what is the best cable for bass?

[Jim C]

I like Mogami silver series; cheap and available at MF
Let me start a huge argument by saying that I can hear a slight difference for the better with Mogami over Bayou; you could never hear it live but it is audible with a j bass through an SVT / Berg rig

 

[OrionManMatt]

My favorite cable is the SEARCH cable.





fail.

 

[yellofury]

Im going to say no to Monster Cable

I have a mid line Monster Cable with gold connections that cuts the volume signaificantly compared to my cheapie Fender cable (which I use at home)

for a live setting I use the vintage braided cable with angled input by Horizon

 

[MEKer]

There is no such thing as a best cable. The heck with explaining it and putting in caveats. Either you know that or you don't yet know that. Puh.

 

[GregC]

My favorite cable is the SEARCH cable.





fail.

In defense of the OP, I've searched myself for instrument and speaker-cable threads. Almost every answer is Bayou (not an option now), make your own (most people don't have soldering equipment) or Monster. James' Procables suggestion looks good, though.

 

[OrionManMatt]

In defense of the OP, I've searched myself for instrument and speaker-cable threads. Almost every answer is Bayou (not an option now), make your own (most people don't have soldering equipment) or Monster. James' Procables suggestion looks good, though.

Granted.

I won't dismiss the ubiquity of "the Bayou recommendation"; however, within the countless responses regarding cables the prevailing notion is that, at the end of the day, what matters is using a cable that is well-constructed and keeps out the capacitance tone demons. There are a lot of companies that do this well. Further, I don't like snake oil promises made on pseudo-science.

 

[basskopf]

all of my cables are vovox. i do absolutely believe that quality cables make a difference. the guy running vovox is named jürg vogt, he is a sound engineer who graduated from the ETH in europe, which is one of the most prestigious science universities globally. this guy is absolutely dedicated to making music sound better: creative, innovative, always pushing the envelope. his main shop is also about 5 miles from my house.... he is also personable, i can call any time and custom order cables! i recommend you give vovox a try.

 

[big90sbasshorns]

monster cables bass cables

 

[cnltb]

My favorites at the moment are
Vovox sonorus,
Analysis Plus pro oval studio,
Van den hul integration hybrid
and van den hul the second.
Zaolla ( their interconnect cable rather than their instrument cable.)

All these are good cables.
The A+ is a little stiff, but makes up for that in performance.
To my ear the vovox sounds the most "natural" and feels great.


With the monster cable it's a thing of the life long warranty which to me would be the only selling point. In terms of sound I would not hasten to call them good, compared with the afore mentioned ones.
But taste too comes into it.

MI also made a bass cable which was alright too+
Analysis Plus make one , but I have not tried that YET.

Try them and then make up your mind rather than just taking our words for it.
Have fun!!

 

[Baker69]

I still use Whirlwind cables I bought in the early 80s.....still works great.

Me too, I must have about a dozen Whirlwind Leader cables of various lengths, all bought in the 80's like yours. They were advertised at the time as having a life-time guarantee if you remember. All mine are still going strong!

They were/are good cables, I love the way you can't kink them!

I think if you buy a reasonably good quality cable you're not going to tell any difference between that and a high end cable, unless you have very very good ears.

 

[joshwilkesbooth]

It doesn't matter at all.

 

[Margus Alviste]

The best cable is the cheapest, most durable one that your ears can reliably, blindly differentiate from the rest. I use Monster or Planet Waves, which are fairly cheap and last long IME. There are many threads about expensive cables if you care to search. The arguments pro and con have been done extensively on these boards. I personally fall into the camp that believes expensive cables are a lucrative fraud (dons asbestos suit and goes under ground)

I am a bass player working as a sound engineer and a producer and I can say that expensive cables are no a fraud!!! If you play some punk rock or reggae it doesn't matter of course. But if you play more complex music or play together with acoustic instruments or use some slap style the cable will affect your sound tremendously.
Once I tried a Klotz cable with my MTD535 (through the Acoustic Image/Schroeder rig) and thought that something had happened to my bass - there was no high end at all. Then I changed the cable to George Ls and all the highs were suddenly back.

I personally use George Ls, Evidence Audio, Vovox and more expensive ProCo cables. Once again - the difference is huge! At least in the studio.

 

[Steveaux]

You get what you pay for ...

Make sure you buy the most expensive cable you can find.

I make my own.

 

[joshwilkesbooth]

The best part about overpaying for a cable is you get to justify your purchase on internet message boards for years to come.

 

[mongo2]

I've used a few Spectraflex and Spectraflex Baldies exclusively since they've been available. Never had a problem with any of mine.

 

[Margus Alviste]

You get what you pay for ...

Make sure you buy the most expensive cable you can find.

I make my own.

That's a great idea - buy the best cable and plugs you can afford and make your own cable.

 

[ClassicJazz]

Fender! Plus it is a cable made for bass! Don't know if it is BS, but this is what Fender says about these cables,

"Fender Gold Bass cable uses superior grade 99.99% purity OFC copper conductors that will give you better clarity and more natural sounding bass tone. Two large solid core bass conductors result in fuller, deeper, more extended bass response and this is combined with four groups of smaller gauge stranded conductors that give better mid-bass and upper-bass response. This gives the best possible full-range bass performance with no loss of nuance or tonality. The precision formulated polyethylene dielectric material results in stronger signals that yield better definition and impact of lower frequencies, and more natural sounding bass."

Invalid Link Removed

 

[IanMartinAllison]

Man - it is CRAZY to me that there are so many people out there that claim there is no difference between cables.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that if you claim there is no difference, you probably haven't done a direct A/B comparison.

I love Butch at Bayou (Canare wire w/ G&H ends), but my Klotz cable is tonally superior. Plain as day.

Ian

 

[Craig_S]

OMG... I HAYTE (yes with a Y) these threads with a passion. Buy a damned lifetime guaranteed cable and be done with it, already. You people who hear a big difference deserve to pay extra for those magic cables. Me, I'm using what I've been using FOR 30 FRAPPIN' YEARS.

Good quality cable and good quality ends = good quality sound.

I'm absolutely SURE my rig sounds as good as yours.

 

[IanMartinAllison]

OMG... I HAYTE (yes with a Y) these threads with a passion. Buy a damned lifetime guaranteed cable and be done with it, already. You people who hear a big difference deserve to pay extra for those magic cables. Me, I'm using what I've been using FOR 35 FRAPPIN' YEARS.

Good quality cable and good quality ends = good quality sound.

Wow - cool brother. If you do indeed hayte these threads with said passion, why post in them - or even bother to read them?

Sincerely,

Jag Hole

(PS - Snappy edit, my man.)