That's all good until you get something that needs to be returned or exchanged. Getting it cheaper isn't always better. I bought a microphone once that ended up being defective. I had to pay shipping to get it serviced. I didn't save a dime.
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Does Cables Matter for a Bass
- Thread starter penguineman
- Start date
Different companies have different return/RMA policies. Some companies will cover shipping for defective items (and they should). Some will not. Brick & Mortar shops have different return policies as well.
I most things online now but I buy from reputable companies with good return policies and I make use of the fact that a lot of things online have customer reviews.
I use my Line 6 G30 ... To my and my bands ears it sounds no different than my Monster Bass cable, Which I now use to plug from the receiver to the amp 
Wirelesses remove capacitance from cables and you hear all the frequency response that you lose with cables as a result. And some wirelesses, such as the Line 6, add a capacitor to simulate cable capicitance or they have a switch that lets you adjust it to your liking.I use my Line 6 G30 ... To my and my bands ears it sounds no different than my Monster Bass cable, Which I now use to plug from the receiver to the amp
Hmmmmm, so I suppose digital wireless actually has an advantage beyond mobility and isolation from the amp. Interesting 
Yeah, about that - I've seen plenty of "audiophiles" spend obscene amounts of money on utterly rediculous crap - I dont consider *most* of them to be as smart as they *think* they are...
However, electrical engineers deal with real properties of physics, and things that are measurable and repeatable - you know, "science"... I'll take their word over that of an "audiophile" any day of the week - YMMV, though...
- georgestrings
You wouldn't happen to consider yourself to be an "audiophile", would you???
Edited to add that apparantly, the joke went over my head - good one!!!
- georgestrings
+1 and I've seen and read way too much evidence out there that indicates that our brains can very, very easily fool our ears to believe in a lot of what "audiophiles" have to say.
I have no life but I have enough of a life not to read 14 pages of this.
All I have to say is that I broke a friends monster cord that showed no signs of wear before I used it because the cable got caught under my foot while I turned around. Yeah, this is bad for any cable, but that **** happens ALL THE TIME with my home cables. Guess how long I've had them? Easy 4 years.
For twice the price youd think monster did something other than tint their connectors gold and put fancy rubber around it.
-------You can put a flat chested chick in a designer outfit, and even give her a wonder bra, but when it comes down to it she is still flat chested.----------
Never buy monster.
Never buy the cheapest cable.
Buy the one in the middle, and unless you are soloing or in a studio that doesnt use their own cables you won;t notice a difference. Oh and even then you won't.
Jaco played without it, so should you.
All I have to say is that I broke a friends monster cord that showed no signs of wear before I used it because the cable got caught under my foot while I turned around. Yeah, this is bad for any cable, but that **** happens ALL THE TIME with my home cables. Guess how long I've had them? Easy 4 years.
For twice the price youd think monster did something other than tint their connectors gold and put fancy rubber around it.
-------You can put a flat chested chick in a designer outfit, and even give her a wonder bra, but when it comes down to it she is still flat chested.----------
Never buy monster.
Never buy the cheapest cable.
Buy the one in the middle, and unless you are soloing or in a studio that doesnt use their own cables you won;t notice a difference. Oh and even then you won't.
Jaco played without it, so should you.
I haven't time to read through all the other posts, but from what I know, there are not any differences for bass-specific cables, and I doubt they even exist.
My guitarist uses Monster cables, and they're beautiful. They're hardy and reliable, and most important, they don't sound like poop. The only downfall...they're SOOO very expensive...
As for myself, I'm too poor to afford 30 foot Monster cables, so I went with the cheap LIVEWire cables. I do love these things, they're cheap and at least they aren't absolute poop, and best of all they have a FREE LIFETIME WARRANTY. So essentially, if a cable breaks at anytime forever, all you gotta do is take it in, show them the numbers, and grab a new cable and go.
And not a single penny passes hands.
My guitarist uses Monster cables, and they're beautiful. They're hardy and reliable, and most important, they don't sound like poop. The only downfall...they're SOOO very expensive...
