Bootique speaker cables?

[scowboy]

Analysis Plus is another high end option to consider.

 

[bassliner50]

This unique boutique kitchen sponge is now available for uncompromising users. (just having some fun with this. I really can't see much advantage in a boutique speaker cable in any practical applications that I may run into. additional costs are better spent elsewhere).

 

[mike buzzetti]

NUM NUM boutique !

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

This is a terrible argument. Just because he pays the taxes and feeds his family doing it doesn't make what he's doing ethical, or any better than a snake oil salesman 120 years ago.

Well you were right to call me out. Valid arguments aren't settled by implication or name calling. I wrongly used the term zealot in describing someone, just to gain an edge. It was an efficient short-cut that only proved to tarnish my point.

 

[fdeck]

I buy the gear that is most requested by my clients. I currently have 37, 4x12 cabs now. in an effort to give guitar players more options. sound exploration is what I'm known for. It's just gone so far as, all that's left is the cables now, haha. most of my clients bring their own gear and cables but, they often ask for exotic stuff like, certain cables (like vovox) Hiwatt heads and cabs. and ribbon mics. there is always laughter and enjoyment. no one is getting misled or taken advantage of. I do make an effort to buy new and from boutique manufactures... with the resent exception of mesa boogie of course, their price point has gone too high for what you're getting, compared to the custom-built cabs I have, which often get chosen by clients over the new mesa cabs. It's a joy to have a lot of gear to compare and interact with clients (and builders) more smiles than frowns have come out of my studio because of it! Thanks to all the passionate replies, as they are helpful.

If client requests have resulted in purchasing 37 cabs, then you certainly have a lot of clients and are running a busy studio. A question is what value is being delivered for the hourly rate that's being paid. If the value of choosing boutique cables is equal to the value of effort directed towards other activities in the studio, then you've reached the pinnacle of your art in some sense. What are you best at? Supervising the selection of cables, or making a band sound good?

 

[Oldbasslover]

This raises a relative, but hopefully non-derailing question. What makes something "boutique"?
To me it means something of superior quality, possibly hand made, maybe of very limited production quantity, and priced at or above the fair value attributed to those other features.
So yeah, just kind of wondering.

Probably lots of opinions here. I guess I was thinking of “branding” that is a company name that has a reputation (deserved or not) of making high quality products and likely higher prices that are presumed to have lesser quantity on hand and longer production times.
The cables made by some of our TB members use very high quality cable and high end connectors. They just are individuals that have a following, but they don’t have a recognized brand (outside of TB land)

 

[ryco]

Been happy with Monster instrument and speaker cables for 20+ years. 0 failures.
Use ProCo speakons for the GK rigs.

Have a Cardas Golden Spiral Series 4' speaker chord given to me by Kip Dobler late '90s.
Went for $250 back then, and tell truth, I can't tell ANY difference from Monster or even cheaper speaker cords.
I use it on my Sunn 200s/215 rig just cuz

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Probably lots of opinions here. I guess I was thinking of “branding” that is a company name that has a reputation (deserved or not) of making high quality products and likely higher prices that are presumed to have lesser quantity on hand and longer production times.
The cables made by some of our TB members use very high quality cable and high end connectors. They just are individuals that have a following, but they don’t have a recognized brand (outside of TB land)

Thanks for adding to the opinions. I had not considered branding as a way to look at it.

 

[Bass Jones]

Poor ol' fella

He's a great bass player but gear he knows little about but, he is not alone on that.

There are a lot of great players but if you asked them what strings or what amps they like, they just point or asked the crew. Nothing wrong with that, just those are the last people I'll asked for advice.

Maybe ask the crew.

Hmmm, there may be a life lesson in there from Victor...maybe I should be less obsessed with gear and more obsessed with practicing! That purple cable does look pretty cool. Not $250 cool tho...

Imagine what the economy would look like if we were only allowed to buy what was right for us rather than what we want.

Imagining that may have given me a small stroke!!! That really deserves its own thread...what could you get by with if you had to.

 

[Jefenator]

Well, as long as your clients want to be comparing stuff:
Audio Cables - Digital - RCA - Subwoofer - Biwire - Phono

 

[Dilatant]

If client requests have resulted in purchasing 37 cabs, then you certainly have a lot of clients and are running a busy studio. A question is what value is being delivered for the hourly rate that's being paid. If the value of choosing boutique cables is equal to the value of effort directed towards other activities in the studio, then you've reached the pinnacle of your art in some sense. What are you best at? Supervising the selection of cables, or making a band sound good?

