Microphonic guitar cables?

[ehdwuld]

Ok so I had just changed strings and tuners on my ibanez
Plugged the cable in , turned the amp on and walked over to grab the guitar
And I notice handling noise from the cable like it's a microphone
So I got the loose end in my hand, hold the end straight up and thump the cable

Loud thump from the amp. wtf

This is the braided Carvin cable I bought back in February

So I try out other cables
The monster cable hanging from my MIM
Some sound but not much

The musicians gear GC special braided cable
Dead quiet

George L's
Nothing

What the Friggin what
Anyone else heard this?

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Microphonic guitar cables?

A cable is a capacitor. A live conductor, insulation and another conductor. Poor insulation, insulation defect, static, and you can get it to release a charge.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Microphonic guitar cables?

Hmmm

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

 

[jeremy]

Re: Microphonic guitar cables?

some of my cables are noisy too, if it bugs ya then don't use those ones

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Microphonic guitar cables?

I hadn't noticed it before or when it's plugged in

But yea
That is the plan

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

 

[hermetico]

Re: Microphonic guitar cables?

I did an exhaustive test with around 10 different cables some of same brand but different models and, from cheap to expensive.
People usually thinks a cable is a cable and it doesn't matter which one you get.
My personal experience says exactly the opposite. There are a lot of things that change from cable to cable, as:

* frequential balance
* signal level
* punch
* definition
* floor noise (or signal to noise ratio)
* microphonics

In my tests, the most microphonic cables where those cheap Chinese cables that have an isolant that seems like foam. Those where the worst in every single aspect, anyway.
Wool-fabric covered cables where the second group presenting microphonics issues (which is very easy to check, just gently beat the cable with some screwdriver or alike to hear the pop in your amp). The only exception to this group was the top notch Evidence Audio The Lyric II, which was absolutely quiet.

Since Tony Marinello (Evidence Audio's owner) explained to me that Evidence Audio warranties for life all their cables (and he demoed it by substituting me a malfunctioning Lyric II for free), I have no doubts anymore. I've payed (expensive as hell) once but, it's for life!.
All my cables are Evidence Audio right now. His SIS plugs system and the Monorail is a solution that works way better for me than George L's for my pedalboard and, while George L's have a bump in mid-lows area, Monorail is transparent or well balanced.
His new re-engineered The Forte actually sounds as his Lyric II, without the drawbacks of a rigid Lyric.
The Forte has every strand INDIVIDUALLY COATED WITH ENAMEL (or formvar, I don't exactly remember it). That, among other tech design solutions, avoids microphonics.

To me, there are just two makers on the top: Evidence Audio and Vovox. But, Evidence Audio warranties your cables for life and Vovox is even expensiver, so... !!!!
There are other cables that make a good compromise related to quality and price, as Mogami's 2524 (which I've succesfully used for everything, guitar cables, pedalboard patch cables and, studio patch cables). Mogami 2524 is a good substitute for its price to EA or Vovox and, just a little step below in sound quality.

Well, as ever, this is just MY personal experience. I am not writing because someone else was saying this or that in this or that forum.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Microphonic guitar cables?

Thanks Herm

As I said I have never noticed this before
And I have used George L's for almost twenty years

But a few months ago this guy sold me his entire gig setup for a mere pittance
And in this were some Monster cables
Which are really thick and resist kinking
They sound fine. He said they were specially designed for bass guitar.IDK
They are a bit shorter

I ordered some things from Carvin back in February and got a cable from them just to fill out the order as the shipping was the ssame for the one knob I needed or a full box of Crap
I opted for the full box

The musicians gear like I said was on sale
And I like the feel of the braided cables

But the Carvin cables were $25 for a 20 foot
The musicians gear was $5 on sale
And the are almost identical
With exception of the Carvin having some handling noise
The monster cable labeled Prolink Monster Rock is less but there
The George L (.155) is dead silent

I'll look round and see if I have any more cables but I think that's it

I don't mind building the George L's but they are a bit expensive

The Carvin and musicians gear are what they are

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

 

[Stratman]

Re: Microphonic guitar cables?

Back in the 60's I had a similar experience where the guitar cable would pick up the local AM radio station, without any guitar (Before someone suggest that was the problem).

I only use Planet Wave American Standard cables from effects to amp and guitar to effects.

Hand made between effects, except for the midi cables and those are from Monster.

 

[playas]

Re: Microphonic guitar cables?

When I just had a SS amp I never bothered much about the cables. An electrician in the family advised that unshielded cables are fine for solid state amps but with a tube amp they can be a big problem. So when I got a tube amp I got a decent set of cables, also Planet Waves which seem to be more specifically designed for use over the frequencies covered by guitars rather than bass / other instruments.
I´ve never had any problems at all with them but had lots of problems with any of the cheaper cables I had previously used.