Hey cats, thanks very much for all the input. I think I'm set. Part of the OP was just frustration that a cable getting 5 stars with more than 200 buyers on Amazon seemed to have serious issues. But, whatever. Caveat emptor.
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Cables
- Thread starter bucephylus
- Start date
All cables have a twist to them. The stiffer the cable the more pronounced the curl & the more it will want to be in a coil. Ask any electrician who's installed 500 MCM cable (especially in cold weather) how much cable wants to be in a coil. As the guy in the Hix Bros video says the cable wants to be in a loop due to that twist. I have $20 cables that are almost 20 yrs old that are perfect because I've always coiled them using the 1/2 twist method (which achives the same result as the over/under in said video).
Back in a roll my own era I used Belden cable and Switchcraft jacks. I believe Whirlwind used to utilize the same combination yet my memory could be way off on that. I did use Whirlwind cables for a long time.
Do you go through cables a lot? I've had the same 2 12 ft Monster bass cables for a decade and no issues. Even bought a Mogami as a back up 5 years ago and it's still in the packaging.
- Jun 6, 2012
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- I don't wait 30 minutes after eating, to go swimming.
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,598
- 18,627
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
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I do owe you an apology, I thought the cables I got from Amazon were GLS Audio. I was incorrect. They were Kirlin Cable. Amazon.com: Kirlin Cable IWB-201BSG-20/BW - 20 feet - 1/4-Inch Straight Premium Plus Instrument Cable Brown Black Tweed Woven Jacket: Musical Instruments
It's a very well made cable, with really nice ends, and they hold up great, mostly because they are so stiff I won't use them. I am not sure if they would limber up with use, and chances are, I am not going to find out.
The old MusiciansFriend cables I got were shows with a MusiciansFriend sticker on the cardboard hanger, right over the Rapco label. They are nice and limber, I have used them on and off, gigging, and just jamming at home since 2003 on and off with zero issues. I keep a cable per instrument in the gig bag, plus a couple of spares so I have plenty. If the Musicians Gear cables are the same, I wouldn't hesitate to jump on them. And from my experience with the tweed jacket XLR cables, they are the same as the MusiciansFriend brand, simply rebranded Rapco.
The one cable from them I did not like is the 1/4" to speakon cable. The ends on that were junk. I grabbed a LiveWire from Guitar Center and been happy since...
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- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,598
- 18,627
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
Yes and no. I still have cables I made up from 30 years ago. But, I always just used to use the straight connectors for connecting the bass guitar; mainly because the straight connectors seem more reliable and are easier to maintain. The last 6 or 7 years, I've been using right angle plugs at the bass; and that has caused me to re-evaluate things. Thanks for the rec; seems a lot of satisfied users with that manufacturer.
Mogami or Monster have fantastic reputations. Pricey, but worth it! An 18 ft Mogami Gold Instrument cable cost me $60.00.
How To Tell A Loved One They're Coiling Cables Wrong
FACT: Studies show that over 7,500 sound guys a night suffer through an over-eager drummer or vocalist looking to help.
Approaching a person you care about with gear issues can seem an overwhelming task so the resident Band Psychologists at Hard Style have provided a 4 step program to provide a starting point for the process.
FACT: Studies show that over 7,500 sound guys a night suffer through an over-eager drummer or vocalist looking to help.
Approaching a person you care about with gear issues can seem an overwhelming task so the resident Band Psychologists at Hard Style have provided a 4 step program to provide a starting point for the process.
I went to GC a long time ago and bought a bunch of lifetime warranty cables and have not had to buy another cable unless i needed more cables. When one of my cables goes wonky i take it the nearest GC and they give me a new one for the old one and they are not coiled and they are not sheathed in a nylon braid and they have nice metal plugs with strain relief shrink on them and i use them until they act up then i get a new one. I have yet to find a better deal on cables.
