Recommend good cheap cables
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tone4days
Heel Whacker
Re: Recommend good cheap cables
you want 'speaker' cable, not instrument cable ... good and cheap are usually hard to find in the same instance ... i know the ones my local indie music store sells as the house brand have always been reliable for me ... i think it is the same as MF and AMS sell as their 'house' brand ...
good luck
t4d
you want 'speaker' cable, not instrument cable ... good and cheap are usually hard to find in the same instance ... i know the ones my local indie music store sells as the house brand have always been reliable for me ... i think it is the same as MF and AMS sell as their 'house' brand ...
good luck
t4d
H
H8Red442
Guest
Re: Recommend good cheap cables
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/331640/
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/331640/
FretFire
SingedFingerologist
Re: Recommend good cheap cables
Check out Bayou Cables, I think they have speaker cable for fairly cheap. Top notch stuff. For hooking up a head to a cab you only need 3 or 4 feet anyways.
www.bayoucables.com
Check out Bayou Cables, I think they have speaker cable for fairly cheap. Top notch stuff. For hooking up a head to a cab you only need 3 or 4 feet anyways.
www.bayoucables.com
RW James
New member
Re: Recommend good cheap cables
I went to my local hardware store (Loews or Home Depot) and bought a few feet of heavy duty cable - probably 16 ga - it's the same stuff they use for heavy duty extension chords only this was black. Got a couple of medal 1/4" metal plugs with spring strain relief at Radio Shack - soldered it all together (minding polarity) - total cost under $10
I went to my local hardware store (Loews or Home Depot) and bought a few feet of heavy duty cable - probably 16 ga - it's the same stuff they use for heavy duty extension chords only this was black. Got a couple of medal 1/4" metal plugs with spring strain relief at Radio Shack - soldered it all together (minding polarity) - total cost under $10
Bludave
New member
Re: Recommend good cheap cables
Good and Cheap won't work. You get what you pay for.
I have a 15' Monster cable that I paid about $30. for. My preference in cables are George L cables. I have my peadlboards wired with them and I have also bought 3 15' vintage red premade cables. They were $25 each. The best cables I have used. Worth every penny
Good and Cheap won't work. You get what you pay for.
I have a 15' Monster cable that I paid about $30. for. My preference in cables are George L cables. I have my peadlboards wired with them and I have also bought 3 15' vintage red premade cables. They were $25 each. The best cables I have used. Worth every penny
S
Skarekrough
Guest
Re: Recommend good cheap cables
I agree....you pay for the marketing and advertising companies like Monster dish out. And everyone knows that marketing automatically makes ANYTHING sound better.
Right? Right?
The belief you have of tonal differences is a psychosomatic reaction for the gaping hole you have in your wallet from believing what marketing didn't think anyone would ever be silly enough buy.
Building your own cables saves you money, teaches you important aspects of what makes a quality cable and puts to rest the lies that marketing has been feeding you.
Bludave said:
I agree....you pay for the marketing and advertising companies like Monster dish out. And everyone knows that marketing automatically makes ANYTHING sound better.
Right? Right?
The belief you have of tonal differences is a psychosomatic reaction for the gaping hole you have in your wallet from believing what marketing didn't think anyone would ever be silly enough buy.
Building your own cables saves you money, teaches you important aspects of what makes a quality cable and puts to rest the lies that marketing has been feeding you.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Recommend good cheap cables
I used to work at a store that sold home theatre equipment. The mark-up on Monster Cable is outrageous. That stuff was a HUGE cash cow for the store, and we were encouraged to sell it at every opportunity. Of course, we weren't supposed to mention that the Electrohome cable we sold for 1/3 the price was just as good.
I used to work at a store that sold home theatre equipment. The mark-up on Monster Cable is outrageous. That stuff was a HUGE cash cow for the store, and we were encouraged to sell it at every opportunity. Of course, we weren't supposed to mention that the Electrohome cable we sold for 1/3 the price was just as good.
Re: Recommend good cheap cables
For what it's worth, Lord Valve has started making his own cables. The quality is rather unbelievable. Prices are about 20-25 bucks depending on length and whether or not you want switchcraft or neutrik ends. The cable is the cheap part, the labor and the ends are the expensive part.
