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I have been using two of these for just over a year, and they work great. They kind of stiff, but that doesn't bother me.
I don't know what brand my regular cable is, but I know it has Switchcraft jacks on it.
I've been using it on stage for about 10 years now with zero problems. The labeling on the cable has long worn off.
I'm one of those, "Don't fix it if it's not broken" people so I will keep using it until it finally craps out.
The Monster Cable just sits at home in a jumbled mess.
By the way, if you are shopping for a cable and you are planning to play shows with it, make sure that the cable you are choosing doesn't get sticky or tacky when it gets wet.
I've helped coil up cables at the end of shows and gotten glass slivers in my hands because the cables pick up the slop off the floors.
I've been using it on stage for about 10 years now with zero problems. The labeling on the cable has long worn off.
I'm one of those, "Don't fix it if it's not broken" people so I will keep using it until it finally craps out.
The Monster Cable just sits at home in a jumbled mess.
By the way, if you are shopping for a cable and you are planning to play shows with it, make sure that the cable you are choosing doesn't get sticky or tacky when it gets wet.
I've helped coil up cables at the end of shows and gotten glass slivers in my hands because the cables pick up the slop off the floors.
I'm surprised the subject of Monster cables hasn't been banned outright. Maybe it has by now.
I suggest a search. It's not hard and will save bandwidth.
Short answer: Overpriced, imaginary Physics in advertising (and user) claims, occasional problems with .001"-oversized plug shaft, other better cables available for less money.
That's all you or anyone else needs to know.
So, if I take my defective Monster Cable back to where I bought it, are they allowed to give me my money back (so I can buy another brand), or can I only swap it for a new Monster Cable? Or is that the store's decision?
That's about it in a nutshell. I've had one Monster Bass instrument cable - that I've had to replace twice in about 12 years - and none of them have been abused in any way. Were it not for the lifetime free replacement policy, I'd be pretty pissed about such a poor performance record.
These days, I use Bayou Cables. And I'm thinking of just selling off the Monster Cable.
MM
This thread reminds me of Tommy Boy.
Tommy: Let's think about this for a sec, Ted, why would somebody put a guarantee on a box? Hmmm, very interesting.
Ted Nelson, Customer: Go on, I'm listening.
Tommy: Here's the way I see it, Ted. Guy puts a fancy guarantee on a box 'cause he wants you to feel all warm and toasty inside.
Ted Nelson, Customer: Yeah, makes a man feel good.
Tommy: 'Course it does. Why shouldn't it? Ya figure you put that little box under your pillow at night, the Guarantee Fairy might come by and leave a quarter, am I right, Ted?
[chuckles until he sees that Ted is not laughing too]
Ted Nelson, Customer: [impatiently] What's your point?
Tommy: The point is, how do you know the fairy isn't a crazy glue sniffer? "Building model airplanes" says the little fairy; well, we're not buying it. He sneaks into your house once, that's all it takes. The next thing you know, there's money missing off the dresser, and your daughter's knocked up. I seen it a hundred times.
Ted Nelson, Customer: But why do they put a guarantee on the box?
Tommy: Because they know all they sold ya was a guaranteed piece of ****. That's all it is, isn't it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer's sake, for your daughter's sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.
Tommy: Let's think about this for a sec, Ted, why would somebody put a guarantee on a box? Hmmm, very interesting.
Ted Nelson, Customer: Go on, I'm listening.
Tommy: Here's the way I see it, Ted. Guy puts a fancy guarantee on a box 'cause he wants you to feel all warm and toasty inside.
Ted Nelson, Customer: Yeah, makes a man feel good.
Tommy: 'Course it does. Why shouldn't it? Ya figure you put that little box under your pillow at night, the Guarantee Fairy might come by and leave a quarter, am I right, Ted?
[chuckles until he sees that Ted is not laughing too]
Ted Nelson, Customer: [impatiently] What's your point?
Tommy: The point is, how do you know the fairy isn't a crazy glue sniffer? "Building model airplanes" says the little fairy; well, we're not buying it. He sneaks into your house once, that's all it takes. The next thing you know, there's money missing off the dresser, and your daughter's knocked up. I seen it a hundred times.
Ted Nelson, Customer: But why do they put a guarantee on the box?
Tommy: Because they know all they sold ya was a guaranteed piece of ****. That's all it is, isn't it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer's sake, for your daughter's sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.
It's NOT the store's decision - it's your decision. Any store that carries Monster Cable is bound by Monster's free lifetime replacement guarantee. And IIRC, any store that carries Monster Cable must and will provide a replacement to you - not just the store from which you purchased the cable.
I don't believe that extends to a refund, however. Just a replacement...
MM
Monster is good..they have a good warranty if they go bad...you can pretty much cut them with scissors and they'll replace them. So you get your money's worth.
But if you want to get really snobby, Mogami is better but less durable.
But if you want to get really snobby, Mogami is better but less durable.
- Aug 21, 2008
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- Owner, SGD Music Products
I had one for about 25 years. It wasn't the bass cable, just the instrument cable. It lasted through thousands of gigs, and it sounded fine. It did not have any loss of high end and was very quiet.
