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What instrument cables do you use?

#42
I've been happy with the Spectraflex braided cloth cables. They look great, and the connectors are very high-quality. Nice and flexible too. Not terribly expensive.

And, as long as you keep the length down to 15 feet, you don't have to worry about the capacitive effects on a passive instrument. (At 25 feet, the capacitance starts to add up, however...)
 
#43
Baird6869 said:
They make good cables with a great warranty.

I don't use them as I find the Planet Waves cables just as good and my local retailer honours their lifetime warranty.

I like the ones with the built in kill switch. Great cables for $20-40.
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Hmmm don't like those. I had the switch go out on one less than a year old. Probably could have taken it back but decided I didn't want another
 
#46
Right now it's Lava cables of a more expensive kind (don't remember the exact model) because that's what was available with angled plugs when I bought them, but I've up till then used home made cables made from good quality plugs and cable, and I can't say there is any audible difference really. The Lava cables are more road worthy, with shrink wrapping and what have you, so I expect them to last longer than my home made ones. And, I'm a bit fed up with soldering, which is partly why there's George L's on the pedal board, I used to solder all the patch cables too.
 
#49
I've had good recording results with the top-end Fender cables. I forget what they are called, the ones with the braided outside. But they are completely unusable live, cause they are so thick and lie in huge stiff coils all over the place catching on things and so on.

Live I use Planet Waves, just the standard ones, no complaints.
 
#53
powerdimer said:
Literally *any* cable will do, but always have a spare.
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I had that attitude for a while. However I avoid seiled jacks, overly thin cables (that tend to rustle), or overly long cables. I have something crazy like a 10m cable that has crazy high frequency roll off. Great for recording warmer tones I suppose. With guitar it is a nightmare; I will happily record a simple A/B to prove it isn't just me. :D

The claim that Monster cables are designed to wear out jacks, or force you to stick with the brand as other cables will fall out of jacks, if true, is disgusting. I would avoid this brand for having such terrible ethics.
 
#54
powerdimer said:
Literally *any* cable will do, but always have a spare.
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The longer the cable is, the more difference you'll hear. You don't have to buy the absolute best, just buy good cables. That final percentage in sound and build quality costs *a lot*, for very little gain compared to the second best or third best. Sometimes I think it's mainly bragging rights and brand name that you buy when you go for the very top end.
 
#59
B-string said:
With good reason. "Monster" bass cables (besides being WAY over-priced) affect frequency response and have slightly over-sized 1/4" connectors that over-stress input jacks. Store markup last I knew was between 800 and 1200% depending on the cable.
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well, they have worked great for me. ive never used anything but monster and i couldnt be happier. i also like how i can go to any store without a receipt, break the cable right in front of them, and still trade it in for a new one.
 

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