What are the BEST brand(s) of guitar cables? Opinions Wanted!
- Thread starter maxon
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St_Genesius
New member
NegativeEase
New member
OP, it's less about buying the very best cables and more about NOT buying cheap or store brand ones.
Any professional brand or guitar brand has one of only a handful of companies make their cables for them entirely or every thing except the wrap and connections. If the cable doesn't have Switchcraft, Amphenol, Neutrik brand connectors -thats a good giveway that cost cutting has been happening.
Buy quality stuff and your fine -if you want to splurge on quality and by Mogami or George L cool, but just know the HF roll off differences (If you can hear them) between them and a regular cable is easily mitigated with pre or post EQ.. so it's not essential for most people.
I would say the easiest cable to hear the tone differences in are very cheap cables and vintage style cables like a VOX coil style -but it's not necessarily a worse tone (Jimi Hendrix used them in the studio) just has some roll off usually.
And if you want I can record a guitar through a George L cable or a Mogami and compare with a D'addario brand good guitar cable and you can download a 24bit 96khz WAV from me and tell me which you prefer.
This below cable has the most noticeable "sound". -it's mellow with lots of HF roll off -most people won't prefer it:
Any professional brand or guitar brand has one of only a handful of companies make their cables for them entirely or every thing except the wrap and connections. If the cable doesn't have Switchcraft, Amphenol, Neutrik brand connectors -thats a good giveway that cost cutting has been happening.
Buy quality stuff and your fine -if you want to splurge on quality and by Mogami or George L cool, but just know the HF roll off differences (If you can hear them) between them and a regular cable is easily mitigated with pre or post EQ.. so it's not essential for most people.
I would say the easiest cable to hear the tone differences in are very cheap cables and vintage style cables like a VOX coil style -but it's not necessarily a worse tone (Jimi Hendrix used them in the studio) just has some roll off usually.
And if you want I can record a guitar through a George L cable or a Mogami and compare with a D'addario brand good guitar cable and you can download a 24bit 96khz WAV from me and tell me which you prefer.
This below cable has the most noticeable "sound". -it's mellow with lots of HF roll off -most people won't prefer it:
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For my music area here I use the older style 18' mogami-gold angled/straight with the much shorter mogami-style ends. I like these ends better than the longer neutrik ends when it comes to the guitar itself. Neutrik ends are fine for other uses, I just prefer the cable being flexible as it comes out of the guitar. For example, when needing to "take a knee" for adjusting pedals the shorter ends won't cause the cable to jam against the floor and cause the plug to pry sideways into the jack. If you loop the cable (I don't) up through the strap then the shorter ends are better too.
I also really like my ibanez custom 22' cable with gold ends. I never use it anymore but if I was in a band or doing group jams it would be my choice. It's thick but very flexible too, and it also has shorter ends.
I also really like my ibanez custom 22' cable with gold ends. I never use it anymore but if I was in a band or doing group jams it would be my choice. It's thick but very flexible too, and it also has shorter ends.
alex1fly
Well-known member
As others have mentioned, Mogami is up there. Lava too. You can order bulk Mogami cable at a fraction of the price if you want to make your own. Not hard if you've done pickups swaps, but does take a little time and a few "wtf!" moments.
Good to have quality cables and throw-away ones IMO. Especially in a gig situation when you inevitably loan cables out.
Good to have quality cables and throw-away ones IMO. Especially in a gig situation when you inevitably loan cables out.
Lewguitar
New member
The George L's help your guitar retain the highs and clarity that it already has.
If a guy or gal wants their guitar to sound "warmer" or have less treble than it inherently has, use a curly cord.
I use George L cable to preserve those highs.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
I have to second this once you rise to a certain level of quality there is very little difference in the cables. If the cable is quiet and the right length I am more than happy. My newest cables are some braided 20-foot Ernie Balls I got on sale for about $15 per cable. They sound great. Like NE said as long as you are not buying crap you should be okay.
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NegativeEase
New member
Yep -and like I said -if you look to see if the guitar cable has Switchcraft, Amphenol or Neutrik connectors -that is probably the level you want to be at.
any cable WITHOUT a pro level 1/4" connector is a bargain cable which has invariably made compromises elsewhere too.
80's_Thrash_Metal
Slightly_Glazed_Believer
I use Mogami, they are the best quality in my budget.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
My Lifelines have lasted longer than the Guitar Center I bought them from and the Lifelines company (now ProCo) that made them (26 years and counting). My Mogamis have lasted for 14 years of stage gigging and studio use. Just don't buy cheap. Any decent mid to high-end level will last. If the cable isn't loosely flexible (it keeps its shape a bit) and the strain relef on the ends is strong and doesn't bend easy, they will last a long time.
Nsatke81
New member
Ive had my monster cables for 20 years now and they still sound and work great. The company has been in trouble though and the cables have become somewhat difficult to find. If I didnt have my monsters, id use the DAddario cables—I have several of those as well. I think the DAddario/Planet Waves a quality product.
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dystrust
New member
The BTPA cables I use are detailed like George L's without the loss of lows and low-mids. I tried George Ls about 15 years ago and just didn't care for how bright and thin they made my guitar sound.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Been looking at using these lately:
https://www.rattlesnakecables.com/?...143557482&mc_cid=c88d168c38&mc_eid=9a6ef9d50c
https://www.rattlesnakecables.com/?...143557482&mc_cid=c88d168c38&mc_eid=9a6ef9d50c
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
I have always had good luck/results with Mogami Platinum cables for guitar to amp. For pedals, I started using the EBS Premium Gold flat patch cables a couple years ago and they have been great. For speaker cables I have always used and liked Mogami or the highest end Monster cable.
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