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Recommendations for instrument cables please.
- Thread starter Cycleops
- Start date
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,002
- 1
- 31,692
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Odd. In what way have they “given up”? They’re very simple devices, and as long as the actual cable is intact, the ends of good quality, and the soldering sufficient, they should last many years. What symptoms are you experiencing?
Hello. I agree with @ctmullins.
There are any number of good, repairable instrument cables around, production or custom.
How many makers offer a lifetime warranty I don't know. Divine Noise does, and they make beautiful cables. The company says "Divine Noise offers a lifetime no hassle warranty on every cable." Their cables aren't inexpensive (absolute price), but I think that for the quality their prices are very fair (relative price).
I've had good luck with Mogami. Currently two years into using one for my basses live and at home with no issues.
GLS cables are inexpensive, have very low capacitance, are well made, and look nice. They’re available with straight and with right-angle connectors. I’ve been using them for practice and rehearsals for a while now and they’re holding up well.
Don’t fall for the snake oil! These cables are around a buck a foot. There’s a lot of bs in the cable industry, although it’s not as bad for musicians as it is in the audiophile realm.
Don’t fall for the snake oil! These cables are around a buck a foot. There’s a lot of bs in the cable industry, although it’s not as bad for musicians as it is in the audiophile realm.
Buy a soldering iron, switchcraft plugs, quality cable, and make your own. It ain’t rocket science. I have cables I made over 40 years ago still going strong. And yes, they’ve been used on many gigs over the years. Plus you will gain the skills to repair cables which fail.
I have been using Livewire cables for over 10 years and only had one fail on me. They sound great and handle gigging around town quite well. They are definitely the GC house brand, but they serve me well and don't break the bank.
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Livewire/Advantage-Instrument-Cable.gc
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Livewire/Advantage-Instrument-Cable.gc
You ALWAYS buy the best cables you can. It never fails to amaze me to see some guy with a gorgeous 6 grand bass playing though bargain-bin Guitar Center crap-ola cables. Don't Be That Guy !
Years ago, after getting stung a few times on the band stand with 'OK' cables, I made up my mind to spend the money to buy great ones and never had a problem since.
If I'm using off the rack cables, Mogami. Even the least expensive Mogami is better than a lot of 'good' cables.
MOGAMI® - Professional Audio Cables (mogamicable.com)
If I need a custom length or custom cable of some kind, get with my friend Butch at Bayou Cables down in Baton Rouge. Retired Navy electronic tech, great work, love his cables. My 12-foot practice-at-the-house cable he made, Canare cable with Neutriks both ends, and the right angle Neutrik Gen 2 silent plug for the bass end. Love it. THIS is a guy you never have to worry about getting stiffed with fake Neutriks. A really good dude, and reasonable.
Bayou Audio Cables (bayoucables.com)
Years ago, after getting stung a few times on the band stand with 'OK' cables, I made up my mind to spend the money to buy great ones and never had a problem since.
If I'm using off the rack cables, Mogami. Even the least expensive Mogami is better than a lot of 'good' cables.
MOGAMI® - Professional Audio Cables (mogamicable.com)
If I need a custom length or custom cable of some kind, get with my friend Butch at Bayou Cables down in Baton Rouge. Retired Navy electronic tech, great work, love his cables. My 12-foot practice-at-the-house cable he made, Canare cable with Neutriks both ends, and the right angle Neutrik Gen 2 silent plug for the bass end. Love it. THIS is a guy you never have to worry about getting stiffed with fake Neutriks. A really good dude, and reasonable.
Bayou Audio Cables (bayoucables.com)
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I have boss, ernie ball, pro Co, mogami, and Pig Hog. The boss and pig hog see daily at home use and have been great. The others are really long so they stay rolled up. If I were to go out and gig I would bring the Pro Co or Mogami.
I haven't had a cable fail since in tried the planet waves ones many years ago.
I haven't had a cable fail since in tried the planet waves ones many years ago.
GLS is my go to brand for instrument and xlr cables. Great prices, selection and availablility on Amazon. Never any issues.
Prices are SUPER reasonable. Thanks for this rec. Gonna hit him up when I need a new cable.
I've always used these nice folks and Neutrik connectors for instrument cables with zero failures/complaints: Guitar and Instrument Cables but I've also got 20yo monster cables around.
Pro Audio LA offers a lifetime warranty.
https://www.proaudiola.com
Custom made, choice of cabling, plugs, colors etc. I had a silent plug fail and they fixed it no questions asked. Ive been using the same cables for about 7 years so far.
Great products from an independent business.
I have high end and cheapie cables and can't tell a tone difference...some high end ones are too thick and difficult on a long stage run. If they go bad I replace or fix...I have no answers 
My suggestion is a middle of the pack option. Don't go for a super cheap flimsy cable but also don't worry about spending a ton on some fancy cable. Here in Canada the go-to for me is a Yorkville cable. With any decent qaulity cable it will be quite durable. If you are experiencing failure with a cable, it is most likely to be with the jacks at the end, unless you can see a visible point of wear elsewhere on the cable which is more rare. If you have the cable wearing out at the jack, you can just cut the jack off an inch or so and solder it again.
As others have said, GLS. Good cables, reasonably priced, no quality issues.
Ensure that you are buying cables with quality connectors. The best cable in the world is of little use if it has non-standard / junky connectors. Fortunately Yorkville, Horizon, Whirlwind, and other reputable manufacturers typically use S/C or Neutrik connectors.
You can bet if the cable uses crap offshore connectors, the wire quality won't be any better.
I use the GC Livewires cables at home knowing if they fail I can walk into GC and get a replacement..... though have yet to need that service.
For gigs, I've come to really like the D'addario/Planet Waves American Stage cables.
I've had Monster and Mogami Gold cables before, but wound up selling them. They didn't sound any better than the earlier cables mentioned and were less flexible as well.
If I could still get Rockflex from Connectronics in the UK, I'd still be making a lot of my own cables from that. Unfortunately, they closed the doors a few months ago and all inventory is gone.
For gigs, I've come to really like the D'addario/Planet Waves American Stage cables.
I've had Monster and Mogami Gold cables before, but wound up selling them. They didn't sound any better than the earlier cables mentioned and were less flexible as well.
If I could still get Rockflex from Connectronics in the UK, I'd still be making a lot of my own cables from that. Unfortunately, they closed the doors a few months ago and all inventory is gone.
