An observation about guitar cables
- Thread starter Lake Placid Blues
- Start date
Re: An observation about guitar cables
ive done plenty of cable testing over the years. the room does make a difference but only when you change rooms. when you are sitting in the same room, with the same guitar and same amp on the same settings and only changing the cable it doesnt come into play.
i have lots of different cables and they all sound different to some degree. better or worse depends on your perspective and what you want to hear. a darker cable might work great with a bright tele to tame the high end, where you want a bright cable with a high output guitar with less high end. ive also noted that once you are on stage with a band you really cant hear much of a difference unless youre very critical.
ive done plenty of cable testing over the years. the room does make a difference but only when you change rooms. when you are sitting in the same room, with the same guitar and same amp on the same settings and only changing the cable it doesnt come into play.
i have lots of different cables and they all sound different to some degree. better or worse depends on your perspective and what you want to hear. a darker cable might work great with a bright tele to tame the high end, where you want a bright cable with a high output guitar with less high end. ive also noted that once you are on stage with a band you really cant hear much of a difference unless youre very critical.
zenmindbeginner
New member
Re: An observation about guitar cables
I have noticed that some cables have better shielding than others and reject EMI/RFI a whole lot better... that can improve tone instantly by lowering your noise floor and expanding your dynamic range a bit.
I have noticed that some cables have better shielding than others and reject EMI/RFI a whole lot better... that can improve tone instantly by lowering your noise floor and expanding your dynamic range a bit.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: An observation about guitar cables
Well, go right ahead.
Does it cover directional ethernet cables?
Well, go right ahead.
Does it cover directional ethernet cables?
mantis
New member
Re: An observation about guitar cables
When metal is pulled to form the long conductors needed for building cables, certain grain structures are formed that affect the overall sonic performance of the wire. Simply put, the conductor has lower perceived distortion when running in one direction (“with the grain”) than when reversed (“against the grain”).
When metal is pulled to form the long conductors needed for building cables, certain grain structures are formed that affect the overall sonic performance of the wire. Simply put, the conductor has lower perceived distortion when running in one direction (“with the grain”) than when reversed (“against the grain”).
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: An observation about guitar cables
Metal grain?
Directional Ethernet? All common protocols that you use over Ethernet have reply packets for data packets. So it's always flowing both ways.
Perceived distortion on a conductor?
And BTW. A/C. Alternating current. The flow of the electrons reverses direction even couple of milliseconds.
Metal grain?
Directional Ethernet? All common protocols that you use over Ethernet have reply packets for data packets. So it's always flowing both ways.
Perceived distortion on a conductor?
And BTW. A/C. Alternating current. The flow of the electrons reverses direction even couple of milliseconds.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: An observation about guitar cables
There's definately an audible difference with different cables. I'll go further and say that "direction" does matter... with one way sounding more open & rounder while the other way sounds more compressed/thin. I actually mark my cable connectors with an "A" (Amp end) & "G" (Guitar end) & if I mistakenly plug the wrong end in, it instantly sounds/feels different. When I check, sure enough...I've plugged it in the wrong way around. Not bull****ting, I can tell straight away, every time it happens. Btw, I'm talking about cables that are'nt even marked for direction here
. Some like my Monster ones are marked "directional" and again..I do follow the arrows & hear the difference.
It's like with "directional" Hi-fi interconnects...same thing and very audible if you have the ears to tell.
There's definately an audible difference with different cables. I'll go further and say that "direction" does matter... with one way sounding more open & rounder while the other way sounds more compressed/thin. I actually mark my cable connectors with an "A" (Amp end) & "G" (Guitar end) & if I mistakenly plug the wrong end in, it instantly sounds/feels different. When I check, sure enough...I've plugged it in the wrong way around. Not bull****ting, I can tell straight away, every time it happens. Btw, I'm talking about cables that are'nt even marked for direction here
. Some like my Monster ones are marked "directional" and again..I do follow the arrows & hear the difference.It's like with "directional" Hi-fi interconnects...same thing and very audible if you have the ears to tell.
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: An observation about guitar cables
I don't claim to know all the science behind it, or care a whole lot, but I just switched from mismatched decent and mediocre cables to George L's on the board, from the guitar, but I still have a Monster Cable going to the amp....and there's a LOT more treble and/or presence. It took some adjusting for me to get used to it. I wasn't sure I'd made the right decision until a gig last night and my guitar sound from the amp and through the monitors had a clarity I'd never experienced, especially live!
I don't claim to know all the science behind it, or care a whole lot, but I just switched from mismatched decent and mediocre cables to George L's on the board, from the guitar, but I still have a Monster Cable going to the amp....and there's a LOT more treble and/or presence. It took some adjusting for me to get used to it. I wasn't sure I'd made the right decision until a gig last night and my guitar sound from the amp and through the monitors had a clarity I'd never experienced, especially live!
hermetico
New member
Re: An observation about guitar cables
^^^
+++++1
All them make a difference. Not worst or best. It just depends on the whole rig and what are you after.
And, capacitance doesn't explains the whole history. You can test two cables with very similar capacitancies and get different results in: high-end, punch, loudness, definition, warmth...
Same guitar, same amp, same room, same cable length, same jack plugs.
WHY?. Dunno.
^^^
+++++1
All them make a difference. Not worst or best. It just depends on the whole rig and what are you after.
And, capacitance doesn't explains the whole history. You can test two cables with very similar capacitancies and get different results in: high-end, punch, loudness, definition, warmth...
Same guitar, same amp, same room, same cable length, same jack plugs.
WHY?. Dunno.
hermetico
New member
Re: An observation about guitar cables
My own experiences shown that different cables, of same length and same jack plugs, same guitar and amp make a difference.
BUT, my experiences doesn't allow me to notice any difference if I plug those (directionaly reversed).
I dunno if that could depend on the length but, at least, with 6m cables, I cannot notice any single difference.
There's definately an audible difference with different cables. I'll go further and say that "direction" does matter... with one way sounding more open & rounder while the other way sounds more compressed/thin. I actually mark my cable connectors with an "A" (Amp end) & "G" (Guitar end) & if I mistakenly plug the wrong end in, it instantly sounds/feels different. When I check, sure enough...I've plugged it in the wrong way around. Not bull****ting, I can tell straight away, every time it happens. Btw, I'm talking about cables that are'nt even marked for direction here
It's like with "directional" Hi-fi interconnects...same thing and very audible if you have the ears to tell.
My own experiences shown that different cables, of same length and same jack plugs, same guitar and amp make a difference.
BUT, my experiences doesn't allow me to notice any difference if I plug those (directionaly reversed).
I dunno if that could depend on the length but, at least, with 6m cables, I cannot notice any single difference.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: An observation about guitar cables
Hmmm, how do you know two cables you tried have different capacitance? Have you measured?
(Apologies if you did. It's just that manufacturer's specs often... well... aren't )
Hmmm, how do you know two cables you tried have different capacitance? Have you measured?
(Apologies if you did. It's just that manufacturer's specs often... well... aren't )
