How do bad quality cables effect sound?
- Thread starter Dills
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seafoamer
Guest
Re: How do bad quality cables effect sound?
I often prefer crappy cables to so-called "hi-end" cables. As I think SRV once said, "those hi-end cables pass too much electricity, making the gtr too bright"
And most amps don't need any help being bright. I absolutley hate georgel's cuz they make everything sound brittle. I think SRV used to send people to radio shacki to get those real cheap spiraled cables for recording. Hendrix prefered them too.
I prefer my gtr to sound warm and vintagey. I don't get anything too cheap though for reliability reasons.
I often prefer crappy cables to so-called "hi-end" cables. As I think SRV once said, "those hi-end cables pass too much electricity, making the gtr too bright"
And most amps don't need any help being bright. I absolutley hate georgel's cuz they make everything sound brittle. I think SRV used to send people to radio shacki to get those real cheap spiraled cables for recording. Hendrix prefered them too.
I prefer my gtr to sound warm and vintagey. I don't get anything too cheap though for reliability reasons.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: How do bad quality cables effect sound?
Crappy cables contribute to noise,loss of highs,loss of output,and a loss of note clarity...Unless I'm missing something and "Crappy Cables" are a new cable I missed out on? LOL
John
Crappy cables contribute to noise,loss of highs,loss of output,and a loss of note clarity...Unless I'm missing something and "Crappy Cables" are a new cable I missed out on? LOL
John
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: How do bad quality cables effect sound?
Don't buy the gold connectors! I bought the George L gold connectors and they oxidize pretty quickly and turn a dark color...Stick with the standard chrome looking connectors and save yourself the extra money and hassles...I have to clean the gold connectors on occassion with steel wool and I hate that! LOL I Love George Ls though..
Don't buy the gold connectors! I bought the George L gold connectors and they oxidize pretty quickly and turn a dark color...Stick with the standard chrome looking connectors and save yourself the extra money and hassles...I have to clean the gold connectors on occassion with steel wool and I hate that! LOL I Love George Ls though..
S
seafoamer
Guest
Re: How do bad quality cables effect sound?
Loss of highs are the point for me, just as I recently found out about SRV. I'll post the link to the interview if I can find it.
I trust my ears. I have whirlwinds, Monsters, GeorgeL's, Planet Waves, etc, etc, etc. I've A/B'ed them and came to my own conclusion. It's not always about what's best on paper, but what sounds best. Same reason people like analog recording. Analog clipping adds a nice distortion. Might not be right "on paper" but it sounds yummy, yo.
Loss of highs are the point for me, just as I recently found out about SRV. I'll post the link to the interview if I can find it.
I trust my ears. I have whirlwinds, Monsters, GeorgeL's, Planet Waves, etc, etc, etc. I've A/B'ed them and came to my own conclusion. It's not always about what's best on paper, but what sounds best. Same reason people like analog recording. Analog clipping adds a nice distortion. Might not be right "on paper" but it sounds yummy, yo.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: How do bad quality cables effect sound?
I agree with you 100%...I experimented with cables and found that certain cables work better for me with different amps and guitars..Included in this was what string brands and on what guitars...The darker guitars needed something like a George L, but a brighter strat would benefit(In my case)with a cable that could smooth or darken things up a bit...These days I've pretty much settled on the George Ls solely on the overall note clarity I hear with them and the ease of maintaining them...If I am too bright,I dial my amp settings back a bit...For recording...The George Ls are pretty hard to beat also...I've also tryed many,many different brands of cables over the years...The length of cable is one of the most important aspects..The longer the cable,the more highs you lose because of capacitance...I use just what I need in length overall and not any more so I don't suffer these losses much...
seafoamer said:
I agree with you 100%...I experimented with cables and found that certain cables work better for me with different amps and guitars..Included in this was what string brands and on what guitars...The darker guitars needed something like a George L, but a brighter strat would benefit(In my case)with a cable that could smooth or darken things up a bit...These days I've pretty much settled on the George Ls solely on the overall note clarity I hear with them and the ease of maintaining them...If I am too bright,I dial my amp settings back a bit...For recording...The George Ls are pretty hard to beat also...I've also tryed many,many different brands of cables over the years...The length of cable is one of the most important aspects..The longer the cable,the more highs you lose because of capacitance...I use just what I need in length overall and not any more so I don't suffer these losses much...
S
seafoamer
Guest
Re: How do bad quality cables effect sound?
Here's u'r link. http://www.tonequest.com/ray.htm
So to sum it up, the Strat pickups of the mid to late 60’s were of lower resistance – weaker – and because of that they sounded better when combined with certain gain-boosting effects…
Yeah, it made them clearer and more appropriate for being used with a lot of different effects. Lenny Kravitz was the opening act for a lot of the Dylan dates when I was on the tour, and I really took him under my wing. I was the only one that didn’t call him… you know, the word... In the Dylan camp, everyone is very prejudiced – it’s very tough to be around those people. Anyway, I sent messages to both Lenny Kravitz and Eric Johnson that part of the secret to getting great tone was using weaker pickups and coil cables. The coil cables add a lot of capacitance and inductance to your signal chain, therefore, when you’re playing through a Marshall, you’re cutting back on the high frequencies. When we were doing the In Step album with Stevie, I had an endorsement with Monster Cables. They would send me all of this free stuff and I was very excited because I could manage these things for a guy like Stevie, who really didn’t even know how to wash dishes. All he knew how to do was play the guitar, but God bless him for that, because he really did something with what he knew. Anyway, I took these cables we got to Stevie and he said, “I hate these things.” I asked him, “Why, man, they’re the best cables in the world?” He said, “They pass to much electricity.” Those were his exact words, and I’ll never forget it as long as I live. “They pass too much electricity.”