The semi drawback to Lord Valve is that he "seems" difficult to get in touch with, but I've met him in person and he's a really nice guy. Worth the effort to pick up the phone and call him.
I have two guitar cables by him and a nice speaker cable and couldn't be happier.
For what it's worth, Lord Valve has started making his own cables. The quality is rather unbelievable. Prices are about 20-25 bucks depending on length and whether or not you want switchcraft or neutrik ends. The cable is the cheap part, the labor and the ends are the expensive part.
The semi drawback to Lord Valve is that he "seems" difficult to get in touch with, but I've met him in person and he's a really nice guy. Worth the effort to pick up the phone and call him.
I have two guitar cables by him and a nice speaker cable and couldn't be happier.
H
H8Red442
Guest
Re: Recommend good cheap cables
For something like a home theater or stereo speaker cable I would probably say that Monster cable is not worth the money. 2 years ago when I was lookin at a tube amp for the first time I had a Samson Airline wireless system. The first time I brought home my Marshall JCM 2000 it sounded like crap. As soon as I plugged in with a cable the sound was much better. After different amps and such i decided that I would stick with a cable since the wireless systems that would work werent affordable. I spoke with the salesman at Guitar Center and he was saying that Monster really is best. So I tried a couple of their cables. The standard ones the ones for Rock or Jazz, what have you. I bought the Studio Pro 1000 21' and have had that since. I have to be quite honest and say that those of you who think there is NO difference in cable are out of your minds. The difference was a bit subtle, it really was night and day to me, but to my father it was subtle. The highs were higher, the lows lower and way punchy. Little to no noise and just a really solid, clear, quality sound. I paid $150 for that cable. $100 for a 12' and $35 for the 4' for my speaker cable. If I had to replace them tomorrow I wouldn't hesitate. When I check out new guitars or amps or what have you I bring my 12' with me because the ones they use stock in music stores just do not give you any idea what the instrument actaully sounds like.
There's all kinds of theory behind why they sound better and why they should in theory. Bottom line is if you tried to wire power in your car stereo for a 600W amp and used 18 guage wire you would fry the wire. The thicker the wire the more heat it can stand (not that a guitar is creating comparable heat) but also less resistance and less noise and interference.
Maybe you can make one just as good. But there is something to Monster Cable. Mine sounds incredible compared to Horizon or whatever cable is on sale at GC. I would except nothing less anymore.
I played through the cheaper cables for 15 years before I bought a Monster cable. I think if you're using a SS amp it's probably not as noticeable. But it was hugely noticeable through my tube amp.
For something like a home theater or stereo speaker cable I would probably say that Monster cable is not worth the money. 2 years ago when I was lookin at a tube amp for the first time I had a Samson Airline wireless system. The first time I brought home my Marshall JCM 2000 it sounded like crap. As soon as I plugged in with a cable the sound was much better. After different amps and such i decided that I would stick with a cable since the wireless systems that would work werent affordable. I spoke with the salesman at Guitar Center and he was saying that Monster really is best. So I tried a couple of their cables. The standard ones the ones for Rock or Jazz, what have you. I bought the Studio Pro 1000 21' and have had that since. I have to be quite honest and say that those of you who think there is NO difference in cable are out of your minds. The difference was a bit subtle, it really was night and day to me, but to my father it was subtle. The highs were higher, the lows lower and way punchy. Little to no noise and just a really solid, clear, quality sound. I paid $150 for that cable. $100 for a 12' and $35 for the 4' for my speaker cable. If I had to replace them tomorrow I wouldn't hesitate. When I check out new guitars or amps or what have you I bring my 12' with me because the ones they use stock in music stores just do not give you any idea what the instrument actaully sounds like.
There's all kinds of theory behind why they sound better and why they should in theory. Bottom line is if you tried to wire power in your car stereo for a 600W amp and used 18 guage wire you would fry the wire. The thicker the wire the more heat it can stand (not that a guitar is creating comparable heat) but also less resistance and less noise and interference.
Maybe you can make one just as good. But there is something to Monster Cable. Mine sounds incredible compared to Horizon or whatever cable is on sale at GC. I would except nothing less anymore.