I have a great love for gear so, I buy the things I enjoy as well, I made my money elsewhere in life so, money isn't an issue, but principle is (at times) A great joy of mine was discovered in the studio (as a drummer) years ago, how much I enjoy working with people that I find fascinating. which a lot of musicians are so, my curiosity with gear stems from how I learned how cool gear can draw fun personalities into my world. not always but usually. hence the interest in esoteric, boutique things such as, cables, mic Pre's, I've never had a session go bad from gear distraction. if it seems to go to deep. I'll just add a free day of studio time to my client. I'm here to inspire and enable the client's vison, and I don't let money get in the way, even if it means I'm not profiting from it because, I have that luxury. now back to those crazy cables!

 

[Hasty]

View attachment 4782021

+

View attachment 4782032

= Boutique Speaker Cables

I humbly submit an alternate…

Lowes boutique brand free range wire fresh off the spool.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I would build some speaker cables from 16AWG extension cord cable and good connectors. Then do blind listening tests comparing with overpriced snake oil cables.

So this:

Plus this:

Equals, Boutique Speaker Wire.

 

[Hasty]

So this:
View attachment 4782257
Plus this:
View attachment 4782258

Equals, Boutique Speaker Wire.

That’s exactly what I’ve built all my SpeakOn cables with. I don’t think I’ve ever spent more than $15 on a speaker cable… except that one time I used some purple cord covering so I could always spot my cables during breakdown. I think that one added an extra $2 to the cable cost. Still use it now, 10 years later.

 

[Bass Jones]

That’s exactly what I’ve built all my SpeakOn cables with. I don’t think I’ve ever spent more than $15 on a speaker cable… except that one time I used some purple cord covering so I could always spot my cables during breakdown. I think that one added an extra $2 to the cable cost. Still use it now, 10 years later.

The hand picked purple sheathing makes yours "Bespoke" cables!

 

[legalbass]

Poor ol' fella

He's a great bass player but gear he knows little about but, he is not alone on that.

There are a lot of great players but if you asked them what strings or what amps they like, they just point or asked the crew. Nothing wrong with that, just those are the last people I'll asked for advice.

Maybe ask the crew.

Make no mistake: VW is a world-class player and composer.

But clearly also not afraid to capitalize on the, uh, "aura" that surrounds him.

 

[crazyBassClown]

Advise any clients who want to waste their money comparing high-end audio cables not to. They'll appreciate you saving them money and time and want to work with you again.

It depends on what the client is actually after. If they are a band looking to do a recording as cheaply as possible for promotion or sales then probably. If it is someone's vanity project they are doing solely for fun and "recording experience" then maybe much less so.

get a good wireless adapter ... this eliminates signal loss better than high end cables.

Haven't seen many wireless speaker cables

What are you best at? Supervising the selection of cables, or making a band sound good?

How good does the client band sound in the first place? It really seems the OP is providing the "Recording experience" to people with money to pay for it rather than budget demos to broke musos. If that is working as a business model for him then I say all the best but won't be using his services personally.

 

[mb94952]

Just get THICK speaker cables and you're set.

I have found that as far as instrument cables go, not many can beat a good ole $20 dollar Guitar Center yellow tip, so it is all hype. I think the gauge is most important when talking bass speaker cable.

Just MY experience. I'm not a doctor.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Been happy with Monster instrument and speaker cables for 20+ years. 0 failures.
Use ProCo speakons for the GK rigs.

Have a Cardas Golden Spiral Series 4' speaker chord given to me by Kip Dobler late '90s.
Went for $250 back then, and tell truth, I can't tell ANY difference from Monster or even cheaper speaker cords.
I use it on my Sunn 200s/215 rig just cuz

Not a speaker cable but, I've been using this Bill Lawrence cord for about 45 years now. It has replaceable solderless ends for quick repairs.

It was fifty feet long when I started though.

 

[DaveParker39]

For speaker cables: Mogami Gold and Dimarzio: both rugged, thick like fire hoses, and I would consider them both premium products.

You can custom order Dimarzio cables with Speakon ends.