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Post by martyib on Apr 8, 2008 9:22:59 GMT -7
Hello everybody. I hope this is the right forum bucket for this sort of thing.
The latest issue of Guitar Player has a rundown of sorts of guitar cables with a wide price range. I have never been one for cable snobbery outside of H-Fi. But maybe there's something to this. I've only gotten el cheapo cables and I've never A-B'd cables. Has anyone ever tried this. Do cables really affect the sound? Thanks all. - Marty
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Post by Shannon on Apr 8, 2008 13:11:58 GMT -7
Oh yea. Start with a set of george L's. The difference will surprise you.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 8, 2008 13:17:19 GMT -7
Yep. Comes up here about twice a year I'd say. My summary on this is that everyone listens to something different, so you shouldn't make up your own mind without a real live blind test to be sure. Some of these fancy cables cost a lot of money - you might think the difference you hear is definitely worth it, you might not. Only you can tell. But do the test, because many of us hear dramatic differences. It's just that not all of us do. So there it is.
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Post by hogridr on Apr 8, 2008 13:29:49 GMT -7
One of the guitar mags (help me out here guys) just did a very good cable test/review in this months issue. George L's and I think Evidence were two that stood out to me (Vox and Planet Waves were good budgets I think). I wish I could be more help on which mag but I get 4 about the same time every month.
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Post by Curt on Apr 8, 2008 13:40:33 GMT -7
Just drop a note to forum member Todd 'PCNS" and get yourself some cables from him and be done with it, highest quality, great price, choice of color, length, etc. and even your name on the heatshrink if'n you desire.
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Post by martyib on Apr 8, 2008 15:44:20 GMT -7
Thanks everyone. I'll try to give PCNS a buzz. - Marty
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 8, 2008 16:22:18 GMT -7
Marty, go down the main page to the amplifier accessories section. There is a thread about cables in the Cabs and Speakers section.
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Post by ruger9 on Apr 8, 2008 17:09:53 GMT -7
The way I see it, the best advice regarding cables is to find one you LIKE, then use ONLY THAT BRAND FOREVER... even as pedal connectors on the board. At least you will remove that variant from the "tone formula" that way.
I've used Spectraflex for years, I always will, for this very reason. I KNOW them. I KNOW what they sound like. And Spectraflex now has pedal couplers, so I'm going to outfit my entire rig with them.
Personally, not a fan of George L's. I had them thuout my whole pedalboard, and from pedalboard to amp input. They cut bass & sound thin to me, just my $0.02, YMMV
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Post by myles on Apr 8, 2008 18:51:14 GMT -7
For me the George L's are not strong enough to use as a conventional guitar cable. For pedal boards I prefer others as well. My favorite cables are Solid Cables - www.solidcables.com These are what I use and what Carl Verheyen uses now. They also have combo wiring kits and speaker wiring harness kits that are pretty spectacular. Swapping out the stock wiring harness on a BF twin reverb with it's thin stock wiring to the SC stuff makes a huge difference in these 100 watt amps. As far as guitar cable, other than PJB cables, prior to those two guys I had used Neutrik ends on Belden cable that I built myself since about 1985 until I switched to Solid Cables about two years ago. For those of you that went to the L.A. or N.Y. Ampshow ... the Pedalboard from Hell" was all wired with Solid Cables stuff. I also have an issue with the varying diameter and plating on Planet Waves cables and will not use them and have replaced a few amp input jacks after their extended use. Maybe their QA has improved and this is no longer an issue. For now I just stick with SC stuff.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 8, 2008 21:35:35 GMT -7
+1 on Solid Cables. I've been using them for about four years now.
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 9, 2008 7:35:33 GMT -7
I wonder why SC wasn't included in the Guitar Player shootout?
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Post by texasjim on Apr 9, 2008 8:01:15 GMT -7
Like Curt said: PCNS cables are great. Todd had a Christmas Special a year or so back and I bought one of his off-the-shelf guitar cables. I liked it pretty well, so I contacted Todd about offering gold connectors on his cables.
He got back to me with a gold cable connector option, and I ordered one, and liked it so much, I have a second one in transit. I'm not a tone snob, but I like a well-built quality product, that stands up to regular gigging abuse.
I've been very pleased with his products and service. Not only that, we both play Parker NiteFly's.
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Post by martyib on Apr 9, 2008 9:11:41 GMT -7
Wow! Great information! Thanks guys! - Marty
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Post by myles on Apr 9, 2008 9:39:45 GMT -7
I wonder why SC wasn't included in the Guitar Player shootout? Probably because the are not a major name that is commonplace and GP can't keep track of all the cable folks. They have been at the L.A. and N.Y. Ampshows and will be there again as a side note.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2008 10:07:06 GMT -7
Does anyone have any experience with Mogami cables? Its the only high end cable that I can find in my area.
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Post by dixiechicken on Apr 9, 2008 11:01:42 GMT -7
DC here! I use the "Lifelines Line Intrument" cables from "Pro Co" - from my guitar to amp. www.procosound.com/?page=viewcat&id=163They work very well for what I need. They always been trouble free and reliable. Cheers: Dixiechicken!