I played through the cheaper cables for 15 years before I bought a Monster cable. I think if you're using a SS amp it's probably not as noticeable. But it was hugely noticeable through my tube amp.
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ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Recommend good cheap cables
Yeah, I bet he did. The store is making a lot of money off that sale. Retail mark-up on Monster is in the neighbourhood of 50 - 60 percent.
I don't think anyone said that there was NO difference, did they? Cheap cable is going to suck, but at some point you will get diminishing returns.
The Guitar Center employees must salivate when you walk through the door. I don't care how good the cable is, for $285 it had better wash the dishes and take out the trash too.
It's also worth pointing out that using Monster for your speaker connection is a massive waste of money. There's a reason most people use unshielded wire for hooking up cabs: it doesn't make a difference.
I'm sure it's somewhat better, but I can't see how it could possibly be worth the amount of money you paid - especially when you think about how little it cost them to make the cable.
h8red442 said:
Yeah, I bet he did. The store is making a lot of money off that sale. Retail mark-up on Monster is in the neighbourhood of 50 - 60 percent.
I don't think anyone said that there was NO difference, did they? Cheap cable is going to suck, but at some point you will get diminishing returns.
The Guitar Center employees must salivate when you walk through the door. I don't care how good the cable is, for $285 it had better wash the dishes and take out the trash too.
It's also worth pointing out that using Monster for your speaker connection is a massive waste of money. There's a reason most people use unshielded wire for hooking up cabs: it doesn't make a difference.
I'm sure it's somewhat better, but I can't see how it could possibly be worth the amount of money you paid - especially when you think about how little it cost them to make the cable.
S
Skarekrough
Guest
Re: Recommend good cheap cables
And for the warranty.
You're essentially paying also for the convenience of being able to haul it back to whatever outlet you got it from and make them give you a new one.
It's with this in mind that I encourage everyone to get their moneys worth and blow through at least a few of them. Potential uses that should ensure the need to replace them would include, but are not limited to, tie-downs on trucks, pull-cords for lawnmowers, rope-tows for water-skiing, nooses, jump rope, clotheslines, hog-tying friends and leashes for pets.
...there's nothing like a lazy Saturday morning punctuated by the notion that you need to destroy something and get to get a new one just to spice things up around the studio.
FretFire said:
And for the warranty.
You're essentially paying also for the convenience of being able to haul it back to whatever outlet you got it from and make them give you a new one.
It's with this in mind that I encourage everyone to get their moneys worth and blow through at least a few of them. Potential uses that should ensure the need to replace them would include, but are not limited to, tie-downs on trucks, pull-cords for lawnmowers, rope-tows for water-skiing, nooses, jump rope, clotheslines, hog-tying friends and leashes for pets.
...there's nothing like a lazy Saturday morning punctuated by the notion that you need to destroy something and get to get a new one just to spice things up around the studio.
Bludave
New member
Re: Recommend good cheap cables
My preference in cables has to do with dependability. Many of the "less expensive" cables are made inferior to the better more expensive cables. Is there a sonic difference? Yes I believe there is, but a small difference. The main reason on why I use George L is if the cable breaks(which has never happened in 6 years I have been using them) I can cut it an reconnect it in between songs.
Skarekrough said:
My preference in cables has to do with dependability. Many of the "less expensive" cables are made inferior to the better more expensive cables. Is there a sonic difference? Yes I believe there is, but a small difference. The main reason on why I use George L is if the cable breaks(which has never happened in 6 years I have been using them) I can cut it an reconnect it in between songs.
H
H8Red442
Guest
Re: Recommend good cheap cables
FYI I didn't even buy the cable from Guitar Center. Its the difference between damn near crystal clear and fuzzy/muddy sounding. To me all the difference in the world.
I spent just about the same on the Samson wireless and it sounded horrible in comparison. The $20-$30 cables they sell sounded better than the wireless but no where near the clarity of the Monster i bought.
ratherdashing said:
FYI I didn't even buy the cable from Guitar Center. Its the difference between damn near crystal clear and fuzzy/muddy sounding. To me all the difference in the world.
I spent just about the same on the Samson wireless and it sounded horrible in comparison. The $20-$30 cables they sell sounded better than the wireless but no where near the clarity of the Monster i bought.
