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Post by Phil on May 2, 2020 19:59:42 GMT -6
You guys know that I'm not much of a gear head, but a while ago I mentioned that the cable connecting guitar to amp can noticeably affect your tone. I've been using a George L cable for a couple of weeks now and it made a big difference in tone for the better. I had been using the same cheap Fender cable I bought when I got back into playing 6 years ago. Nobody would have ever convinced me that a cable could make a difference before I heard it with my own ears.
Here's an interesting article on cables. Apparently it's all about the capacitance and shielding. Gold plugs don't seem to make much difference except in price. www.guitarworld.com/gear/best-guitar-cables |
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Post by grampalerxst on May 3, 2020 5:02:58 GMT -6
I've never heard a difference myself, although I've never really sat down and tried to do an A/B test either. Impulsively I picked up a Mogami Gold cable 2-3 years ago when an old cheapo I had started to fry out, and that's what I use. As backups and extras for occasions when start connecting multiple toys I got a couple of the mid-price Planet Waves cables. Sounds like I've lucked in to having options GW rates well.
That I don't hear much difference is a comment on my ears not a disagreement that it matters. It's a big enough deal that even top-en wireless units modify the signal to emulate (probably not the technically correct term) a cable's modification to the sound.
I thought about going the George L route because they are well liked, but I needed to replace a failing cable and was too impatient and grabbed what the local GC had on the wall that appeared to be a premium quality cable. The Mogami has a lifetime warranty, so I might be "stuck" with it forever. Glad to hear you like the George L, maybe that will be an option for me one day.
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Post by bluesbruce on May 3, 2020 6:13:32 GMT -6
That's an interesting article, Phil. If you look at that list in terms of "bang for your buck", I would think the GLS and Orange cables would be the way to go. Unfortunately, I think it's going to take something more than a quality cable to make my playing sound good - maybe something like practice  . I recently had one of my favorite ancient, cheap cables quit working. I took the jack apart, and the solder holding the wire to the jack had broken apart. It would have been an easy fix, but I don't have a soldering iron, and it probably wasn't worth it for a cable I likely paid $5 for 25-30 years ago. I've been thinking about ordering another cable, and was thinking of trying to get a better quality, as I've been pretty convinced for years that these really cheap cables introduce a lot of noise and crackling, as well as probably not transmitting sounds as well. Maybe I'll order a GLS, see what I think. Might order me some new strings, too, while I'm at it. Being a cheap bastard sort of dooms my sound to some extent... |
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Post by cunningr on May 3, 2020 6:57:27 GMT -6
I have tried several, and in the end they all seem to start causing noise. I bought a pair of the blue tooth wireless that work very well, but have cable from effects to either my amp or interface depending on what I am playing through. The fender was working well but now causing noise. I can see where the impedance, and capacitive resistance could effect sound, but on a short run of 6 feet seems like too short a distance to have much affect.
Might give that George L a try though always trying to clean up the sound.
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Post by Phil on May 3, 2020 8:24:08 GMT -6
I've never heard a difference myself, although I've never really sat down and tried to do an A/B test either. Impulsively I picked up a Mogami Gold cable 2-3 years ago when an old cheapo I had started to fry out, and that's what I use. As backups and extras for occasions when start connecting multiple toys I got a couple of the mid-price Planet Waves cables. Sounds like I've lucked in to having options GW rates well. That I don't hear much difference is a comment on my ears not a disagreement that it matters. It's a big enough deal that even top-en wireless units modify the signal to emulate (probably not the technically correct term) a cable's modification to the sound. I thought about going the George L route because they are well liked, but I needed to replace a failing cable and was too impatient and grabbed what the local GC had on the wall that appeared to be a premium quality cable. The Mogami has a lifetime warranty, so I might be "stuck" with it forever. Glad to hear you like the George L, maybe that will be an option for me one day. There might be another variable in this - the type of pickups. I bought the George L cable as a gift for my son a couple of years ago. It was recommended by Steve Krenz. My son discovered that he got got a better tone from a Mogami Gold which somebody let him borrow. He has a Godin Multiac Grand Concert Duet - an electric nylon string. It has some kind of microphone build in and a piezo pickup. You can adjust the blend of the 2 pickups. I've got an Ibanez AF75 with humbuckers. I haven't compared the George L to the Mogami on this guitar. (Might do it the next time we get together.) However, there is a noticeable difference between the George L and the Fender cable I had been using. I haven't tried the George L on my Squier Strat which, of course, has single coil pickups.
Also, there could be a less noticeable effect when using overdrive, distortion, and other effects. I play clean - straight into the amp with no effects.
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Post by grampalerxst on May 3, 2020 14:09:47 GMT -6
At the time I would have been using either my old Strat, which I've since sold, or a Strat-style Suhr. Both had single coils in the bridge position. As mentioned, I didn't do an A/B, just an old cable got worn out and started dropping out all the time, so I got a new one over lunch the next day and was playing it that evening. so lots of variables, including ~24 hours time separation.
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Post by Marc on May 4, 2020 7:14:01 GMT -6
I don't really buy into this much, no offense to anyone who does. Do I believe that cables can modify tone, yes, but I choose not to spend much time or energy on it. For me, it's too easy to get hung up on the small stuff that keeps me from putting fingers on fret board.
If I compare my guitar rig to a car, my cable is a fan belt. Sure there are some really nice fan belts out there, but in the end it has one job to do. If it does not fail, I'm content. I doubt any thought came into too many old timers minds back in the day if a cable effected their tone. I just don't see it as something Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton discussed when going to Cream rehearsals.
Most of my cables are Livewire, which I believe is guitar centers house brand. I've been happy with them and not had one fail yet, but I'm also not gigging I'm just bedroom playing.
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. I recently had one of my favorite ancient, cheap cables quit working. I took the jack apart, and the solder holding the wire to the jack had broken apart. It would have been an easy fix, but I don't have a soldering iron, and it probably wasn't worth it for a cable I likely paid $5 for 25-30 years ago. I've been thinking about ordering another cable, and was thinking of trying to get a better quality, as I've been pretty convinced for years that these really cheap cables introduce a lot of noise and crackling, as well as probably not transmitting sounds as well. Maybe I'll order a GLS, see what I think. Might order me some new strings, too, while I'm at it. Being a cheap bastard sort of dooms my sound to some extent...
