If you want a guitar cable that will survive being handled rough on stage, look for one with enough strength to withstand being tossed about, stepped upon, or pulled in and out of amps and pedals without suffering damage.
Professional musicians use various cables that have been proven to withstand such wear and tear, so here are a few we recommend considering:
Reliability
Guitar cables may be expensive, but they’re an essential component of any musician’s arsenal. Finding the ideal cable will ensure great tone, clear signal transmission and longevivity for their use.
The top guitar cables are built to endure life on the road while still offering superior quality. Their construction can handle the abuse of playing for long sessions while traveling in vans as well as vibrations from traveling itself.
There are plenty of high-quality guitar accessories that won’t break the bank and some can even last a lifetime, which is particularly advantageous for guitarists planning on touring for years to come.
Quality guitar cables typically include copper shielding, dielectric insulators and oxygen-free copper core (conductors). Each of these features serves to separate signal ‘leakage’ that could negatively impact tone of your amp.
Capacitance is another critical factor in cable reliability; higher capacitance provides improved signal transfer and sound clarity.
Some cables offer a Picofarad rating to indicate how well their core will isolate signals, found on either their package or product page; an increase in this number usually indicates quality performance.
Not only is the material of guitar cable important, but so is its body. A cheap casing may rip apart after repeatedly being bent or contorted, exposing its wires.
Strength of conductors also has a great deal of effect on cable performance; higher-grade cables will feature thicker wires with heavier gauges for improved tone reproduction.
An additional factor that can undermine the durability of a guitar cable is the type of connector it uses. A straight connection at one end leaves your cable more susceptible to damage from flailing limbs or dropping it on stage; an angled connection reduces this risk while offering better placement for your plug.
Flexibility
Guitar cables serve a multitude of essential purposes and are key components to getting the most out of your rig. From connecting guitars and amps, pedal boards, and other gear together to clearer signal transmission and improved tone quality; to keeping damage at bay and making moving it around simpler; they serve many important functions that help ensure maximum use from every rig.
Some guitar cables are constructed using expensive materials, while others utilize less costly alternatives. Whichever cable you decide on purchasing, be sure that it provides optimal performance for you and delivers results!
When choosing a guitar cable, three factors should be taken into account: capacitance, length, and material. Each will affect the sound quality of both your instrument as well as any amplifiers or speakers it is connected with.
Capacitance is an integral feature of a guitar cable as it facilitates audio signal transfer between its conductor and outer jacket. Low capacitance cables produce less noise interference while providing optimal signal transfer.
Measure capacitance by using the dielectric constant; as its value rises, so too will its capacitance.
Polyethylene is the go-to material for guitar cable insulation due to its low dielectric constant. Thinner, more flexible, and offering higher conductivity than its alternative, dacron, it offers optimal conditions for string conductivity and conductivity.
Polyethylene not only offers insulation properties, but is also very resilient against constant and rough use – this makes it a good choice for musicians looking for long-term dependability from their guitar cable.
Home practice or small stages alike will find this cable ideal, as its solid signal and lower likelihood of leakage make for an impressive listening experience. Plus, this one comes hum-free straight out of the box! With such sturdy construction you won’t find much better.
Not only is this guitar cable affordable and easily found, it comes in black tweed color to appeal to musicians looking for high-quality cables that will stand the test of time. Featuring double insulator shields (OFC and PVC conductive shields) along with an oxygen free copper core for long lasting performance and wrapped with braided tweed cloth jacket, this product delivers all.
Noise Rejection
A guitar cable plays more than just its intended role of connecting your instrument to an amp – it plays an integral part in its sound as well. Choosing the appropriate cable type will influence its tone, quality and clarity – an effect which should only increase when choosing higher quality strings!
There are various types of cable available on the market, each offering different advantages and disadvantages. Some types are more resistant to noise than others so it is important to do your research prior to purchasing new sets of cables.
One of the key factors when it comes to cable insulation is choosing dacron or conductive PVC – both are great choices that offer different qualities and properties.
Dacron offers superior conductivity and noise-cancelling properties; whereas, elastic provides better flexibility, covering more surface area without excessive friction.
