If your jack isn’t functioning, look for signs of corrosion or humidity. A broken cable connection could also be to blame – as could bad wires.
Standard mono guitar cables are relatively straightforward. They typically feature a tip-sleeve connector designed specifically to connect guitars with amplifiers. Any differences among cables typically fall under capacitance issues.
Conductor
Conductor wire is what carries signal from your bass guitar to its output jack, typically made of copper and shielded against electrical interference and noise.
Basic cable configurations consist of two conductors joined at one end by an isolating ring to ensure they don’t come into contact. This type of cable, commonly referred to as a patch cord, is widely used by bass players to connect their instrument to an amp and effects pedals.
Electric bass and guitar cables have been specially engineered for electric use, so always check that any cables you buy for these instruments meet that criteria before inserting it in your bass or guitar. Lower priced models may only support acoustic instruments and limit true electric signals from pickups.
When purchasing high-end bass cables, pay close attention to the plug at their end. Professional musicians typically prefer Neurtrik silent connectors that make no sound when connected or disconnected – ideal if playing live where cables need to be changed quickly between gear.
Capacitance is another essential characteristic of an excellent cable. This property measures the maximum charge it can hold, which has an impact on your frequency response at lower frequencies; more capacitance means reduced response and dampened signal quality.
As well as inspecting your input jack on the bass, as it can often be the source of issues. Make sure the hex nut for signs of corrosion or rust; solder joints should also be thoroughly examined – otherwise new jacks can usually be purchased easily at music stores at reasonable costs, then tested against your amplifier to make sure that everything has been resolved.
Shielding
A guitar cable should carry signals without producing unwanted noise, which is why good quality cables use heavy-duty frame shielding and high grade materials designed to minimize unwanted sound waves. Shielding typically consists of braided bunches of copper strands covering the core wire – this provides an effective barrier that protects from electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Another consideration in selecting an ideal bass guitar cable is ensuring it has low capacitance. Capacitance refers to a cable’s ability to store electrical charges and it has a direct influence on your tone; lower capacitance ensures more consistent frequency response and thus will make both amplifiers and pedals seem more responsive.
Good cables will feature gold-plated connectors that are more resistant to corrosion than the cheaper silver tipped plugs used on cheaper cables, and may feature tinned copper braiding which helps stop any unwanted frequencies from disrupting your signal. All these features make great bass guitar cables truly stand out and will result in clearer audio signals with increased depth and strength.
A superior bass guitar cable will be easy to coil up after use and provide strong, durable performance without being susceptible to kinks or twists when fully extended. High-quality cables should connect easily with multiple jack sockets and the connections at both ends should feel solid without excessive play or looseness. Furthermore, when inserting it into a jack it should “snap” securely, providing further assurance. Plugs of different shapes and sizes should fit securely. The hex screw securing the metal ring at the entrance to the jack should also be tightened securely, without showing signs of wear and tear. A high quality cable will feature heavy duty heat shrink tubing around its connections as well as shielding to further minimize potential noise interference.
Length
The length of a bass guitar cable is important because it can have a substantial effect on how your instrument sounds. A longer cable may introduce more noise into the signal while shorter ones will deliver better sound quality. Ideally, 10 feet should suffice for most applications and prevent obstruction while playing.
If you require longer cables for stage shows or rehearsals, select a high-quality model designed specifically for live use. Such cables feature thicker materials made of higher quality components; lower breakage risk connectors; thicker jacketing to protect internal conductors against damage; thicker connections that won’t fray and an extended jacket to shield inner conductors from potential harm – they may cost more, but will give superior performance and durability.
Most electric guitars and basses feature a 1/4” (6.35mm) mono tip-sleeve jack output that accepts patch cables to connect your instrument to an amplifier, pedals, and other gear in your rig. Certain instruments, like keyboards or synthesizers with stereo outputs that connect directly to two separate jacks have stereo cables which allow users to split your instrument into left and right channels or transmit one mono signal through both outputs simultaneously.
There are a wide variety of guitar cables to choose from, and most brands produce both straight and angled models. Slash and Zakk Wylde both recommend Monster Pro Studio cables – with heavy-duty shielding and straight-to-right-angle connectors, as well as length options suitable for coiling up for storage.
Mogami GLS Audio Guitar Cable is another outstanding choice, featuring a straight-to-right angle connection and available in lengths of 2ft, 3ft, 6ft and 10ft. For added peace of mind this cable also comes with a lifetime “no excuses” warranty; any issues should just be returned directly back to Mogami for replacement!
Jack Connection
Quality bass guitar jack cables are of utmost importance. The best ones feature high-grade components to produce a clear signal without any unwanted noise or buzzing. In addition, their low capacitance means they don’t hold too much electrical charge which prevents your signal from becoming muffled or losing high-frequency frequencies that you want when connected to pedals and amps.
Most electric guitars use a 1/4-inch mono jack to deliver sound from pickups to an amplifier, and over time this input jack may become loose or its contacts disconnected from one another. While replacing it may be an option, another way of fixing this problem would be using pliers to bend back the contact points back into position and restore your bass’ ability to pick up strong signals from its jack.
To determine whether an input jack has become loose, unplug and turn off. Use a multimeter to check voltage between each of its three lugs using zero volts between tip and ring terminals as a ground terminal, with some minor voltage detected on sleeve terminal. If any voltage appears, this indicates one of its contacts has become detached and needs soldering back in place.
As it’s best not to attempt soldering the jack to its case, replacing its cable can easily be accomplished by unplugging its old connector and cutting its wires that connect it. A soldering iron and some solder are necessary, as well as wire strippers to remove insulation and expose metal. Once the jack has been unplugged and removed from its case, use wire cutters to cut away any bits of plastic that may remain attached or trapped within its connector or any other parts.
As well as buying a patch cord tailored specifically for bass or electric guitar use, it’s also wise to invest in high-quality cables designed specifically for these instruments. Some cables might be better suited for use with acoustic instruments or digital equipment than with electric signals being transmitted between your pickups and amplifier. While higher quality bass or guitar cables may cost more, their superior durability should ensure they last over 10 years with proper care.