longer cable length = less output?

[cheezemaster]

I made the mistake of playing a gig with a new instrument cable without testing it first. I plugged in and my guitars just sounded wimpy - the ouput was significantly less and the amp wasn't distorting like it should. I quickly swapped out with another (spotty) old cable I had and problem solved.

I figured (at first) that I just picked up a lemon of a cable at GC. My only other thought is that the new cable is an 18 ft. and my old was 10 ft- which is what I normally use. Would 8ft really make that big of a difference in my guitar's output or do you think I just have a bad cable?

 

[marvar]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

Well, yes, cable length can make a difference in your sound, although the usual accepted lenght limit for an instrament cable is 25 feet. The longer the cable, the more capacitance, and capacitors do what? They pass lows, and block highs. You can really hear a difference in cable guages, thats why Monster cables, etc, are more expensive,than a Radio Shack cable- bigger,better wire.

 

[slash857]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

i stick with the dimarzio and planet waves cables. good quality cables, imo.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

From 18 to 10 feet the difference would be nearly completely negligible.

(Unless you were using Radio Shack coil cables...) :laugh2:

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

thats why Monster cables, etc, are more expensive,than a Radio Shack cable- bigger,better wire.

Monster is the biggest bunch of BS hype to hit musicians.

The only reason to get those ********* cables is because of the "no questions asked" warranty.

 

[some_dude]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

Monster is the biggest bunch of BS hype to hit musicians.

The only reason to get those ********* cables is because of the "no questions asked" warranty.

+1. The conductor (the part that actually passes the signal) and shielding (the part that blocks the noise) is the same size as most other decent cables on the market. What makes it so thick is the extra rubber they pack on around it.

Monster = premium price for lots of rubber and fancy packaging.

 

[ErikH]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

From 18 to 10 feet the difference would be nearly completely negligible.

(Unless you were using Radio Shack coil cables...) :laugh2:

Don't knock those RS cables totally. SRV used the gray ones. Here's a snippet of an interview with Cesar Diaz I have on my PC from the ToneQuest Report.

This is after Stevie told him he hated the "high quality" cables that Cesar gave him. They actually were cables by a certain company mentioned in this thread already.

Here's what Cesar said:

"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"

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

Planet waves = good stuff.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

Yeah, something about "they let too much electricity pass through."

I have an old guitar magazine with SRV and Jeff Beck on the cover. The SRV article started out with the writer at soundcheck and the tone wasn't happening, and SRV couldn't figure out what was wrong. He twisted ever knob he could and it just wasn't happening. Then he put on his hat and it "happened."

I'd rather use the same cables I've been using for the past 10 years and the EQ the amp has availible rather than to leave my eq-ing to cables that probably won't last a whole evening.

 

[cheezemaster]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

From 18 to 10 feet the difference would be nearly completely negligible.

(Unless you were using Radio Shack coil cables...) :laugh2:

Nah - it's a "Live Wire" - I've had decent luck with that brand in the past. I just exchanged it at GC for an identical cable. I'll see if I still have the problem. I suspect it was a bad cable, it crackled and popped a little when I wiggled it.. I've also used all different lenghths of cables in the past and haven't noticed much of a differince before - this was a severe cut in output.

I swear about 20% of the instrument cables I've bought in the past (regardless of brand ) have had some kind of problem. Even Monster and some of the more expensive brands.... kinda frustrating.

 

[ErikH]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

Yeah, something about "they let too much electricity pass through."

I have an old guitar magazine with SRV and Jeff Beck on the cover. The SRV article started out with the writer at soundcheck and the tone wasn't happening, and SRV couldn't figure out what was wrong. He twisted ever knob he could and it just wasn't happening. Then he put on his hat and it "happened."

I'd rather use the same cables I've been using for the past 10 years and the EQ the amp has availible rather than to leave my eq-ing to cables that probably won't last a whole evening.

That's exactly what SRV said. He may not have been the most technical when it came to gear but man he knew when it sounded right.

I've been using Proco and Horizon cables for years and haven't had any problems. Come to think of it, I can't remember the last time I bought a new cable.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

I seem to have mostly Yorkville cables. I'm not sure if they're available in the US (the same company makes Traynor amps). I have had very few problems with them. Some of the cables I use today are almost 8 years old.

And yeah, Monster is a ridiculous ripoff. We've been over this already.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

And yeah, Monster is a ridiculous ripoff. We've been over this already.

Until everyone is aware how much of a scam it is, it deserves to be said.

 

[Hellion]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

I've been wireless for the last 10 years.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

If you used a 100' cable like Buddy Guy, it might be noticeable.

 

[Mephis]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

I use peavey cables.

Sounds good to me, every other cable, even cheap ****ty ones, sounds the same.

The only difference from cable to cable I hear is the amount of hum some lowend cables might cause.

I have a really crappy cable I use and it hums pretty bad, but my Vox has a built in noise gate that works like a charm.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

I tried the Specterflex (spelling??) cables about 10 years ago. They were the first "high end" cables on the market that I can remember. They definitly sounded MUCH better than the standard Rapco cables I had I used in the past. They cost twice as much but after 10 years of giging and playing they still sound great and they still work. Just for the durability factor they were worth the $$$.

Cables matter...if you can't hear the difference....well, I'm not even gonna go there.

 

[FretFire]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

I use a Bayou cable from guitar -> pedalboard, GeorgeL's on the board, and a Pedalsnake from board -> amp. The Bayou cables are made from excellent parts (Canare cable, Switchcraft ends among others) and are priced very well.

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

my cables are all planet waves. from guitar to amp, and for effects in the loop (when i feel like running them), and the speaker cable. no complaints here.

the only bad cable experience i've had is with a 10ft dimarzio cable that hummed like it was nobody's business.

 

[Dirtyking]

Re: longer cable length = less output?

I've had the same Monster Cables for 5 years without any probs at all. But the price they ask for now is a joke. I'm glad I bought them when I did.