guitar cable

[sergio]

Hi , can anyone recommend a professional guitar cable?

I want make my own lenght and jack, I don't want buy one already finish!

Thanks
Sergio

[Cantplay]

Different wires sound different. This is more as you get longer.

The slight capacitance of the wire gives a slight roll off, and there may be other factors. I've known some players who like to couple 2 17 footers because they like how it sounds.

Myself, I like Mogami wire.

I'm also fond of using vintage silk covered wire, just for looks.

John

[Leo_Gnardo]

Hi , can anyone recommend a professional guitar cable?

I want make my own lenght and jack, I don't want buy one already finish!

Thanks
Sergio

Hi Sergio, I've been making cable for myself, touring pros and local musos with Conquest USA-1 coax and Switchcraft #280 straight and #226 angle plugs for a long time. Conquest sells to businesses not individuals. You can add "repair" or "guitar shop" to your name and that usually works. Google them & I hope they'll accept your order. Since you're shipping overseas you might as well order lots of cable & connectors to make it worth the postage. Good luck!

[dobbhill]

I also really like the Mogami.... well, I used to. It sounds very good. The problem I had with it is that it breaks. Maybe I'm rough on things, but it just wasn't reliable for me. I have a Planet Waves cable that I've used for a couple of years that I like very much. I can second the Conquest USA-1 cable: I've got some that I've had since the 80's!
D

[overtone]

Hi Sergio,

I have just tried all of these Cordial and Sommer cables. They all worked out well with Neutrik NP2 C-BAG connectors. They are not super low capacitance like Bill Lawrence cable but are well thought of here in this price segment. I used to use Klotz La Grange which came in at about 250pF over 3m, but have not seen it lately. For ease of coiling and use I like the CGK 175 and Sommer XXL best.

The links below are to the Italian pages of the shop I used.
I made up 3.1 Meter (order 3m and they give you a bit more) lengths and measured the final capacitance as follows:

Sommer spirit XXL measures at 350pF for 3.1m
http://www.thomann.de/it/sommer_cable_t ... it_xxl.htm

Cordial CGK 122 I measured at 395pF when finished for 3.1m
http://www.thomann.de/it/cordial_cgk_122_sw.htm

Cordial CGK 175 I measured the finished cable at 375pF over 3.1m
http://www.thomann.de/it/cordial_cgk_175_sw.htm

Cordial CGK Road 75, sorry i have already lost this one, but it was something like 375-400pF over 3.1m
http://www.thomann.de/it/cordial_cgk_road_75.htm


Back in the eighties I used fat coiled Whirlwind cables but they were always found new homes after each gig!
What ever happened to them?
I mean Whirlwind, did they stop trading?

[overtone]

OK I just realized that this was my supplier for the Klotz La Grange off the roll:
http://www.saitenmarkt.com/Klotz+AC110.htm

Klotz are claiming 67pF a meter, which seems about right.
Nice price too. will have to get some more of this in.

[Structo]

I like the Sommer cable as well.

Sounds great (low capacitance) and is a low to mid priced cable.

Currently I have a Sommer - Grindy Cop Beast (I swear I didn't make up that name) from guitar to pedal board.
http://www.sommercable.com/2__default/index.html

And a Sommer -Spirit cable from the board to amp.
http://www.sommercable.com/2__default/index.html


I like the Neutrik plugs because they have a good strain relief design and really fit well in jacks.

Amphenol connectors are very good as well. (cheaper than Neutrik)

Straight Neutrik NP2C-B:
http://www.redco.com/Neutrik-NP2C-B.html

Right angle Neutrik NP2RX-B:
http://www.redco.com/Neutrik-NP2RX-B.html

I also like the Neutrik Silent plug for the end that plugs into the guitar.
It has a switch in it that shorts the plug when unplugged making it possible
to unplug it and plug it in without noise or pops.

Right Angle Neutrik NP2RX-AU-SILENT:
http://www.redco.com/Neutrik-NP2RX-AU-SILENT.html

Straight Neutrik NP2X-AU-SILENT
http://www.redco.com/Neutrik-NP2X-AU-SILENT.html

I have also bought cable and connectors from Guitar Cable.com
Nice high quality cable for not a lot of $$.
If you are not into building your own cable this place is very reasonable.
http://best-tronics.com/mm5/merchant.mv ... ode=GUITAR
Sounds good and is relatively inexpensive.

