Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

[PaulReedSmith]

Are you tired of having your cables break on you, only to have to solder them again which takes a good deal of time I must say...and then they break again after about a month or two?

Well...


Buy some planet waves cables. Almost impossible to break, and they have a lifetime guarantee anyway, so if one does, go get a new one for free

 

[brit84]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

only problem is if the ends do break, you HAVE to get a new one cause theyre a pain to try to repair. normal cables can just be resoldered

 

[PaulReedSmith]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

only problem is if the ends do break, you HAVE to get a new one cause theyre a pain to try to repair. normal cables can just be resoldered

but they don't break...so yeah :wizard:

 

[devilfish]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

yeah i only use planet waves. i got a clasic one then decided to splash out and got two 30ft custom gold plated ones...they are impossible to break, youd need to dropa tonn weight on them to break them, theyre moulded plastic and cant really bend, crack, crush or be knocked about.

 

[brit84]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

they do, or else i wouldnt say that. one of mine and a couple friends have broken. one had their amp crush an end, and it was just hopeless to try to fix.

even if you can return a broken one for a replacement, i would like to know how good their RMA procedure is. If i have to send it to them to get a new one, then id rather have a normal cable and spend what would otherwise be spent on shipping, on a new connector and solder it myself.

Im not saying PW are bad, theyre fine for home and light gigging, but heavy use will wear out the ends. Id use em for a pedalboard and for connecting immobile things. I do like the spring ends though, helps keep em in there

 

[brit84]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

, youd need to dropa tonn weight on them to break them, .

Or a peavey 5150 combo:wizard:

 

[PaulReedSmith]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

They also have this neat elastic thing built in near the plugs, so that when you wrap your cable to store it, it will stay that way..super awesome!

And seriously...the name just sounds cool.

Cables named like "Mogami" "Monster" "GeorgeL"...they all sound like monsters from a Japanese anime movie or something...


Planet Waves...now that sounds like TONE!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

I'm not sure what the hell you guys who break cables a lot are doing to them. I've had the same cables for the last 10 years, during which they've lived on the floor the entire time, getting trampled by kids and dogs, getting stuff dropped on them, etc.... and none have ever failed.

Except for the braided DiMarzio that goes from my guitar to the pedals, all my cables are no names.

 

[PaulReedSmith]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

I'm not sure what the hell you guys who break cables a lot are doing to them. I've had the same cables for the last 10 years, during which they've lived on the floor the entire time, getting trampled by kids and dogs, getting stuff dropped on them, etc.... and none have ever failed.

Except for the braided DiMarzio that goes from my guitar to the pedals, all my cables are no names.

Its because they are lying on the floor..not moving around and not being jerked at the jacks...You could drop a lot of weight on the cable itself, and it will be fine, but the jacks are what you have to worry about.

The reason cables break is not because the cable itself breaks, but the jacks break connection with the cable.

just some info

 

[JeffB]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

I bought one of those things last Spring. It lasted about 3 weeks before it started cutting in and out. Sounded nice, but I don't see the big deal. I never even bothered to get it replaced. Prolly should someday.

Bought a George L which sounds even better, albeit too stiff.

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

I ran up on a deal at a music store going out of bussiness and bought the last 4 circuit breaker cables they had for $15 each. I have opened 1 since then, and that's been about 8 months ago, I like em!

 

[chuckbat]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

I bought one of their pedal board patch cable kits. It doesn't get any easier than that. You cut the cable to the right length, and screw the ends on. Thick gauge. GC had them on sale for like $35 this past week.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

I have a few of them. They sound nice and they lay flat. They come with a nifty doo-dad that wraps around the cable.

[bitterness]

That said, I have other cables (specifically, BRTB Canada's Excalibur Series) that cost less, sound better, and have far less handling noise than the Planet Waves ones, but I can't get ahold of them easily now that all the mom and pop shops started stocking Planet Waves instead. So I'm kinda stuck.

That said, Planet Waves cables come in a really nice package... and that's worth an extra $5 right there, isn't it?

[/bitterness]

 

[Ocifer]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

but they don't break...so yeah :wizard:

I'm sorry, but don't buy into the marketing. They DO break. Rather easily. I take care of my gear as best as I can, and they lasted no longer (maybe shorter) than a no-name brand I buy at my local mom & pop store. I didn't notice much of an improvement with Planet Waves cables.

In fact, I feel I should share an experience I had. I was at a guitar store playing a month or two back (after the Planet Waves I owned broke). I asked the commissioned salesman guy at a local big store if he had any opinions on quality guitar cables. He recommended the PW cables, and I immediately told him that I was not interested. He laughed, and said he totally understood and then proceeded to drop the whole salesmen shtick.

