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The Best Guitar/Bass Cable

#21
The whole walking into the store thing is overrated. I tried to swap a Monster Cable not long ago that developed a short. It was a 12-footer with an L-shaped plug on one end. GC doesn't carry them anymore, so they couldn't help me. Sure, I can contact Monster and pay money to send it in, then wait for a few weeks to get another one back. That's not convenient at all, and only adds expense to the already ridiculous price I paid for it on a whim a few short years ago. In the end, this cable was no better and lasted no longer than any other cable I've had.

So in short, don't bank on being able to run in any GC and get a new one when yours breaks.
 
#22
Eublet said:
Sure, I can contact Monster and pay money to send it in, then wait for a few weeks to get another one back. That's not convenient at all, and only adds expense to the already ridiculous price I paid for it on a whim a few short years ago.
Click to expand...

And there you have the inconvenience of "lifetime" cables.

Buy cheap, keep spares and you come out ahead.
 
#24
I had a generic cable go in the trash after 14 years. It still allowed sound to be produced, but it kept knotting up. I'm searching for a replacement that I can play hard but won't twist itself up into a rat's nest.
 
#28
I've bought two Monster cables over the years. Both went out shortly after I purchased them. I'm not taking them to have replaced. Why would I want two unreliable cables? That lifetime warranty doesn't mean a thing on a gig. In fact, the only cables that I can remember having problems with are Monster. I have a Planet Waves that has lasted probably 15-20 years, I retired it only because it is old. I have been using Bayou cables for the last several years without a single problem.
 
#29
Like the monster as it has been extremly reliable, but being 30 feet long it constantly tangles, can't even wrap it up properly. The mogami is vey well made, but I have not used it much as it not long enough. Anyone else have problems with monster cables constantly tangling?
 
#30
I bought a pair of Monster "Bass" cables around 14+ years ago. (a 15ft & a 21ft) Still use them today and they work fine. At the time had not heard any bad press about them so it was a non issue for me. Ironically the no name cable they (the Monsters) "replaced" still sits in my tool kit in case of emergency. So it is actually a year older than the Monsters. Do I hear difference between the generic and the monsters? Yes, the Monsters seem to provide more clarity to the signal than the no name. But it is subtle at best and absolutely unnoticeable in the final mix.

In the end I'm betting it really comes down to basic construction quality. If a manufacturer uses quality wire; solder, jack ends, casings, and then properly assembles the cable it should be a good product that should last for years and years regardless of the name on the package.

I have personal preferences that may or may not be valid. But it's my money so I decide what I want out of a product. Example: I prefer gold plated connectors. I prefer the solder used to offer a high silver count. I prefer that the wire be as Oxygen free as possible. I prefer that the casing be designed to resist twisting and knotting.

At the time Monsters were Da Bomb, but nowadays I'm sure I could get a quality cable for half the cost of a Monster. If I ever need a replacement I'll take advantage of the life time warranty that I have already paid for. So in the end it's all good.
 
#31
From what I gather from this thread, it seems that we lose either way. I've had cheap cables fail. It seems that the expensive cables quit right out of the box. I agree that lifetime warranties aren't much use if you have to use the warranty. However, I see cheap cables this way:

"Yeah, but you can buy a lot of cheap cables and always have spares." Sure, that does a world of good during a set. "Uh, we're going to keep it slow and light until our soon-to-be-ex bass players gets another cable...AGAIN!!!!" I don't know about you guys, but that doesn't work for me.

Monster, Mogami, Rapco, ProCo, and others all have people who love or hate them. My local dealer only has cheap cables for high prices. I need to internet order if I want something else. So far, the technical sites I've looked at for cable information say "aside from construction, a cable's a cable."

I need a cable that won't tangle up, can be stepped on occasionally, and won't cut out until it's been used hard.
 
#37
Still the uninformed beginner player always suffers the same fate they get the all in one box from the big boys and the cable that comes in it sucks but, they think it's something else so they end up getting a new _____ when all they needed was $20 for a new cable.

I hate those stories.
I hate stopries like that more than "Yeah I tried to get a replacement cable but, I had to send in money, or find the reciept, or it totally crapped out on me outta the box".

IThat's why I advocate anytime I'm around somebody buying their first set up at a store to get it A la carte. I did it and it only cost me $350 (in 2006 when the all in one box sets where like $300) if every beginner did that they'd spend less money in the long run. A good cable is the most important part of the rig because without it you can't rock however the best cable don't always cost an arm and a leg however the uninformed think so.

My guitarist has a Monster Rock cable that always goes out he's replaced it like 4 times already and yet he still says Monsters the best cable. Really dude really?

I always have to bring three cable with me one for me a back up for me and a back up for him.
I'm e-mailing him this thread. Ryan your stupid dude.
 

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