Whats the length of your cable?

[oldbluebassman]

I make and sell cables using Klotz cable and Neutrik connectors so I can have any length I like. My current favourite is 5 metres long with a right-angle at the bass end and a straight at the amp.

 

[mike not fat]

1 15' from amp to fx board, short patches to connect the different fx (most often an electro-harmonix bassballs and a digitech overdrive), then 1 15' from fx to the bass. Never needed longer cables for the moment.

MNF

 

[roballanson]

I did hear, and don't know if its true, that you can lose sounds quality with long cables if they are not shielded properly......dunno if thats correct.
I have always usedthe same planet waves ones.

 

[SteveB]

Rob,

It is true that signal strength decays as the cable gets longer. Also, when you have a long stretch of wire it acts as an antenna for radio frequencies. So, a really long instrument cable can introduce noise (via RF interference) or signal loss.

I don't think I would run a standard instrument cable longer than, say, 30 feet for fear of the 'antenna factor'. Naturally, how much RF you pick up is dependent upon where you are. It's probably much more likely to be a problem at an outdoor gig than in a basement.

For really long runs, if you don't go wireless, you can use two direct boxes with a long microphone cable in between. (a short instrument cable from the bass to a direct box, then a long mic cable [same gender on both ends] to another direct box, then a short instrument cable from direct box to amplifier)

But that starts to get a bit impractical.

The instrument cable is has a single wire with the signal on it, and a shield. Mic cables have 2 wires that each caarry the signal, but the signal on one wire is 180 degrees out of phase with the other. This allows for the cancellation of any noise or hum introduced along the lenth of the cable, thus yielding longer cable runs with little or no noise.

 

[roballanson]

Oh I see...thats why the drummer picks up the local cab firm with his wireless mic....which can be quite funny.

Thanks for that. It was one of those bits of information you have in the back of your head and are never quite sure whether its true.....

cheers

 

[midopa]

You know, the guitarist for my church's praise team picks up ESPN on his Wah-Wah pedal. Really weird!

 

[gramfraser]

Mine is 25 feet.
I like a little bit of space.

 

[Tajue17]

20' Bass Cable going directly to a 400RB GK head (all knobs at 12 O'Clock) on top of a 4X10 (has wheels so its layed on its side) and 1x15 Ampeg Classic cabs with 3'ft amp cables. Live, I only take the head and the 4X10 or just go direct into the mixer --> I want to upgrade my head but I'm nervous to try anything else cause the GK has been so good to me and we play in a small room so volume isn't needed. oh and might as well mention all knobs on my SR4 are wide open and im using a pick most of the time.

figured I'd mention and explain everything about my set-up from the bass cord on..

 

[Urwordsbreakmed]

21 footer im getting a wireless tho i hate cables they get in the way and ahhhhh wound up just a pain in the butt.

 

[Doogels]

20 foot Monsters here.

 

[MCBTunes]

i have a 30, a 20 and a 15 foot cable. depends on where i'm playing and if i'm playing with people.... i like to move a lot so long cables are nice.

 

[Urwordsbreakmed]

i have a 30, a 20 and a 15 foot cable. depends on where i'm playing and if i'm playing with people.... i like to move a lot so long cables are nice.

Why not just get a wireless?