He told me something like, "I personally don't buy into the whole boutique cable thing, but I will tell you that people have PW cables break on them more than normal. Enough people don't even request a new one from the PW (as they guarantee life or replacement), because they stop bothering with fancy cables altogether. People here that have bought George L have been much happier, but I don't give a ****."

I ended up not buying anything that day, but I bought a George L cable recently, and I actually sensed a clearer sound (not cleaner). So... FWIW, don't by into lots of marketing hype, and always use your own ears. Even if something is supposed to be amazing according to others, you will feel like a TOOL if you buy it, use it, and wonder why the hell you did.

EDIT: Ahhh i see JeffB beat me to the punch. I'm with you, man. Also, if anyone cares, Eric Johnson uses George L cables and he is known to be one of the most tonally anal guitar players around. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

I personally never bought into the hype of boutique cables, or better quality switches or pots or pickups... until I tried some... but as with all kinds of gear, you have to use your own ear to find what you like. I'm only posting such a negative review because of the experiences I've had, and in the hopes to make this a balanced discussion.

 

[JustWendell]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

but they don't break...so yeah :wizard:

Oh, but they can and do break, just like any other cable. Something in the circut breaker end of my fav has busted loose. If i'm reading the policy correctly you pay shipping both ways, and since around the time it was bought I also won an ebay auction of about 12 planet waves cables, I don't think i'll be sending it in anytime soon. PW cables have been great to me for the most part though, have had better luck with these than no-name stuff.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

I gave up on lowend cables and went Monster. Had them for years and they've never let me down....

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

The only cable I´ve never broken is my Samson "Armored cable", which BTW comes with a much more realistic 25 year guarantee

Seriously, as soon as someone offers a lifetime guarantee for a cable, I get skeptical...

 

[millsart]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

If some of you guys are jumping around and such to the extent your breaking cables and/or pulling your rig down, I've got to say that with all due respect thats a pretty dumb way to treat your gear for one, and two, why on earth don't you get a wireless system ?

A cables is just a cable, even if its a top of the line, if it breaks your out $30-40, big deal, life goes on. Carry spares. HOWEVER if your messing up the jacks on your rig (not hard to do with a lot of them being plastic) that can be a real issue.

You want to be down a head 2 weeks while you get it serviced ? You want to not be able to finish the set ? Heck, if the thing falls as someone mentioned, you want to be have to pay for the repair, new tubes etc ?

I wouldn't, and thats why when I'm not using a wireless, I make darn sure I've got plenty of cable at all times so I dont turn around and damage something. Or trip myself or a bandmate.


Sorry but the issue isn't why the cables failing but what on earth your doing to be damaging something like a cable of all things!

I've had cables for 15 years and they still work just fine.

I've blown tubes, torn speakers, broken strings, chipped finishes, damaged a few mikes, broken a few bones, you name it, but never have I done anything to destroy a cable LOL

 

[jmh151]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

I bought one of their pedal board patch cable kits. It doesn't get any easier than that. You cut the cable to the right length, and screw the ends on. Thick gauge. GC had them on sale for like $35 this past week.

+1. I bought George L's, and they are unreliable and, and a bit flimsy compared to the Planet Waves kits.

I bought a few Monster Cables with the lifetime guarantee from Guitar Center. I got the standard ones, which I thought were $35 a piece for the 12' ones I bought. Well after 2 years the tips broke, something I've never had happen on any cable (most of the generic cables I bought in the past had switchcraft plugs). Took them back, Guitar Center no longer told the standard gold line, so they gave me the more expensive Rock cables, which cost over $55 a piece.

If I had to buy cables all over again I'd go with Planet Waves. They all seem to be built stronger

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Planet Waves Instrument Cables FTW!!!!!

Its because they are lying on the floor..not moving around and not being jerked at the jacks...You could drop a lot of weight on the cable itself, and it will be fine, but the jacks are what you have to worry about.

The reason cables break is not because the cable itself breaks, but the jacks break connection with the cable.

just some info

You're kidding, right? By "they live on the floor" I meant that yes, I leave them out on the floor all the time, but also that I take piss-poor care of them. I leave them plugged into all my pedals and stuff, so the jacks take a lot of abuse. The pedals aren't mounted on a board, but just laying on the floor, so they're always getting kicked around.

If you put your pedals on a board, loop the end of the cable through your strap, and are not stupid enough to unplug things by the cord, the jacks really shouldn't be taking that much abuse.

I actually dislike the idea of a cable who's jack isn't the *standard* metal, screw on type. Returning easy-to-fix stuff is a waste of time, so it makes me mad when they make them difficult to work on.