Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Whats the best instrument cable i can buy.
- Thread starter mastershake
- Start date
Honestly, most cables, from the least expensive to the most expensive, work and sound exactly the same so there's really no 'best'. Buy something that looks durable and has a lifetime warranty and you'll be fine.
Whirlwind Leader impressed me as a standout bang for buck bass cable. I've used MonsterCable for years, but like my Bayou & Audiopile cables better.
Try finding something with a tie or something too. Those make packing and unpacking so much easier.
the fact is that low capacitance does not necessarily equal a better sound. ultra low capacitance cables will cut a lot less high frequencies which, to some ears, make the signal sound thin and harsh.
if your bass has a battery (it's active) then capacitance is much less of an issue.
+1 I have a number of different cables from higher priced ones to free ones...can't hear any difference...of course I can't hear for s**t anyhow.
I use montster bass cables just because I know if they stop working for any reason I can just swing by a guitar center/sam ash, hand them the busted one, and they hand me a new one no questions/reciepts asked. That's here in Cincinnati, however. But that's how guarenteed they are. I've been gigging with mine for three years now, and they are the first three years so they've learned the lessons the hard way (beered, stomped, ashed, dusted, even basement funked).
But if you are doing at home applications, and thus won't be pulling them/pushing them/carting them around you may want to focus more on frequency, etc.
But the montster bass is for bass, and I notice a difference when I switch out/let my guitarist borrow one of mine in a pinch.
I use passive basses and a 70's ampeg v4b, so the difference I notice may be because of the rig.
But if you are doing at home applications, and thus won't be pulling them/pushing them/carting them around you may want to focus more on frequency, etc.
But the montster bass is for bass, and I notice a difference when I switch out/let my guitarist borrow one of mine in a pinch.
I use passive basses and a 70's ampeg v4b, so the difference I notice may be because of the rig.
I always thought my monster bass cables performed better than a standard monster cable as well. And, the return it no questions asked policy was always a favorite in our band.
There used to be a guy on here named Butch Ammons who had a business called Bayou Audio Cables. Completely custom to order cables. I bought one and it has been the best cable I have ever used. I love it...
Does anyone know if he is still around?
That guy even puts candies in the packages when he ships the cables to you! Awesome customer service!
Does anyone know if he is still around?
That guy even puts candies in the packages when he ships the cables to you! Awesome customer service!
Here he is. He is a part timer now though.
Bayou Audio Cables
Butch is a good guy with great cables.
I've had cables from almost every brand. Monster was the worst of them. I still have cables (instrument and speaker) I bought in the early 90's still working fine. As for sound differences? The all sound the same. Even if there were sound differences, you'd never hear it in the context of live playing!
