Instrument Cables

[Exploiter8]

Whirlwind Leader Guitar Cables

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Planet Waves is a good cable. Lifetime warranty, durable, no noise, and most models have a kill switch on them to cut all signal from your bass to your amp.

I don't suggest them if you run a pedal board as that's just one more thing that can go wrong in your chain if you forget that the kill switch is on, but in all other cases I suggest em.

I also don't suggest LiveWire. They're not 'bad', but they aren't great. The little metal thing at the end of the cables always comes loose (even if you haven't been using the cable). They also break down a lot quicker than most other cables.

 

[Green1]

I use a Mogami instrument cable, however Pro cables and Sound made me a nice Speaker cable and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them either......I haven't checked out their instrument cables......but they were great to work with.....Good Luck

 

[jtc_hunter]

In my 30+ years of experience, bang for the buck w/ quality first:

#1 : Mogami Gold
#2 : Livewire

 

[Staccato]

Currrently using Mogami, Monster, Planet Waves, and a few no name w/ quality cable & Neutrik connectors.
No complaints about any of the above...

 

[shtik]

I make my own, but the best pre made cables I've ever used (both were left unattended and changed ownership in a matter of minutes) were Mogami Gold.

In my experience, the biggest difference between instrument cables is never the sound (if there is any), but stage behavior. The Mogami cables just lay flat on stage no matter happens and won't tangle. Other cables I've used were getting tangled, so that two songs into the gig I was tied to a bundle of 20' cable that became 5'. With Mogami it never happened.

 

[Rocksolid]

Make your own for sure.

$15 soldering iron, solder, neutrik connectors, good quality cable.

Not all people are handy - this is true. I couldn't solder either - but I tried, persisted, looked a tutorials on the web. Most people know someone that can solder - get them to show you.

Now every cable in every application in every single rack I own is the right length, with the connectors I want. I have leads with 90 degree ends for some basses and straight for others. Splitter cables, stereo to mono adpators, everything you need for every application is yours to make with a bit of research and work.

I actually get a kick out of looking in the back of my rack and everything is clean and easy to follow rather than spagetti and noodles.

Highly reccomended.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

My usual instrument cables have been a trio of 12-ft Guitar Center promo cables that were $9.99 each when I bought them in about 1998 or so. I use whichever one I grab first--the one in one bass bag, the one in the other bass case, or the one in my cable bag. I don't know if they have a warranty but it really doesn't matter.

Once in a while I use a Horizon, ProCo, or Whirlwind if I need a longer cable. They have lifetime warranties but, again, it really doesn't matter because I always have a spare and in the very rare occasion that one fails, repairing it is no big deal.

I see it as paying money for several cables and getting them all at one time versus paying for several but getting them only one at a time--with a trip to the music store required for each one. The latter just doesn't appeal to me.

 

[walterw]

I'm looking to get 1 or 2 new 30-foot cables.

that's really long for unbalanced instrument cable.

 

[seamonkey]

Hosa - as pointed out by Fokof: lifetime warranty

Save your money and buy better buffers
Invalid Link Removed

 

[dsanders]

Planet Waves.

Not too expensive. Nice quality moulded ends.

If one breaks you can simply exchange it for another one at any store that carries them anywhere in the world, which is nice for those European tours.

+1 I've just recently after 6 years had to replace my main right angled cable. Didn't have a receipt, GC swapped it for free.

 

[TimmyP]

Anything made with ProCo 120SX cable.

 

[Joe Louvar]

that's really long for unbalanced instrument cable.

+1, I agrere.

 

[chadds]

The cheapest, best cable you'll get is one you put together yourself:

Really easy to solder & great strain relief
Neutrik - Audio - 1/4" Prof. Phone Plugs, C-Series - NP2C/B

with Canare GS-6 cable
Canare Corp.: Guitar Cable: Guitar / Keyboard / instrument Cable(GS-6) comes in black, orange, yellow, blue, red

get them from Redco
Redco Audio - Custom Audio Cables - Recording Studio Supplies - Custom A/V Panels - Neutrik NP2C-B $2.99 ea
Redco Audio - Custom Audio Cables - Recording Studio Supplies - Custom A/V Panels - Canare GS-6 Instrument Cable $.80/ft

For less than $20 you get an awesome 10’ cable. If anything ever goes wrong with it you just fix it.

I agree on the self made cable, that is the same recipe I do but not everyone is handy with a soldering iron.

You can purchase from Lava cables and possibly from Bajou cables. Price to match mid grade store bought and way better quality.

My good Bud comes into practice with a new Whirlwind. Black cloth jacket with red glossy diagonal trim. Said the salesman said it was good stuff. We A/Bed it with the Lava Cables Canare Neutrik with a relic'd '50s Strat into a Goodman EL34 combo. The Whirlwind sounded like there was a blanket over the amp. Next the same test Takamine acoustic electric into a newish Fender Blues DeVille. The Lava sounded open and hifi. The Whirlwind sounded louder because of the seemingly pronounced mids. They were very nasal wide and unclear. I know that cables can't add but they sure can take away. There was no placebo effect as in fact my singer would have wanted his investment in the Whirlwind to be sound. He in fact had his back turned and heard the difference during the electric part of the test.
To avoid a flame war here, let me say the prices of the two cables are very close.