They were too efficient…
Yeah, so he sent me out to the local Radio Shack and told me to buy every gray coil cord they had – not the black ones, only the gray ones. And I thought, “Hhmm, this freakin’ hick from Dallas is telling me this?” I got them and ran them through my capacitance meter and found out that they added like almost .05 mfd to the signal chain. That made it sound solid – it was like having a tone control, and the brightness and harshness that the Marshalls had was eliminated. There isn’t a single picture of Hendrix… back then they already had high-end cables, but there isn’t a single picture of Hendrix where you see him playing with a straight cable. Why? This is something I brought up to Eric Johnson – whether he heard me or not I don’t know, but it could be the second coming of coil cables.
Here's u'r link. http://www.tonequest.com/ray.htm
So to sum it up, the Strat pickups of the mid to late 60’s were of lower resistance – weaker – and because of that they sounded better when combined with certain gain-boosting effects…
Yeah, it made them clearer and more appropriate for being used with a lot of different effects. Lenny Kravitz was the opening act for a lot of the Dylan dates when I was on the tour, and I really took him under my wing. I was the only one that didn’t call him… you know, the word... In the Dylan camp, everyone is very prejudiced – it’s very tough to be around those people. Anyway, I sent messages to both Lenny Kravitz and Eric Johnson that part of the secret to getting great tone was using weaker pickups and coil cables. The coil cables add a lot of capacitance and inductance to your signal chain, therefore, when you’re playing through a Marshall, you’re cutting back on the high frequencies. When we were doing the In Step album with Stevie, I had an endorsement with Monster Cables. They would send me all of this free stuff and I was very excited because I could manage these things for a guy like Stevie, who really didn’t even know how to wash dishes. All he knew how to do was play the guitar, but God bless him for that, because he really did something with what he knew. Anyway, I took these cables we got to Stevie and he said, “I hate these things.” I asked him, “Why, man, they’re the best cables in the world?” He said, “They pass to much electricity.” Those were his exact words, and I’ll never forget it as long as I live. “They pass too much electricity.”
They were too efficient…
Yeah, so he sent me out to the local Radio Shack and told me to buy every gray coil cord they had – not the black ones, only the gray ones. And I thought, “Hhmm, this freakin’ hick from Dallas is telling me this?” I got them and ran them through my capacitance meter and found out that they added like almost .05 mfd to the signal chain. That made it sound solid – it was like having a tone control, and the brightness and harshness that the Marshalls had was eliminated. There isn’t a single picture of Hendrix… back then they already had high-end cables, but there isn’t a single picture of Hendrix where you see him playing with a straight cable. Why? This is something I brought up to Eric Johnson – whether he heard me or not I don’t know, but it could be the second coming of coil cables.
R
RACER X
Guest
Re: How do bad quality cables effect sound?
I wouldent play without my Mogami's, at $ 40.00 bucks worth every penny and dead silent.
I wouldent play without my Mogami's, at $ 40.00 bucks worth every penny and dead silent.
S
seafoamer
Guest
Re: How do bad quality cables effect sound?
Yeah, I agree w/ u here too. I keep my Georgel for dark gtr's & or amps. and vice versa.
STRATDELUXER97 said:
Yeah, I agree w/ u here too. I keep my Georgel for dark gtr's & or amps. and vice versa.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: How do bad quality cables effect sound?
Awesome friend...Glad to see some of us can agree together on things... :smack: Not the case on other areas of the forum.. :newangel: :wink:
seafoamer said:
Awesome friend...Glad to see some of us can agree together on things... :smack: Not the case on other areas of the forum.. :newangel: :wink:
Pandemonium
New member
Re: How do bad quality cables effect sound?
I usually make my own out of Switchcraft parts and I've got more highs than I can use. I do use a cloth covered Whirlwind from my guitar because I like the vintage look of it.
I usually make my own out of Switchcraft parts and I've got more highs than I can use. I do use a cloth covered Whirlwind from my guitar because I like the vintage look of it.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: How do bad quality cables effect sound?
Yes that totally sucks doesn't it? :32: :burnout:
ledzepp29 said:
Yes that totally sucks doesn't it? :32: :burnout:
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: How do bad quality cables effect sound?
I try to think of cabling as just another form of EQing. I've tried various different cables to see how they sound. I've settled on cables made by BRTB Canada as I like the sound they impart, they're not too expensive, and they have a lifetime waranty. All of my patch cables are homemade Belden with Switchcraft ends.
seafoamer said:
I try to think of cabling as just another form of EQing. I've tried various different cables to see how they sound. I've settled on cables made by BRTB Canada as I like the sound they impart, they're not too expensive, and they have a lifetime waranty. All of my patch cables are homemade Belden with Switchcraft ends.
