Cable decision: Planet waves, Canare, or Elixir?

[Craig_S]

I've seen it on a scope and can hear the difference.

The cable is still not boosting anything. It's a scientific impossibility, without amplifying the signal.

Perhaps, if you're not able to hear the difference, the rig may not reproduce the sound of the instrument and is possibly EQ'd too much...

My rig is run as close to flat as it can be set. I use MarkBass and an LDS cab. In a live situation, those ever so slight nuances, you seem to hear better than I do, disappear anyway. I've never had an engineer ask me to use a better cable.

 

[Tajue17]

Link Removed

I order what size, length, color and brand and style of jacks I want and he puts them together,,, I like to get everything with the right angle plugs and a couple of my 30' instrument cables are made as a Y cable set-up so i can just grab another bass if I brake a string and its already plugged in and no running for the stand-by,,, just turn the volume down on the bass I have and then grab the 2nd bass and turn the volume up and its already rolling and nobody even knows especially if you fade the note in slowly...

I broke alot of strings i guess

 

[TheBassPreacher]

I've been using Planet Waves cables for about 8 years, I still have one of the older style cables. My main go to cables are two Planet Waves Circuit Breaker cables. I play a lot of churches sometimes with not so attentive sound guys, so it's nice to be able to unplug without the loud POP. I've had other cables (no name, monster,fender, livewire) but I keep going back to the Planet Waves. One thing I really like about them is the solderless ends, I don't have to worry about a solder joint accidentally breaking. The downside? As said before the compression plugs can be too large for some jacks.

 

[woolysock]

I switched between a Monster cable and Planet Waves cable over several years. Eventually I found the Planet Waves cable with it's weird expanded jack thingy would not easily slip into the input on my head. I simply couldn't use it on gigs where I'd pull out to tune and then couldn't get the jack back in... Then I had the opportunity to try my cables, a Monster Pro and an Analysis Plus Bass Oval. If you do the same you will hear a significant difference: the Bass Oval gives a sound that is louder, brighter and tighter. I would call it more focused. But words don't adequately communicate the difference. If you have the chance, check it out. Despite the price, I bought the Analysis Pro Bass Oval cable. Yes it is expensive, but around the same price as a set of quality Jazz bass pups. And it makes a similar difference to your tone. Of course this is a moot point if you use drastic eq settings or tons of distortion. I like my tone clean and close to flat...

 

[fat_boy]

in my opinion, a Planet waves is the best.
I've been using a PW break circuit for 4 years and i've never had any problem with it. If i have to choose between a PW and another cable (Monster, fender....), i'll take a PW :d

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I`ll add to the slightly larger jacks with PW cables. They do seem to be slightly larger, however, these cables never seem to leave your jack until you want them too. Monster cables, on the other hand, just barely need a nudge in the wrong direction and they`ll come loose... a problem if you gig often.

 

[knarleybass]

I am a Canare man myself, I have been making my own cables for years now. It's the only way to go.

 

[capnsandwich]

I may be an odd ball here but I was also sent a free Elixir cable and actually liked it when I played it the first time and still like it now. I gave it a positive review. I can dial out the highs with my on board preamp and/or the EQ on my amp on certain songs or genres where I don't need a hifi modern tone but when I need it for some of the gospel stuff I play at church, it's there. I guess I'd rather have the highs and not need them rather than need them and not have them, IMO at least.

 

[bigfatbass]

Monster cables are junk, and they were the first to try the over-sized jack trick. Didn't work for them either. As far as Bayou Cables, they are the best made, but I believe Butch is on haitus from custom cable work.

 

[newbold]

I would say Elixir, but if you're too stubborn to adjust your rig's settings then avoid them. They are great cables, and as far as 'name brand high end' goes they're the best bang-for-buck.

I don't mean to offend anybody, but if you don't like the way elixirs sound, then you're not compensating for the change which is worth the effort with these cables.

If it were me looking for a cable from bass to wherever I'd say get the Planet Waves cable with the mute switch. I doubt you'll 'need' a high end cable (unless in the studio) so a good durable cable with warranty and a mute switch is the way to go.

Keep it simple.

 

[risenavicus]

i recommend mogami cables..if you are using a bass with a good or excellent tonewood and a good decent pick-ups,you probably want to use the full and real tone spectrum of the instrument.mogami is a good choice,no reductions,no additions.and very very quiet too.