How long do you use your cables?

[tc]

I was thinking about this the other day and realized I've never measured my cables, and I'm about to buy new ones (without access to the old ones) so I need to determine length. I'm thinking a relatively short one from guitar to pedals and a longer one from pedals to amp. I don't gig big venues or anything like that so I don't really need something really long.

Ideas?

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

You can usually get away with 10 ft between the pedalboard and amp, and 15ft between the guitar and pedalboard . . . even when just practicing I tend to pace around a bit when playing, and 10ft just runs out way too quickly.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

^^^ what Stv said.

 

[kjrocks]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

I usually use mine as long as I play

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

10-20ft. Shorter than 10', and you'd might as well be sitting on the amp. Longer than 20', and you might be someone who could benefit from wireless. Maybe a long cable back to the amp makes sense if the last thing in the chain is good at driving long cables.

 

[aleclee]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

15-18 feet for me

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

Mine tend to run at 20' each.
Gives me enough room to move and flexibility at gigs in terms of running cables round things.
Although I tend to go wireless at gigs, but that just to stop me falling over my lead in cramp circumstances

 

[SrDeMaFp]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

10 foot to the amp (from the board and could probably get away with a bit shorter), 20 foot to the guitar with a right-angle jack.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

Don't use a longer cable than you need. Use the shortest that you can get away with. After about 15' the cable begins to suck your tone, mostly high frequencies. If you need long cables (18' - 30' or more), you'll need to spend big bucks for better quality (Mogami, Fender Gold series, etc.). The Ernie Ball Ultraflex is an excellent sounding cable for a reasonable price.

I personally use 10' - 12' from guitar to pedalboard (don't want to be tripping over excess wire), 20' - 30' from board to amp (to allow for cable routing behind amps and spkr cabs, etc.)


But to answer your question..."How long do you use your cables?", I use mine til they stop working.

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

I usually use mine as long as I play

Same here, although I actually prefer my Sennheiser wireless.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

I think my longest one is 20 feet. i normally only go up to 15 but it was whirlwind and went for a couple of dollars only so, i couldnt pass it up.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

A pair of 18 feet Klotz cables with Neutrik plugs + wireless. More than enough for bigger venues, too.

 

[grapeskeletons]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

I stick to about 10'-12' between the guitar/pedalboard and pedalboard/amp. I use cheap Audio Technica guitar cables which are fine for the money. For pedal couplers, I have some 6" DiMarzio cables. I actually have a very expensive Cardas mic cable for my studio rig; I have been through the all the cable hype.

I use cables until the solder in the plugs is completely toasted or they otherwise break.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

Until they completely short out until I can't fix 'em any longer.

 

[jeremy]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

length depends. i have a hand full of 12', a few 15', and a few 20'+

if there is a pedal/pedal board involved then i use the shortest i can from that to the amp and usually my old george l's 15' to the board from the guitar.

if no pedal then its the george l's unless i need more length. my band is on a coil cable kick after seeing sharon jones and the dap kings (awesome by the way) a little while ago. singer has a black one, bassist has a red/white one that looks like a candy cane. im gonna get one of these

 

[JOLLY]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

^^^^ I despise those freakin things.

 

[Diego]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

Same here, they'd always end up pulling my pedals, getting stuck on somebody's mic stand, or simply knocking something over.
Hate them.

 

[jcthejester13]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

20' so I can run, jump, and roll around without having to worry about pulling my pedalboard along with me.

 

[jeremy]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

^^^^ I despise those freakin things.

i used to feel that way too which is why im the only guy who doesnt have them yet. but i gotta say, those bullet cables are pretty great. not noisy and good sound which are usually the two things that kill coil cables for me.

these things are HEAVY, i wouldnt use them with a pedal board unless its a beast and wont get pulled around. i tend to do lots of guitar-> amp gigging so i think i may do it

 

[Bludave]

Re: How long do you use your cables?

I like 15 to 20. I like getting the board far enough away from the amp that it doesn't become an issue. I also like to be far enough away from the amp that feedback doesn't become a problem. If I use a 15ft. cable on both that keeps me a little more than 30 feet away. That usually eliminates any feedback issues. Of course a lot of this depends on the size of the room also. If I am playing a small club I usually use my Deluxe Reverb and that does not create any feedback. If I am playing a larger venue then I use other amps and volume can become a concern.