The Mogami is also a good cable.
W2524 has been a favorite with pros for years.
http://www.redco.com/Mogami-W2524.html

Also if you use a pedal board with more than four pedals or so, make sure your patch cables are high quality ( I make my own) because they can also suck clarity out of your tone.
I like using the Switchcraft pancake plugs for close spacing of pedals.
http://www.redco.com/search.php?mode=search&page=1


Something to consider is the tone of your amp.
If your amp tends to be on the bright side, using a low capacitance cable may not be the way to go.
On the other hand, if your amp leans towards sounding dark, a lower capacitance cable may sound better.

What I consider a low cap cable is one that has below 30-35pf/ ft.

Hope this helps.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Back in the eighties I used fat coiled Whirlwind cables but they were always found new homes after each gig!
What ever happened to them?
I mean Whirlwind, did they stop trading?

Hm, I hadn't noticed Whirlwind gone. They did make good custom panels & snakes too but in my world Conquest has taken over those functions. I got a good price from Conquest, WW never gave me any breaks. Maybe that's why they're gone.

Late 70's before I started making my own, I thought Whirlwind had good tough cables. But I did a listening check, comparing the coily cables to straight. Noticeable loss of high frequencies in the coil cable = high capacitance. I gave up on 'em regardless of how groovy they looked (just like Jimi, ya know?). In more recent times the rubber jacket of all my old WW's crumbled into dust, but rubber does that after 30+ years. The military style plugs, tough as nails, now attached to fresh USA-1 from Conquest.

[Phil_S]

In addition to low capacitance, you want the shield to give 90% coverage. Some braided shields do not give enough coverage. Look at something like Canare GS-6. There are many good brands of cable. This is just an example.

[Structo]

Phil that is right on.

Most higher end cables will have 90-95% or higher shielding.
Also some have a carbon based sleeve around the center conductor to help cable handling noise.
That black layer must be trimmed back about 1/8" from the center conductor or it can short the signal.

I tried some Canare GS-6 one time and I thought it sucked some highs out, but it could have been just my poor workmanship on the thing.

[xtian]

I've had good luck with Canare, and I like it's feel in the hand. I use Neutrik Silent plugs on the guitar end:

http://www.markertek.com/Connectors-Ada ... LENT.xhtml

They're not robust, though. Fine for me, because I baby all my gear. But not rugged enough for touring, I would think. Mechanism can be bent easily, and also can break if dropped on a hard surface. But a very cool New Trick--I like being able to plug and unplug without silencing the amp first.

[Structo]

Yes I too have heard of them breaking when dropped onto a hard floor.

There is a glass reed switch inside that reportedly breaks when abused.

I've had two cords with the right angle silent plug for years and they still work.
But my music room has carpet so no real risk there.

[overtone]

I'm one of those who had the tip end of the N Silent break clean off. It was cool while it lasted, but I got along fine before without it.

Currently i am trying to get my head around Bill Lawrences writings on how the pF of the cable can be used to shift the resonance frequency of pickups. I still need to do some hands on tests to get it into my skull, but it seems you can shift the resonance out of the "ice pick zone" if that is an issue. He also talks about Hendrix using high capacitance cables to go in the other direction to get his sound, so like Tom says, there is a bit more to consider in all of this.

tony

[chief mushroom cloud]

I will start using ooga booga $$ cables the day some 19yr old college hottie comes up and offers me a blow job and some post mortem anilingus because she sez my guitar sounds much better w/ those fancy cables.....

in the meantime, Canare L-4E6S and Switchcraft 280

[overtone]

Back in the eighties I used fat coiled Whirlwind cables but they were always found new homes after each gig!
What ever happened to them?
I mean Whirlwind, did they stop trading?

Hm, I hadn't noticed Whirlwind gone. They did make good custom panels & snakes too but in my world Conquest has taken over those functions. I got a good price from Conquest, WW never gave me any breaks. Maybe that's why they're gone.

Late 70's before I started making my own, I thought Whirlwind had good tough cables. But I did a listening check, comparing the coily cables to straight. Noticeable loss of high frequencies in the coil cable = high capacitance. I gave up on 'em regardless of how groovy they looked (just like Jimi, ya know?). In more recent times the rubber jacket of all my old WW's crumbled into dust, but rubber does that after 30+ years. The military style plugs, tough as nails, now attached to fresh USA-1 from Conquest.

Leo, I checked Whirlwind, they seem to be alive and kicking, I just don't see them represented this side of the pond any more.