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what is the best cable for bass?
- Thread starter fbass87
- Start date
Give me PROCO Sound - they're hand-made in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I've used ones with both molded and metal plugs and both last and last.
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.
Total BS.
A cable is a cable is a cable. If it's soldered well with durable ends it's not going to get anything better than that. Anything else is the psychology of brand expectation.
No it doesn't.
To say it does ignores every associated scientific principle. Your brain invents differences based on brand expectation. It's psychology 101; I can't be the only one that took that in college.
I'm not making an assumption. If the solders and conductor being equal (ie the same material) a conductor will....wait for it....conduct. Any "tonal" difference in a high end cable is imagined.
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Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
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Bongomania's recent cable testing thread:
http://talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=684857&highlight=planet+waves
http://talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=684857&highlight=planet+waves
bongomania
Commercial User
Yep! It's still a work in progress, as I'm finding it exceedingly difficult to get accurate cable-capacitance measurements, and upgrading the audio converter I'm using has turned into a major time-and-money-consuming hassle. But the upshot that my tests so far have repeatedly shown is that when using an active bass, a cable is a cable is a cable, and all claimed tonal differences are in the listener's head and nowhere else.
I am still developing the ideal test system for determining the effects with a passive bass; but so far there is no measurable difference there either.
It's still a work in progress, as I'm finding it exceedingly difficult to get accurate cable-capacitance measurements, and upgrading the audio converter I'm using has turned into a major time-and-money-consuming hassle. But the upshot that my tests so far have repeatedly shown is that when using an active bass, a cable is a cable is a cable, and all claimed tonal differences are in the listener's head and nowhere else.I am still developing the ideal test system for determining the effects with a passive bass; but so far there is no measurable difference there either.
I use Venom Sidewinder 20ft Cables. Quite Cheap, only £15 ($25) and mine has lasted me well over a year so far.
Liam
Liam
THANK YOU BRYAN! Jeez, I was just about to go search for the link, I couldn't believe this nattering back and forth was going on AGAIN when Bongo has so kindly and scientifically given us our answer (and continues to delve deeper, and deeper....).
I use Monster because they are very durable, and on the rare occasions one does go bad I just walk into whatever GC I'm closest to and plunk it down on the counter and they hand me a new one, no questions asked. Bongo's frequency response tests have proven what I've known for over 20 years: Monster cables sound the same as any decent quality cables, and in fact sound the same as hyper-expensive boutique cables.
I use Rattlesnake Cables: Rattlesnake Cable Company - Offering high quality instrument cables at affordable pricing.
The best is one you make with your own hands from quality wire, quality connectors, and to the length you prefer.
O.k....so some people swear there is a sonic audible difference using certain cables. However is this based on fact or that they expect a better sound because they paid more money?
Are there any comparison tests that have ever been done that proves there is a difference?
Are there any comparison tests that have ever been done that proves there is a difference?
