• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

how long is too long for a cable with passive electronics?

GroovinOnFunk

GroovinOnFunk

Supporting Member
Apr 30, 2008
2,150
2,327
40
Nashville, TN
#1
I have a 2012 Fender Am Std Jazz bass and was going to purchase Planet Waves Custom series cables for my setup. I have had excellent success with them in the past. Their customer service is amazing and the quality of their products also amazing.

My only concern is this: To get a cable with a right angle, I can only choose either a 10' or a 20'. I would like to go with the 20' but am afraid the cable will start to lose some of the signal strength of my bass.

With a passive fender jazz bass, at which point is a cable "too long"?

I definitely want to stick with Planet Waves if possible and I really need one of the cables to have a right angle due to the location of the input jack on the bass (otherwise the cable just sticks out too much and is awkward looking/feeling for me)
 
#4
Ok thanks so much! I have to admit that I am thrilled with all Planet Waves products I've tried before so I really want to continue to give them my business.

Doubling my cables from 2 10's to 2 20's concerns me... but if you guys say there's no real difference, I'm inclined to believe my TB constituents.
 
#7
I don't do all that much moving around on stage... a 20' cable should give me all the flexibility I need (20' from bass to pedal board, then another 20' from pedalboard to amp). it's 40' total feet of cables, which is my concern, but the second cable coming out of the pedalboard has an always-on compressor which has a slight volume boost to it and a tech21 sansamp with a buffered bypass...
 
#8
jaywa said:
20 ft has always been my max -- active or passive bass.

:: Unpaid Endorsement ::
Or you could go wireless with a Line6 system and not have to worry about it :D
Click to expand...

I agree that 20ft is the max. I've always used the PW cables withe the compression springs. Both 10 and 20. Great cables. Had one go bad at the 90 degree end. Got a new one from PW... No cost.
 
#11
Thanks to Bongomania's review, the always-on compressor I have is a BBE Opto-Stomp at the front of the chain exactly so that it can boost up my signal a bit (between 8 and 9 is unity volume, so I just crank it up to 10 to give it a little bit of a boost).
 
#12
I'll tell you, maybe a super long cord over 50 ft is going to noticeably cut highs, but anything shorter and I believe only your dog will notice. One caveat, though...I'm not a fan of highs in the first place.
 
#13
GroovinOnFunk said:
I don't do all that much moving around on stage... a 20' cable should give me all the flexibility I need (20' from bass to pedal board, then another 20' from pedalboard to amp). it's 40' total feet of cables, which is my concern, but the second cable coming out of the pedalboard has an always-on compressor which has a slight volume boost to it and a tech21 sansamp with a buffered bypass...
Click to expand...

I use 20' usually, and even with cheap cables its not noticeable (maybe 40' using a 'living room' setup... Maybe)


but if you still have any worries, why not just use 10 feet from bass to pedal board? Or PB to amp?
 
#14
GroovinOnFunk said:
I have a 2012 Fender Am Std Jazz bass and was going to purchase Planet Waves Custom series cables for my setup. I have had excellent success with them in the past. Their customer service is amazing and the quality of their products also amazing.

My only concern is this: To get a cable with a right angle, I can only choose either a 10' or a 20'. I would like to go with the 20' but am afraid the cable will start to lose some of the signal strength of my bass.

With a passive fender jazz bass, at which point is a cable "too long"?

I definitely want to stick with Planet Waves if possible and I really need one of the cables to have a right angle due to the location of the input jack on the bass (otherwise the cable just sticks out too much and is awkward looking/feeling for me)
Click to expand...

How long you can go depends on the impedance and signal level. This is one reason I never understood instruments not using low impedance pickups.
 
#15
eddododo said:
I use 20' usually, and even with cheap cables its not noticeable (maybe 40' using a 'living room' setup... Maybe)


but if you still have any worries, why not just use 10 feet from bass to pedal board? Or PB to amp?
Click to expand...

Ok, I see your point (especially since I said I don't move around that much, but I actually do... just not enough to warrant a wireless system)... Ideally I would get 2 15's but they don't make them with a right angle.

Enough people seem to be confirming that 20' wouldn't be an issue that my worries are rapidly dissipating.
 
#17
JimmyM said:
Just for the record, active basses and basses with wirelesses have no problem with long cable runs.
Click to expand...

But cables have no problem with latency :p


(just kidding, there are plenty of wireless systems that have essentially unnoticeable latency. Line6 is goodstuff)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back