stuff. You can spend a ton more, but you won't find a real upgrade over a properly assembled Canare/Neutrik or Mogami/Neutrik cable.
And +1 on cables not adding anything. They are not an active device. They can only cause subtractive "EQ".
I couldn't say who makes the best cables.
All I know is that it is a brand that is NOT Planet Waves.
Every one of their cables I've had has crapped out. Lifetime warranty, you say? Wouldn't it be a lot less trouble to buy a cable that won't break?
All I know is that it is a brand that is NOT Planet Waves.
Every one of their cables I've had has crapped out. Lifetime warranty, you say? Wouldn't it be a lot less trouble to buy a cable that won't break?
+10
Canare is great cable especially the StarQuad. If you are recording or play places with lots of interference this cable can really keep your signal clean.
If your bass is active it doesn't matter much at all.
Passive is another story-cheap cable can wreck the sound.
I'm very happy with my Monster Standard 100 cable. Works fine.
It's hard not to laugh, though, if you go to their site they have 'Jazz' and 'Rock' cables.
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Passive is another story-cheap cable can wreck the sound.
I'm very happy with my Monster Standard 100 cable. Works fine.
It's hard not to laugh, though, if you go to their site they have 'Jazz' and 'Rock' cables.
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The slightest hiss/hum might not be audible to the ear. But after applying enough compression and/or amplification it could cause significant noise. I don't use quality cables myself, but that's because they're extremely expensive where I live.
I make my own. Neutrik plugs with Cordial or Mogami cable. Heatshrink on all critical connections (for extra strain relief, and stopping corrosion on otherwise exposed leads). They last forever.
You also need to know how to coil them properly, and avoid stepping on them...
You also need to know how to coil them properly, and avoid stepping on them...
Any capacitance issues or whatnot are halved if you half the length of the string and shorter cables are less hassle and less likely to knot. They are also cheaper.
So when I am recording, I tend to go for shorter cables. I think that will do more for sound and general ease of use than any amount of money, and cheaper too.
You could worry about the quality of the connections I suppose but I don't know much about that.
So when I am recording, I tend to go for shorter cables. I think that will do more for sound and general ease of use than any amount of money, and cheaper too.
You could worry about the quality of the connections I suppose but I don't know much about that.
I suggest that you do not use StarQuad (L4E6S, etc...) for high-Z applications like musical instruments. It is designed for lo-Z applications like microphones and mic-level interconnects, and sounds horrible as an instrument cable. You won't get any better shielding or handling noise rejection than GS-6, and the twisted pair design of the StarQuad causes too much capacitance to be useful at higher impedances.
GGuitars in New Haven used to carry some custom cables that were made using it and I brought one of my GS-6 based cables in to A/B in their sound room, and it was like night and day. The SQ assembly sounded bad, with a weird uneven roll off sound in the upper mids and highs.
Just an opinion based on my own testing. If you really like the way it works then don't let me stop you.
I've always used Canare GS6 and Neutrik, and rolled my own. I have several of those that are over five years old and still just fine. Lately, I've been too busy to get out the soldering iron, and I've bought some Digiflex from my local music shop. They cost just a hair more than parts to make one, have Neutrik connectors, and a lifetime warranty. Hard to beat that deal!
+ 1
And unless the contacts in your equipment are gold (which they probably aren't), no gold cables. Nickel.
Flexibility and durability are the name of the game.
Treat 'em pretty rough, 'eh? I've not had one fail yet. I can't say that for Monster Bass. I had one of those go microphonic. My oldest Planet Waves cable has been with me for more than 6 years.