C-PVC cord is increasingly popular among guitarists due to its high-quality construction and excellent EMI resistance, but be wary as it may tangle more easily than other materials; therefore, shorter lengths should be chosen when possible.
Braided cables may also prove more durable than their PVC-coated counterparts, preventing tangling and wear-and-tear while on tour.
George L’s cables have long been considered one of the premier choice cables among professional guitarists due to their superior sound clarity, durability and long-term quality – features which are essential components of a quality setup.
Ernie Ball Classic Series cables are widely admired for their quality craftsmanship and reliable materials, featuring dual conductors for ultra-clear tones with crisp highs, tight mids and lush harmonics.
Coiled design of these cables makes them particularly effective at mitigating harsh highs generated by single coil pickups, while their length helps balance your guitar tone to provide more balanced tones and give an overall more pleasing tone.
Some professional guitar players go as far as purchasing an additional cable solely to reduce noise from their gear when plugged in, which can effectively cut back on microphonic noise and improve tone clarity. This approach can save money while improving clarity.
Signal Quality
Professional guitar players rely on cables that have been specifically engineered to deliver an optimal signal to their guitars. Such cables typically feature copper shielding and dielectric insulation to block external interference while also preventing “leaking” of signal from the center conductor.
Cables can also be formed into specific shapes that help them retain their form and resist bending and flexing, thus reducing wear-and-tear and making them more durable over time.
An exceptional guitar cable can dramatically improve your sound. A few factors such as length and capacitance can influence this decision, however.
Capacitance refers to the amount of electrical energy stored between two conducting wires that are close together, and can have a dramatic impact on your sound if you use an active pickup. Capacitance can reduce treble levels while adding midrange gain when used with inductor-based pickups.
Another factor is cable length – longer cables tend to reduce the amount of high-end treble you hear, though this doesn’t always have negative connotations – Jimi Hendrix liked long coiled guitar cables because they helped muffle some of that high end.
Your cable should also take into account its conductor type; some conductors are solid (a single piece of wire), while others feature multiple wires twisted together and soldered securely together.
Quality can make an enormous impactful on the sound produced from your guitar. Oxygen-free copper conductors are increasingly being chosen due to its higher purity levels and more open sound than standard copper ones.
Finally, it is best to seek cables with low resistance and capacitance ratings in order to enhance treble and mid-range clarity in your sound while also preventing feedback.
High-end cables feature silent connectors that automatically mute your instrument when plugged into an amp, making it simpler and quicker for live performances without loud pops or feedback noises.
The cable connecting your guitar, pedals, and amplifier is one of the most integral parts of your signal path; therefore, it must be of top-quality material, be reliable and affordable.
Oxygen-free copper conductors offer transparent tone transfer. Shielding prevents interference and noise to maximize your guitar signal.
Evidence Audio Lyric HG
The Evidence Audio Lyric HG is their premier cable, winning Guitar Player Magazine’s 2004 Reader’s Choice award for Best Accessory. Not only durable and rugged but also offering increased transparency compared to many cables on the market today. Their solderless jack connectors (unlike most guitar cables) use precision machined brass from SIS while Evidence’s TRT Wonder Solder signature process claims it creates connections ‘better than soldered’.
The conductors are composed of solid copper rather than stranded, and oxygen-free linear crystal copper is employed to decrease capacitance – the measure of how a wire stores electricity – for improved sound quality. Furthermore, shielding protects from interference and noise coming from other sources.
The HG cable’s unique woven jacket makes it less likely to tangle than regular cables and also adds strength. Available in various lengths, making it simple for anyone to find their ideal cable solution.
If you’re still uncertain which cable is best suited to your needs, try different kinds and listen carefully as each sounds. Make sure that both guitar and amp use identical equipment; take note of how each cable affects signal strength and clarity.
Keep in mind that the music style you prefer does not play a significant role when choosing the ideal cable. Although some manufacturers advertise specific cables as being suitable for certain genres, this is mostly just marketing; all of the cables on this list will work equally well for your purposes.
Likewise, when considering guitar cables, its connectors can have a significant effect on their sound quality. Gold-plated jack connectors tend to perform better than their nickel counterparts and some cables even use silver coatings for enhanced performance; however, some guitarists find a plain nickel finish works just fine for them.