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 9, 2008 11:43:57 GMT -7
Golfnut: See if that Guitar Player cable shootout is on their website. They had some Mogamis listed. Solid Cables runs pretty big ads in the guitar mags, moreso than some of the cables that were tested. It might mean they were afraid of the comparisons!
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Post by myles on Apr 9, 2008 18:58:30 GMT -7
Golfnut: See if that Guitar Player cable shootout is on their website. They had some Mogamis listed. Solid Cables runs pretty big ads in the guitar mags, moreso than some of the cables that were tested. It might mean they were afraid of the comparisons! If you have ever tried Solid Cables stuff or looked at their construction I don't think they would be afraid of any side by side testing. I think it was perhaps some other reason they were not included. Were Phil Jones Bass cables included in GPs test? I would not be surprised if they were not on the list either.
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 10, 2008 10:04:12 GMT -7
I checked GP's website and this story is not up yet. They gave the Evidence Audio Melody 5 points in all categories. Pretty good for a $70 cable! The George Ls scored higher than many, I think better than the Van den Hul! Maybe that's why I didn't hear much difference between the George L and the VdH. Some that you think would rate very high like Alessandro and Cornish, didn't. This is a good article for reference so even if a guy doesn't subscribe he should by this issue. Their testing procedure was more analytical than any previous tests I've seen.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 10, 2008 12:44:33 GMT -7
What month is that article in Billy?
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Post by hogridr on Apr 10, 2008 13:03:51 GMT -7
What month is that article in Billy? It came to my house Friday last week, it is the may issue with the yellow and blue cover that also has the "ultimate guide to pedal boards"
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Post by ruger9 on Apr 10, 2008 14:34:04 GMT -7
It's the newest issue, on newsstands now. It's dedicated to effects & cables. No "guitar hero" on the front, just gear.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 10, 2008 16:00:26 GMT -7
thx
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 10, 2008 17:37:57 GMT -7
I read the article again. They only tested cables marketed for guitars. That's probably why no Phil Jones cable. I see only one potential flaw in their testing. They should have used recorded guitar licks and chords for the testing, like how Eminence has their site set up.
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Post by eliot1025 on Apr 10, 2008 23:07:28 GMT -7
The short answer is cable can make a big difference if you use them for the entire chain. I would not recommend george L's unless you need an unbalanced emphasis on highs. I found the Cable Summit by Eric Kirkland to be educational. Here's an address that will link you to that article: www.lavacable.com/cable_comparison.htmIt's an extensive, and even-handed testing of guitar cables and the findings are included. You have to listen for yourself and find what works for your rig.
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Post by myles on Apr 11, 2008 7:36:35 GMT -7
The short answer is cable can make a big difference if you use them for the entire chain. I would not recommend george L's unless you need an unbalanced emphasis on highs. I found the Cable Summit by Eric Kirkland to be educational. Here's an address that will link you to that article: www.lavacable.com/cable_comparison.htmIt's an extensive, and even-handed testing of guitar cables and the findings are included. You have to listen for yourself and find what works for your rig. The Lavacable stuff is great too by the way. Also ... consider this ..... a very important aspect of any cable is it's construction. I have had some Belden cables with Neutrik ends in continual use since the mid eighties. and ..... as far as tone .... Jimi Hendrix used cheap coiled cables on many occasions
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 11, 2008 10:04:11 GMT -7
I don't find this general conception of George Ls as being overly bright is accurate. All good cables will pass the highs. The GP review only gave a 4 out of 5 for "Punch". "Girth" was a 5 and so was shimmer. I know bass players that use George Ls and have no complaint about thinness. I believe the Kirkland called the Van den Hul cables best. Not so in the GPs test. I did own a full set of VdH cables and I was decidedly underwhelmed. The Kirkland test was useful but the Guitar Player test methods were better. Being able to click back and forth between the recorded tracks on a computer eliminates the need for plugging and unplugging. It might shorten the time by only 5 seconds but the closer together the comparisons, the more accurate they'll be. Generalized sounds are easy enough to do by memory but when you get into the super subtle differences between good cables the audio memory is not known for accuracy.
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Post by hogridr on Apr 11, 2008 10:38:01 GMT -7
as far as tone .... Jimi Hendrix used cheap coiled cables on many occasions Very true, and as I remember at one point SRV used the coil cables from Radio Shack. www.guitarplayer.com/article/accessory-file/Jan-05/956I have found that even the best cables don't make up for my lack of talent/practice. ;D
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2008 11:36:45 GMT -7
I just ordered a couple of George L cables with nickel plated plugs. Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of nickel plated plugs? It seems alot of the newer cables are gold. Not sure if it makes a difference. Right now I'm using Planet waves for guitar to pedal board and pedal board to amp and am using the cheap patch cables between pedals. I ordered the Planet Waves cable station to replace the cheap patch cables.
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 11, 2008 11:47:41 GMT -7
By the way, guys. I don't mean to sound like I'm some kind of cable authority. I just have opinions and like to hear all sides of the debate.
It was either in the GP article or on Lava Man's website that the different platings are discussed. Sorry, but I don't remember what was said.
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