High-quality guitar cables can make an immense difference to your tone. By employing superior materials and construction techniques, these cables ensure that your signal reaches its destination with minimum noise interference.
They’re built to withstand the demands of gigging musicians, such as coiling and uncoiling or being stepped on. Choose from various lengths and connector options (straight or angled).
High-quality
If you’re spending money on a guitar cable, opt for the best you can afford. Quality cables will last longer and save you from frustration in the long run; quality options exist that fit any budget. Look for one with good connecting ends (aka jack connectors); these tend to be failure points so make sure they’re made by reputable manufacturers.
Gold-plated connectors on high-quality cables offer increased resistance to corrosion compared with nickel or silver counterparts, and better transmit the full frequency range of signal, giving you all of the tones expected from them. Some guitarists believe copper-plated connectors sound superior; however, any potential advantages due to increased susceptibility are offset by corrosion issues associated with copper plating.
Fender Professional Series cables are an ideal choice for guitarists seeking high-quality cables. Boasting an oxygen-free copper core to deliver clear sound quality and special spiral shielding to reduce handling noise, these coiled cables make storage and unwinding easy.
These cables are perfect for guitar players looking for a reliable cable that’s tough enough to withstand gigging conditions. Thicker than most cables and featuring heat-shrunk sleeves to shield their inner cable and terminals from damage, as well as Neutrik silent plugs which allow users to swap instruments without turning off the amp, these are sure to hold up under even the harshest of gigging environments.
This braided cable stands out from its competitors by being more durable and tangle-proof than most options available, while still being available in multiple lengths to meet your individual needs. Plus, its price may seem more costly compared to others but offers many features which make this purchase worth your while!
Unbalanced
Unbalanced cables feature a single stranded wire center conductor encased within an insulating jacket, with some form of shield surrounding it. The center conductor serves as the hot or + connector while its shield acts as the ground or – (negative) connector; they work fine over short distances but over long periods they may cause noise issues due to high capacitance levels that reduce higher frequency response.
Whenever selecting cables for your pedalboard, look for cables with quality connectors and materials – for instance, gold-plated jack plugs shouldn’t corrode, interfering with tone. A high-grade cable should also feature thick rubber sheathing to reduce tangling and vibration.
Length is also of great significance; try keeping it under 30 feet to limit electromagnetic field interference and lower capacitance levels that hold charge, improving tone. A high-quality cable should have low capacitance levels which help improve sound by holding less charge in its capacitance cells and creating less static electricity build-up in its surface areas.
Cheap cables often contain high capacitance that can negatively affect your tone by decreasing frequency response and having poor grounding – not to mention electrical interference – from them. Always carry spare cables with you and make sure that they can handle the current levels that your amplifier and speakers require of them.
Shielded
Shielded cables protect against interference from outside sources that might compromise your guitar signal, such as electromagnetic interference from entering through amplifiers, mixers, PA systems or cell phones. A copper or aluminum shield encloses the inner conductor for maximum protection from electromagnetic interference entering through guitar strings. Furthermore, electromagnetic interference from entering through these wires is prevented while transmission of hum and buzz is reduced significantly – further improving tone quality by eliminating these unwanted sounds from equipment like amplifiers mixers PA systems or cell phones is reduced. A good shielded cable can improve your tone by eliminating these types of devices from other equipment such as amplifiers mixers PA systems and even cell phones from occurring.
When selecting a shielded cable, make sure that it features two conductors. A dual-conductor cable can transmit your signal without creating noise interference; single conductor cables may cost less but cause interference; additionally they cannot transmit balanced sound transmission.
Quality shielding of cables is also of great significance. While spiral shields may reduce costs, their gaps allow external interference into your audio signal. Braided shielding may provide more effective and flexible coverage; thicker shields require more room to bend and flex, making them less flexible than thinner versions.
Another key consideration when it comes to wire selection is size. Thick wires have been shown to reduce signal loss and age/wear effects more effectively, while they may have higher impedance ratings than thinner options – so be sure to select an appropriate gauge of wire for your application.
High-quality cables feature thicker wire and more complex construction, including additional layers of shielding to block radio and electromagnetic frequencies and precision soldering. A high-quality cable should also feature gold-plated connectors which are more resilient and less susceptible to corrosion than nickel or silver alternatives.
As a guitarist on the go, you need a reliable cable that can stand up to all of the rigors associated with traveling and setting up and taking down every night. D’Addario has designed their American Stage series cables specifically to this end; featuring heavy-duty heat shrunk tubing to reduce extraneous noise interference while oxygen free copper conductors and gold-plated connectors less prone to oxidation and corrosion are two features which make these cables suitable for your journeys.
Connectors
Here you’ll find everything you need for creating and maintaining an effective cable setup, from mic and instrument cables to snakes and adapters for pedals. Top-rated options like the Musician’s Gear 25′ Straight to Angle Instrument Cable offer convenient setup on stage by providing straight connectors that plug directly into guitars with angle ends that route to amplifiers or pedalboards; nylon braiding helps resist cuts and kinks for tangle-free performance that withstands gigging musicians; an included cable cutter makes shortening too long cables quick and simple!
Are you looking to expand your setup with multi-channel audio snakes from AV Link, Livewire and more? Take a look at these top models available now from them.