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Post by Martin John Butler on Aug 13, 2020 15:51:16 GMT -6
I realize these kinds of questions are so general, I’ll probably get dozens of different recommendations. What I’m looking for is a very high-quality, super quiet cable so that when I record I have the least amount of hum my amplifier is capable of.
Please don’t tell me there’s no difference between a $15 special at Guitar Center and some other more expensive cable. I’m not looking to go that direction in this discussion. I’m just curious what you guys have discovered if you happen to have tried some high end guitar cables.
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Post by Blackdawg on Aug 13, 2020 15:56:37 GMT -6
I've wanted to try Undertone Audio's variable impedance cable. Eric Valentine talks about developing it on one of his youtube videos. Seems like a really cool idea.
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Post by tasteliketape on Aug 13, 2020 15:59:02 GMT -6
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Post by stormymondays on Aug 13, 2020 16:03:32 GMT -6
If you want high end manufacturing and reasonable price, I'd recommend Lava Cable. However, the cable will have zero effect on the hum. Either your amp/pickups hum or they don't. Hum is 60 Hz noise and it will be transmitted with high fidelity by any guitar cable, even lousy ones. Capacitance of the cable will only affect the high-end frequencies.
The cables sold by Fender under the "custom" moniker or something (Tweed and Black colors) are really good, affordable, rugged and you can get them in various lenghts. I use them in the studio every day. I'd buy those.
Edit: I use the coily Lava Cable with my Teye guitar as recommended by the builder himself (Teye), because it emphasizes the mid frequencies a bit. And I use Lava Cable for the pedalboards, but I don't hesitate throwing in some other cables if needed.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Aug 13, 2020 16:46:44 GMT -6
Thanks Stormy, I realize now the hum is from the amp, you’re right. I do know that guitar cables can have a slightly different tone, but I do wonder if perhaps some hum more than others.
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Post by stormymondays on Aug 13, 2020 16:55:20 GMT -6
Thanks Stormy, I realize now the hum is from the amp, you’re right. I do know that guitar cables can have a slightly different tone, but I do wonder if perhaps some hum more than others. No, unless they are badly broken and the shielding is not connected, or something like that. What’s the guitar/amp? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2020 16:56:25 GMT -6
I use this coiled vox cable that’s a tank. Has lasted years.
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Post by christopher on Aug 13, 2020 17:21:38 GMT -6
I just learned Lava is selling a $300 cable because it uses twisted pair quad cable. The thinking is that coiled pairs reject EMI, so there you go. I’m guessing it’s just typical quad mic wire wired in unbalanced pair, right? Could probably DIY one for under $50 In any case look to see that they use Mogami or Canare or similar quality wire; Switchcraft connectors, neutrik gold, or those muting connectors. Hopefully made to last decades. If you see REAN, well the wire and soldering is probably also a compromise. One of my clients used ones with oversized wire like for speakers with 'jumbo' 1/4” switchcraft connectors. I don’t know where he got them, but I know they cost him a lot, his amps sounded great. The connectors looked like these: . www.parts-express.com/switchcraft-70-1-4-mono-cable-mount-male-jumbo-plug-with-screw-terminals--093-1051 |
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Post by mrholmes on Aug 13, 2020 17:51:18 GMT -6
Martin John Butler Can you get Sommer cable in the USA? I bought 5 years ago 30 meters of it and soldered all the guitar cables I needed myself.
Sommer Cable Instrument Cable SC Spirit XXL
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Post by svart on Aug 13, 2020 18:12:30 GMT -6
I like Van Damme cable. But then again, I find that instrument cable that's too clean makes guitars sound too crispy.
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Post by nudwig on Aug 13, 2020 20:28:00 GMT -6
I like Vovox for bass, Gotham GAC on guitars. Have a load of Mogami that still gets used when needed. I also tried Ghost cable which is nice but like what Svart referenced it's a little too clean and clear for my taste in an instrument cable.
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Post by BenjaminAshlin on Aug 13, 2020 21:14:30 GMT -6
Mogami is my favourite. It's a bit less flexible than canare but i think it sounds the cleanest.
Guitar cables are the ones that make the most difference to sound in any signal chain IMO... unless you have active pickups.