As for myself, I'm too poor to afford 30 foot Monster cables, so I went with the cheap LIVEWire cables. I do love these things, they're cheap and at least they aren't absolute poop, and best of all they have a FREE LIFETIME WARRANTY. So essentially, if a cable breaks at anytime forever, all you gotta do is take it in, show them the numbers, and grab a new cable and go.
And not a single penny passes hands.
My opinion exactly. I have several types of cable. I use a Planet Waves 20' now because it is supple and doesn't get tangled easily. I have a 20' Monster that is unusable because it is too thick and unyielding.
There is zero difference in the sound between the two. Monster's cables do not make one damn bit of difference in sound quality, and the other reason I don't use them much anymore is they are machined differently than all the other cables in the world. I don't know what they are thinking making their cables almost impossible to fit into about 1/3 of the jacks out there but it doesn't make anything sound better.
maxgrant said:
Bruh, monsters tore two of jacks completely out on some recording equipment and they loosen my input jack on my bass. My tech told me to quit using them. They are machine a lil bigger than normal cables. That's why they have the snug fit. But with that, they stretch the jack, so if u go to using another brand it seems like they are not connecting good. A forced way to use monsters all the time.
What I'm about to say is true- cables can make a difference. But it is very subtle.
I decided to test out cables to see if there was a difference. One of the first I tried was monster bass cables. They were advertised as "extending low frequency response". The cables 100% changed the sound, even though it was subtle. It provided a slightly, darker, fuller tone with less "sparkle". I was a-b'ing the cables in front of my band mates before we went on the road for a month. They, like most people, said I was crazy and the cables didn't make a difference. I then proved it to them by plugging into my even tide pitchfactor. I used cbi cables with the eventide pitchfactor(crystal setting) and every high note created by the pedal was heard. I then used the monster bass cable on the same setting and it cut out some of the highest frequencies creating a shorter trail off. My bandmates COULD HEAR THE DIFFERENCE when used with the pitchfactor(crystal setting).
My conclusion- when I wanted the clearest sounds( I use a lot of effects) I use my cbi cables. When I want a slightly darker, fuller sound, i use monster bass cables.
Some cables DO change the sound quality and tone, but not all. The thing is it's INCREDIBLY subtle. So subtle no one is going to notice.
Those who say the cables don't make a difference are incorrect.
It is not my opinion. It is true.
I decided to test out cables to see if there was a difference. One of the first I tried was monster bass cables. They were advertised as "extending low frequency response". The cables 100% changed the sound, even though it was subtle. It provided a slightly, darker, fuller tone with less "sparkle". I was a-b'ing the cables in front of my band mates before we went on the road for a month. They, like most people, said I was crazy and the cables didn't make a difference. I then proved it to them by plugging into my even tide pitchfactor. I used cbi cables with the eventide pitchfactor(crystal setting) and every high note created by the pedal was heard. I then used the monster bass cable on the same setting and it cut out some of the highest frequencies creating a shorter trail off. My bandmates COULD HEAR THE DIFFERENCE when used with the pitchfactor(crystal setting).
My conclusion- when I wanted the clearest sounds( I use a lot of effects) I use my cbi cables. When I want a slightly darker, fuller sound, i use monster bass cables.
Some cables DO change the sound quality and tone, but not all. The thing is it's INCREDIBLY subtle. So subtle no one is going to notice.
Those who say the cables don't make a difference are incorrect.
It is not my opinion. It is true.
bongomania
Commercial User
That's hilarious.
BTW, I'm not saying your ears, your experience, or your conclusion were wrong. They were either "right" or at least "right for you in that moment, with that rig". But in order for something to be "true, not opinion" it really has to be tested with a lot more scientific rigor than just a personal listening session. For example, do you know why the cables sounded different?
90% of the bass tone can't be heard anyway because of the kickdrum/snare/cymbals/guitars/keyboards/vocals, the frequencies that matter can be EQd with your amp.
I bought a Monster Bass cable. I can't tell any difference, except in the annoying tangle department.
