Guitar cables take a beating from being stepped upon, rolled around on hard floors and pulled in and out of amps and pedals all the time – it is therefore essential to choose one which can withstand this everyday abuse.
Planet Waves Circuit Breaker cables combine durability with tone quality for optimal sound reproduction. Plus, these versatile cables come equipped with an additional feature – a mute switch!
Sound
Sound quality of guitar cables is of great importance when selecting one for your setup. Premium cables feature multiple layers and types of shielding to help repel interference and noise interference, and thicker jackets to withstand life on the road.
Many premium cables feature gold-plated plugs to reduce corrosion or other issues that could compromise sound quality, and make plugging into jacks simpler without too much fiddling around. Angled designs may make plugging them in easier as well.
If you want the highest audio fidelity possible, look no further than Ernie Ball’s offering of premium guitar cables. Their woven construction not only looks more appealing than standard black cables, but its PVC-coated cousins too! Moreover, this cable boasts multiple shielding layers including copper braided outer layers and carbon-infused polymers to minimize handling noise and vibration noise levels.
Consider also this offering from PRS. Known as one of the finest guitar manufacturers worldwide, PRS collaborated with Van Damme Cabling to design this cable with OFC core and spiral/conductive polymer shielding to reduce interference and unwanted noise – plus it comes backed with a lifetime warranty if ever damaged!
Of course, premium cables offer lifetime warranties to protect your investment, but keep in mind that even the highest-grade cable may experience problems over time due to wear and tear or materials used – in which case, getting in contact with the manufacturer might be best in order to request replacements.
While certain cable manufacturers might claim they offer cables specifically suited to different styles of music, this is often just marketing hype. Any premium cable will work just as well for bass as it would electric instruments; jazz as it would rock.
Durability
Durability is of utmost importance when selecting guitar cables. They often get jostled around, stepped on, rolled over by chairs and pulled into amps and pedals without warning, so choosing one with suitable shielding, low capacitance and durable connectors is paramount to their survival.
Quality connectors are especially vital, as they’re likely to become the source of failure for guitar cables. Plus, these stress points represent where you plug and unplug them. Look for cables with quality Neutrik or Switchcraft connectors to reduce risk.
A quality guitar cable must have low capacitance, or electrical charge storage capacity. This is important because high capacitance can alter frequency response of signals as well as create crackling sounds when moved or stepped on, leading to crackling noises when moved or stepped upon. Tin or polyethylene insulation offers low capacitance when compared with other forms of insulation materials.
There are also cables with braided copper shields, which provide more effective corrosion protection than their tin or polyethylene counterparts. While more costly, their difference in tone and reliability more than makes up for their additional expense.
As with anything, length is another key consideration. The longer a guitar cable is, the greater its potential to cause interference and noise pollution. As such, cables should generally not exceed 25 feet; for longer cable needs if necessary, consider one with right-angle plug to prevent tangling and make storage simpler.
Some cable manufacturers have even gone as far as targeting certain styles of music, like blues and jazz. This strategy is simply marketing; there is no discernable difference in performance between bass guitar and electric guitar cables marketed for each other; any decent cable should work equally well on both instruments provided it contains high-grade shielding material and has low capacitance.
Flexibility
An ideal guitar cable should be flexible enough to bend easily when necessary. This is crucial as guitarists often move about while playing, even while sitting still, and must frequently uncoil, connect, and then coil back up the cable repeatedly – hence making flexibility even more vital than rigidity in cable design.
The Rapco Horizon G1 Standard Guitar Cable is a high-quality cable designed to meet the demanding requirements of professional musicians. Constructed of durable PVC jacket and 24 gauge copper conductors with 70 percent shielding coverage to prevent interference, this lightweight yet sturdy cable also includes an integrated Velcro cable tie for convenient transportation and storage. Furthermore, rigorous tests ensure its reliability so your tone will always remain intact regardless of where your performance takes place.
Traditional (passive) guitar pickups produce high impedance signals which are susceptible to cable capacitance, leading to progressive high frequency loss over long runs of wire and creating dull or woolly tones in their sound. High quality cables generally have lower capacitance levels than lower quality cables but there can be variance among types.
There is a difference between TRS and TS cables; TRS stands for Tip, Ring and Shield while TS stands for Single-ended. TRS cables feature three conductors to carry stereo audio signals while single-ended TS cables are solely suitable for instruments; guitar cables may or may not feature TS.
This cable is hand-assembled with Canare GS-6 oxygen-free copper cable and durable Neutrik black and gold 1/4″ TS connectors from Neutrik. Featuring special polyethylene dielectric and dual shields that reduce capacitance and series resistance for improved frequency response. Ideal for connecting guitar/bass to amps, mixers and effects pedals as well as frequent stage workouts; perfect for nightly stage workouts and studio use as it has locking RCA plugs for secure connection! A must have for any serious musician with its durable outer jacket design and locking RCA plugs providing low capacitance and series resistance readings between 200Hz to 1000Hz!
Price
A great guitar cable can make the difference between great sound and mediocre one. It should minimize noise while transmitting unfiltered audio signals unfilteredly to preserve the natural characteristics of your instrument and help achieve an ideal tone during performances. Therefore, it is key that you select the appropriate cable according to your needs; there are various varieties such as coiled, straight and balanced cables available on the market which all deliver high-quality sounds; though coil cables tend to be preferred due to their space saving nature and ability to stretch when necessary as well as being easier stored or handled during performances.
Fender Pro Series Tweed Coiled Cable is an affordable yet high-quality option for guitarists seeking quality cable. Its flexible coiled design can stretch out up to 20 feet when needed for performance settings; its design also reduces tangling for better sound quality preservation and minimizes tangling when in storage or when moving around between performances. Available in various lengths with both straight and right-angled connector options available – make this an excellent addition!
TS (Tip-Sleeve) cables are often used for mono connections (one end has the connector while the other remains empty). As opposed to TRS cables that feature multiple connected conductors, which make for complex designs and greater durability over time, a TS connection offers much simpler designs which makes it more reliable for musicians performing live. These rugged yet dependable cables can withstand performance demands more easily.
This 6-foot cable is ideal for connecting guitars, basses, keyboards and other equipment to amplifiers, mixers and effects pedals. With its OFC core and UHD shielding delivering quality that will outlive its use and its highly conductive low series resistance design that improves frequency response; carbon-infused polymer reduces handling noise to eliminate hum; while its coil design prevents any unwanted tangling issues.
This premium guitar cable boasts a braided tweed design in brown/yellow for those seeking a vintage vibe. Available in multiple colors to match gear or artist logos for professional appearance. Also includes Velcro cable tie to easily transport and organize.