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Post by johneppstein on Aug 13, 2020 21:45:17 GMT -6
Thanks Stormy, I realize now the hum is from the amp, you’re right. I do know that guitar cables can have a slightly different tone, but I do wonder if perhaps some hum more than others. Yes, some do, but I doubt that anyone here would use a cable so cheap as to have very little shielding. Also cable with a spiral wrap WILL get louder as time goes on and the cheap spiral wrap bunches up, resulting in spots with no shield. |
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Post by levon on Aug 14, 2020 5:19:09 GMT -6
I have used Vovox for years for all my studio cabling, including basses and guitars.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Aug 14, 2020 8:30:27 GMT -6
I've had good experiences with Canare cables. They make a guitar cable. I might try one, but since I just happen to be going to Rudy's music today, I'm curious to see what they recommend there. Rudy's is kind of the Rolls Royce of guitar stores.  |
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Post by mulmany on Aug 14, 2020 9:37:19 GMT -6
I use Canare GS-6, no issues.
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Post by Ward on Aug 14, 2020 10:45:05 GMT -6
Mogame also have GREAT guitar/instrument cables.
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Post by johneppstein on Aug 14, 2020 13:35:37 GMT -6
I always used to use Belden 8410. Stuff is near indestructible. Probably not quite as good highs on longer runs as Mogami and Canare, though I've never compared, didn't feel a need to.
I've had cables of 8410 last well over two decades plus... maybe as long as 3 or 4.
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Post by kilroyrock on Aug 14, 2020 13:43:46 GMT -6
am I uncool for really liking my big thick monster cable? I know it's the one you can find at any best buy, but I've seen many a pro guitar player trust these just the same. I'm interested in ordering that Sommer cable though..
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Post by johneppstein on Aug 14, 2020 19:08:05 GMT -6
am I uncool for really liking my big thick monster cable? I know it's the one you can find at any best buy, but I've seen many a pro guitar player trust these just the same. I'm interested in ordering that Sommer cable though.. You mean your Monster cable with the big thick rubber cover over the little, skinny conductors? That break? And the crappy spiral wrap for the shield?
I'll pass....
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Post by Ned Ward on Aug 14, 2020 19:20:16 GMT -6
will have to check and do head to head of the ProCo cables, my Redco custom cable, and George L's cable to see. If I hear anything will put them into my DI and Pro Tools to share the waveforms. Guessing differences are minimal for me...
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Post by johneppstein on Aug 14, 2020 19:37:22 GMT -6
will have to check and do head to head of the ProCo cables, my Redco custom cable, and George L's cable to see. If I hear anything will put them into my DI and Pro Tools to share the waveforms. Guessing differences are minimal for me... In many cases a new (relatively) cable will test MUCH better than one with a few months wear. Thsi is particularly true of cables with a spiral wrap instead of a braid.
Of course spiral wrap is much easier to strip with an automated machine, which is why it's so common in factory produced cables.
A lot of Proco stuff is spiral. I believe that George L is as well, but since George L in mostly for pedalboard wiring where it doesn't get moved much that's not as important. I won't use it because I don't trust their screw contact connections.
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Post by dmo on Aug 14, 2020 20:32:22 GMT -6
Coming from a live performance background vice recording, I always focused more on durability than "sound" as at a gig (loud rock scenarios) I usually didn't notice huge differences. Exception - I remember when the first George L cables came out - I thought they sounded "better" than my usual cables, used for a few years but over time started to have some connector issues. Been wireless at gigs for a long time - I used Pro Co/Mogami for wiring up my old Bradshaw rack from hell. I still have 2 old pair of red Steve Vai signature cables (think they were made by Dimarzio) that I use now - have been ultra reliable and sound ok but haven't compared to some of the newer $$ cables to see if I can hear a difference. I'll have to try some now that I'm recording and compare.
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Post by lpedrum on Aug 14, 2020 20:43:07 GMT -6
I like Van Damme cable. But then again, I find that instrument cable that's too clean makes guitars sound too crispy. I've had pros tell me the same thing. Some of them tend to steer away from the top end guitar cables and like the tone of the mid range products. |
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Post by Martin John Butler on Aug 14, 2020 21:01:09 GMT -6
Rudy's didn't have an special guitar cable recommendation. I'll have to see if there are any good guitar cable comparisons when I have a little spare time. I might just go for a Mogami, but I'm no rush, so I'll look around.
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