Ernie Ball Coiled Cable
Professional guitarists tend to favor the Ernie Ball coiled cable. Its unique design aims to avoid tone suck, with dual conductors designed to transmit guitar sound with clarity and precision, oxygen-free copper for noise reduction, and gold connectors to maximize signal transference.
This cable’s woven fabric casing adds an attractive aesthetic that many guitarists may find pleasing, as well as helping reduce the chance of it tangling quickly when packing up gear quickly. Available in black and tweed finishes, this cable may not be the most costly on our list but certainly won’t be one of the least costly either.
This cable has many great features that set it apart, including its shielded connector for reduced interference and improved sound quality, durability features that withstand repeated use, as well as its manufacturer warranty ensuring high-quality performance.
Though it can be tempting to save some money by purchasing low-quality cables, this is never wise. Over time, using cheaper cables increases their likelihood of breaking or causing issues with your gear, while abusing one could compromise sound quality significantly.
When selecting a guitar cable, ensure it has an excellent build and connector, in order to avoid damage that might alter the tone of your instrument. Proper storage of your cable is also crucial; coil it neatly using cable ties or Velcro straps and use cable ties or Velcro straps as necessary so as not to become tangled up. Furthermore, try not tightly wrapping it around yourself as this could lead to kinks in its design and compromise its sound quality.
GLS Audio Instrument Cable
GLS cables are tour-grade reliable, boasting dual conductors that efficiently transfer guitar tone without noise or signal interference, all while being durable enough for touring environments – thanks to a tight tweed cloth jacket that resists coiling or kinking. A variety of color options is also available to match your gear, while longer lengths are also available for pedalboard applications.
This cable may cost slightly more than your typical black guitar cable, but for musicians looking to avoid cables that break or short out it’s well worth the price. It features woven cable casing that reduces tangling while its heavy duty metal jack connectors should withstand lots of strain. There are plenty of length and angle options available so that you can find one suitable for your amp or pedalboard.
Many guitarists rely on the cheap black cables that come standard with their guitar for some time before they begin shorting out or making noise, compromising tone further than they already are. A $40 upgrade can make all the difference.
There are numerous manufacturers out there offering high quality, reliable guitar cables. Some even cater specifically to certain genres of music; any professional cable should work just fine with any instrument!
Some may be misled into thinking that higher priced guitar cables sound better, but most guitar players would agree that there usually isn’t much of a performance difference between expensive cables and their cheaper alternatives. So unless you have tons of cash lying around to spend on something like this that you will just end up discarding in months anyway; just ensure your cables receive proper care so they will last for you for as long as possible!
SWR Cable
The SWR Cable is an elegant yet budget-conscious guitar cable featuring Neutrik connectors renowned for their reliability in the industry, and thick gauge cable construction to add premium feel and stress resistance. Furthermore, this model boasts carefully tuned capacitance values to deliver crystal clear signals without losing flexibility; plus you have straight and right angle jack options plus silent connector upgrades available as options to ensure optimal playback experience.
This cable uses oxygen-free and linear-crystal copper conductors to avoid the potential tone-suck that certain cables may impose upon guitar tone. Furthermore, it was designed with durability in mind with protective outer shell and internal spiral shielding designed to cut back noise and EMI emissions. There has been some debate online as to whether oxygen-free copper is superior, yet listening tests seem to support its superior performance.
Keep in mind that cables will likely face constant abuse from being stepped on, kicked, and pulled in and out of guitar amplifiers and pedals over time. Therefore, it’s crucial that you find high-quality cable that won’t break too easily while not costing too much – finding a shop selling multiple brands of cable will allow you to try them in your own setup for optimal results.
D’Addario is one of the premier brands in guitar accessories, and their American Stage guitar cable stands up to this reputation. Built to be one of the toughest cables around, and at an amazing value. Featuring a tough woven jacket made out of tough fibers that protect against wear-and-tear; available in black, red or tweed; features dual conductors that transmit signals without interference and EMI; comes backed by lifetime warranties – these cables truly deliver on every front!