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Best available cable suggestion please

ex3.8

ex3.8

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 11, 2003
Messages
223
Location
Montreal, Canada
As noticed earlier in a post and as we know the cables may be the weakest link, soooooo. I would like to revamp my cables.
What are some suggestion on the best there is. Not on paper, but in practice. This is an area where money is no object.

Thanks
 
George L's!! Wow the difference is amazing. GP magazine ('97) did an article on cables where they test for sound and durability. For the latter they dropped the sharp end of a ride cymbal on the cables. The George L's lost in that category but in sound they blew everybody away. A shielded cable is like a coax cable with the center cable and the shield. The theoretical idea is that this configuration is loss-less. Unfortunately this configuration also meets the definition of a capacitor. Two conductors separated by a dielectric. Therefore, all shielded cables have capacitance. Also, all cables have resistance. So when you mix the two together (an R-C circuit) you get a low-pass filter. I.e. some of the higher frequencies are blocked. This is the same principal that the tone knob on your guitar works on (Axis owners excluded). Capacitance is a measurable quantity and was found to be lowest in the George L cables, of all cables tested. I think the numbers were between a factor of two or an order of magnitude lower. Once I got one and tried it out I forgot the numbers because the sound was so amazingly better, especially on an acoustic. At about $4 an end and $0.50 a foot you know how much you are going to spend. Also you make the sizes to fit your rig. Shortly after I bought my cables I saw where Ernie Ball introduced their line of low capacitance cables. They were not tested in the article nor have I ever tried them. Ernie seems to have a knack for doing things using a little technique I like to call "the right way".
 
I like where norm is going with his input (pardon the pun); that sounds like a great way for true, personalized and quality...a perfect way to "meet in the middle" for both of those qualities.

For my personal preference and use, however, there's only two words: Monster Cable. Everything that has anything to do with guitar signal is MC, and I've invested over $250 into cables alone. Sounds great (more filling! :p ) The only exception is the 1/4"-XLR running from my 5150 head -> 5150 cab, which is Hosa, and only because GC didn't have that type of cable in Monster brand. I don't hear it taking anything away from my sound, so I haven't been too worried about it as of recent.

Just my take on the sitch...your mileage may vary.
 
George L's here - I'm a believer; I've wired everything with them (pedal board, rack, and guitar to amp lengths). I haven't tried the EB cables yet, but if they make 'em as well as they make their guitars, they must be good. I don't like Monster Cables personally - I think their prices are insane, and there are no benefits to Monster over George L's that I hear. Do an Internet search on the guitar newsgroups and you'll read some interesting horror stories about Monster Cables, as well (they seem to have a reputation for falling apart, though I certainly couldn't confirm that, as I returned mine after about 5 hours after A/B'ing it with my George L's).... Anyway, if a George L's cable goes south on you, you can fix it in about three minutes with Swiss Army knife.
 
Monster cable is overpriced, overated hype. At best just regular cable with gold-plated tips.
Lawrence currently has the lowest inductance, best sheilded cable in the world. He spent at least two years developing it. I only wish he'd listen to me and make right angle plug ends, as George L offers.
No one knows more about inductance, impedance, or eddy currents than Bill.
Monster speaker cable I have tried on cabinets. They seem to suck power somehow.
The word 'monster' sells.
 
Absolutely George L's! I had some monster cable I'd bought and I used it for a brief time, then I saw somewhere that Eric Johnson was hyped on George L's (I felt that with all the cables available, if THIS guys ears can hear what he claims he can, and if THIS guy - out of all the cables available - picked George L's for the purest tone and sound quality, WELLLLLLLL, I trust him AND his ears...and I don't have time to a/b all of the cables out there for myself).

I totally agree AND love these cables as the sound is REALLY good - plus, they claim there is no hum or microphonics so you can have a long cable and have no worry.

They have unplated (brass) ends, plated (nickel) ends and (gold) plated ends too. Eric uses the unplated brass as he claimed it was better than the plated. The gold ends are also better than the nickel, so if you want plated, get the gold, otherwise, get the unplated brass.

Plus, I recommend getting the 225 size cable INSTEAD of the 155 size as the 155 just doesn't move around or act like a regular cable due to its smaller size and NO weight. Trust me! It costs a little more but you'll probably like the bigger cable much better.
 
What playing situation are these going to be used for? If it's not for live use (where they'll get stepped on frequently) you'll be fine with plain ol' cables you can get anywhere. Monster and Planet Waves seem really overpriced to me.

Don't get suckered into "brand names," buy what suits your needs.

Oh, and retail is for suckers.
 
Ok. Read the posts here then went out and bought 18' of george L's (the skinny mother and nickle ends) and tried them out on current live rig during band rehearsal (line 6 200h and line 6 1/2 stack. Guitars were a luke and an axis SS humbucker w/piezo).

Wow! Way more high end. Almost unbelievable. Looks like I'm gonna need to tweak the amp settings and dial down some treble, up some bass, and fiddle with middle:D

May even bring my PRS custom 24 out of retirement.

KEITH
 
Really!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????

Did it make that much of a dif. Cuz being in Canada eh! I may have to order them direct. and mucho shipping and customs and s..t!.
What were you using B 4.
I am using digiflex cables with neutrik connectors.
 
various brands tried (including monster)all over 20 bucks. Try calling George L's 615-868-6976 and they can tell you where to find them in your area.
KEITH
 
right angle George L connectors suck

Update on George L's. Now I know why GC only had 1 right angle plug and 3 BAGS of straight ones. There's a threaded end cap that holds cable in place, but tighten too much and no sound, too loose and cable shorts and buzzes, yikes. And the end pieces cut through the cable.:mad:

Stick with the straight plugs

Keith
 
I was laughing when I just read about the angled plugs, 'cause the first George L cable I bought had one right-angle plug and I was ALWAYS having that sucker pop and fizzle when I'd move around. So the next one I got I made sure it had straight ends and NOOOO problem nooooooo more! So yeah, stick with them straitees!
 
Oh no, not so true. You apparantly haven't played something like a P-bass with the plug outlet coming straight out the face of the body. All sumbody has to do is step on yer cord while yer moving around and snap goes the plug, the input, or the whole pickguard. I reccommend angle plugs only, try sett'n yer average Tele/Les Paul, whatever down leaned aganst something when the stand ain't handy. Puts pressure on that plug if it's straight, angled plugs will rotate out of the way with no pressure on the input, which makes plugs go bad and imputs loose.
You know you don't always have a stand handy.
 
I agree with ebb that right angles are preferable for the reasons he states.

Just design flaws inherent in George L's right angles due to cable positioning in plug. Thin cable and small straight plug are at least an improvement over standards of other makers.

Which brings us to the strange observation as to why almost all cables are straight plugs and not right angle when every guitar, except strats, the right angle works better:confused:


Okay, now everyone go practice;)

KEITH
 
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