It eventually suffered from handling noise, and even though I could have had it replaced for free, that seemed like too much bother, so one day I needed a new cable in a pinch and bought a Spectrafex. That sounds fine also. I also have a VTG Roadhog, and that sounds good too.
It eventually suffered from handling noise, and even though I could have had it replaced for free, that seemed like too much bother, so one day I needed a new cable in a pinch and bought a Spectrafex. That sounds fine also. I also have a VTG Roadhog, and that sounds good too.
I've got a couple Monsters and have been very happy with them. I've never had one go bad. I've had plenty of other cable brands as well, with quite a few that did go bad but some that didn't. Not necessarily saying one is better than the other but I've had good experiences with the Monsters and a questionable experience with others.
Also, re: the coiling issue...there is a right way and a wrong way to coil cables, which apparently a lot of people don't know (in general, not necessarily everyone in here with coiling issues). As long as a cable is coiled correctly it should unwind naturally with no knots...however, just like in rock climbing there is the occasional "how the eff did this huge knot get in this beautiful coil?" I'm anal retentive about my cables after 10+ years of sound engineering so maybe my paranoia has simply led me to have less coiling issues, though.
Also, re: the coiling issue...there is a right way and a wrong way to coil cables, which apparently a lot of people don't know (in general, not necessarily everyone in here with coiling issues). As long as a cable is coiled correctly it should unwind naturally with no knots...however, just like in rock climbing there is the occasional "how the eff did this huge knot get in this beautiful coil?" I'm anal retentive about my cables after 10+ years of sound engineering so maybe my paranoia has simply led me to have less coiling issues, though.
- Aug 21, 2008
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- Owner, SGD Music Products
+1
Yes, hold the cable in your left hand, and you twirl the cable and let it coil itself, while giving it a twist between your thumb and index finger with your right (unless you are a lefty, then reverse the hands
). It wants to coil back to the way it was on the roll.
can't go wrong with lifetime warranty!!!
I've bought the ones I have about 10 years ago. I play 7 to 10 gigs a week and I have lost count of how many times I've exchanged them for new ones! so basically I haven't spent any money in cables in ten years!!!
although...well, that's not true.
I do a lot of recording sessions, and not long ago an engineer turned on to this cable by Evidence Audio called Lyric HG or something like that. I heard some of you saying $50 on a monster cable..., well, try $150!!! Yeap! that's what they cost.
Well, the story is, I never payed much attention to cables. I had my monster cable with me at the session. I have never AB(ied) cables before because I thought the differences would be minimal. Anyway, this guy asked to AB the monster Cable against the Evidence audio. Turns out that my bass sounded TWICE as loud with Evidence audio! I was totally blown away!
since then I've bought 3 of those cables. (unfortunately lost one!)
but anyway, now I consider those cables as part of my equipment as well, and at this point I consider using anything less as a compromise on my sound.
After spending so much money on a good bass, a good amp, strings, speakers, etc. I feel like I also deserve the best cable out there.
I've bought the ones I have about 10 years ago. I play 7 to 10 gigs a week and I have lost count of how many times I've exchanged them for new ones! so basically I haven't spent any money in cables in ten years!!!
although...well, that's not true.
I do a lot of recording sessions, and not long ago an engineer turned on to this cable by Evidence Audio called Lyric HG or something like that. I heard some of you saying $50 on a monster cable..., well, try $150!!! Yeap! that's what they cost.
Well, the story is, I never payed much attention to cables. I had my monster cable with me at the session. I have never AB(ied) cables before because I thought the differences would be minimal. Anyway, this guy asked to AB the monster Cable against the Evidence audio. Turns out that my bass sounded TWICE as loud with Evidence audio! I was totally blown away!
since then I've bought 3 of those cables. (unfortunately lost one!)
but anyway, now I consider those cables as part of my equipment as well, and at this point I consider using anything less as a compromise on my sound.
After spending so much money on a good bass, a good amp, strings, speakers, etc. I feel like I also deserve the best cable out there.
Mogami cables are about the same price and IMHO are worth it, had it for a year now and its been used (let in the car, lazy coiling, thrown, etc) and still plays great. Not to mention they also have the same warranty as monster, try them if you can.
Want good audio cables?
http://bayoucables.com/
Either that or buy yourself some good connectors and cable and save a mint!
http://bayoucables.com/
Either that or buy yourself some good connectors and cable and save a mint!
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
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- Owner, SGD Music Products
Mine was very pliable. Maybe they changed them since?
But then I didn't have the bass cable. The plugs were not bigger, but the part you grip was too short. I didn't like the plugs.
If the bass cable is stiff and high capacitance I sure wouldn't use it! The instrument cable was good, but no better than any other high quality cable.
I would recommend mogami over the monster cables. Not that i think the monster cable is bad, but i think the mogami is a little bit better. And they are in the same price range. The mogami cables i have seem to have less noise than my monster cables. And they are easier to wind back up.
