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How long an instrument cable do I need for live show?
- Thread starter ThinCrappyTone
- Start date
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- Tags
- cable how instrument live show
Two 10' cables usually does the trick for me. The shorter the path, the better. Don't go too short but definitely don't go too long.
6 footer from from pedal board to amp. 10 footer from amp to bass. I try to keep it as short as possible.
I bring one 10' and two 15-20' (not sure...). Mix and match as needed.
Thank you. That's great advice on the tape and/or rugs. Ordering some gaffer right now.
Re: Wireless: Didn't mean to sound dismissive of the wireless idea. It's just not something I want to incorporate right now. I used them years ago, and didn't like how they changed the tone. Also had a few wireless "incidents" onstage (think spinal tap) that make me a little leery of them. I'm sure technology has improved, of course, but it makes me nervous all the same. Trying to limit potential points of failure. And I hate batteries
Are most of you steady giggers using wireless these days though? Maybe I'm missing out?
Before I got my Line 6 G30, that has been mentioned, like you I was nervous about a "What if" scenario. Needless to say, I bit the bullet and love it.. so much so that shortly after selling my first one, I bought a second. There's no tone change whatsoever. Even if you don't move around a lot, it's nice to not have a cable dangling as a trip hazard.. sadly, true story
I do take a cable as a just in case, because you never know, but haven't needed it
i always liked Black gaffer tape ...
wireless was fun ... but i spent to much time at the bar doing hands free shots ..!!??!!
wireless was fun ... but i spent to much time at the bar doing hands free shots ..!!??!!
I carry a 15 and an 18.5 footer. To me, the total capacitance of the cable limits how long I want it I really don't want a cable that's shorter either. Both of those are instrument to pedal board (which has a buffer on it). From the pedal board to DI (I'm on ears; don't carry an amp) it's whatever the venue has -with a buffer on the pedalboard, that cable's length is a non issue.
RE: brands...I have had very good luck with two 15' LifeLine cables built by Cody at Lucid Audio Project. They are bombproof and he'll do custom work in the event you decide a non-standard length cable is what you really want. At rehearsal I run one bass-to-board and the other board-to-amp. Not the cheapest and you can't swap them at the local GC, but I have had zero problems with the many different cables I have had made by Lucid over the past 3 years (2 wireless cable upgrades, 6 patch cables, 3 instrument). Their customer service is fantastic, and I prefer to have something that is handmade in the USofA.
The rest of this is a bit off-topic unless you are interested in a wireless + pedal board set up.
I use a rack mounted wireless at gigs, so I made a "pedal board snake" that has bundled together: two 15' instrument cables + a 15' power cord (for the pedal board power supply). I did that to be able to quickly set up connections for my rack mounted wireless, power conditioner, and amp to the pedal board: one cable goes from the wireless output to the board input, the other from the board output to the amp input, and the power cable runs from the power conditioner to the board power supply. The instrument cables are color coded at the connectors so set up is a snap. I just stash the whole coiled up "snake" in the rack mount case for transport. Like others have suggested, I can tape the "snake" down once it's in place to reduce trip hazard (and then run around with the wireless all I want). FWIW, the rack sits on top of a custom shelf (with the critically placed beer glass holders and two side-mounted Hercules wall-mount hangers) on a 4x10 cab stacked on a 1x15, so the rack is ~ 5 ft off the deck. So far, no issues with board placement- I've had plenty of cable using the 15 footers.
Sorry this got so lengthy.
The rest of this is a bit off-topic unless you are interested in a wireless + pedal board set up.
I use a rack mounted wireless at gigs, so I made a "pedal board snake" that has bundled together: two 15' instrument cables + a 15' power cord (for the pedal board power supply). I did that to be able to quickly set up connections for my rack mounted wireless, power conditioner, and amp to the pedal board: one cable goes from the wireless output to the board input, the other from the board output to the amp input, and the power cable runs from the power conditioner to the board power supply. The instrument cables are color coded at the connectors so set up is a snap. I just stash the whole coiled up "snake" in the rack mount case for transport. Like others have suggested, I can tape the "snake" down once it's in place to reduce trip hazard (and then run around with the wireless all I want). FWIW, the rack sits on top of a custom shelf (with the critically placed beer glass holders and two side-mounted Hercules wall-mount hangers) on a 4x10 cab stacked on a 1x15, so the rack is ~ 5 ft off the deck. So far, no issues with board placement- I've had plenty of cable using the 15 footers.
Sorry this got so lengthy.
Two 10' cables. 0ne from bass to tuner and the other from tuner to amp. I don't like a lot of cable on the floor. My 5-piece Celtic band usually plays on smaller stages so there isn't very much room.
If your capacitance is half, (as in low cap cable) you can double the length.
Capacitance is measure as pfd/ft (picofarad/foot of cable length).
If you have to go long, seek out low capacitance cable.
But know the numbers on both your old one vs new.
You may already have low cap.
I use a curly one from my bass to my pedal. So that length varies. And a 6 inch one from my pedal to my amp.
Yes, only one pedal these days and it sits on my amp. Next month, who knows what I'll be doing?
Yes, only one pedal these days and it sits on my amp. Next month, who knows what I'll be doing?
There was a thread about a wireless system in the past week or so with the op providing sound clips w/ and without wireless. It was a pretty convincing argument for them and I was all gung-ho to seek it out until I heard the price. I can't justify the expense for home use. But if I gigged out it would probably be my first purchase.
Before I got my Line 6 G30, that has been mentioned, like you I was nervous about a "What if" scenario. Needless to say, I bit the bullet and love it.. so much so that shortly after selling my first one, I bought a second. There's no tone change whatsoever. Even if you don't move around a lot, it's nice to not have a cable dangling as a trip hazard.. sadly, true story
I do take a cable as a just in case, because you never know, but haven't needed it
I use a G30, and agree - in the spirit of "back up everything, just in case," I always bring a spare cable as well. The G30 itself has never failed me yet, but there have been times I decided to stretch the batteries and they wound up dying mid-set. Switch to cable, play on, and change batteries at the next set break. But usually I get fresh batteries for each gig. They're usually good for a gig and a half.
I know a guitarist who practices wirelessly, but I don't see the point. I don't want to be buying batteries just for home use. Not like I need to jump around in my basement.
Agreed! Wireless is the way.
If you insist on cords, then 20 x 20. 20-ft each. If you were not using a pedalboard then either a 20 or 30-ft cord depending on how much you like to move around on stage...go wireless!
I have a Line 6 XD-XDS wireless that I bought for around $110 when the new models were coming out. My old model can't be used in Europe because some of the frequencies it uses are reserved in Europe, although they are fine to use in the US. Having used one, I'd pony up three times that amount if I needed to buy a new one now and consider it money well spent.
I use a power adapter for the receiver, so no batteries used there but use batteries on my transmitter. It will last 6 hours on a 9V alkaline battery and lets you know how many hours you have left. It flashes at you madly before it cuts out. But when it cuts out, it is all of a sudden quiet. No fading of signal, it just stops. Normally that battery will last at least 2 rehearsals and allows me to put my amp across the room from where I'm standing. I don't use it at home but I do use it on rehearsals. 9V batteries aren't all that expensive and it's a lot more convenient for me.
