Best Instrument Cables??

[adamcbest]

Just what the title says. What is the best brand of instrument cables out there?? I'm looking for durability and clarity... no noise... thanks

[carlos seo]

I like Monster Cables most. Some people will disagree, but their quality is impressive. Here in Brazil we have a local brand called 'Santo Angelo' that makes some great cables too (shielded cables with platinum plated conectors).

[adamcbest]

I've heard that monster cables sound great, but i've also heard that they aren't too durable... is this true??

[JESTER700]

They're also overpriced.

George L's for me.

[Gresh]

Another vote for George L's. They are fantastic and you can make custom lengths till the cows come home, no soldering...haven't found anything that beats em.

[CrossingStar]

I've been hearing good things about Evidence Audio cables. They have audio of a comparison test on their website between theirs and Monsters. Personally I never liked Monsters. I borrowed some from a friend for awhile and found them noisy. Mogami are also very good. I have a Mogami 4 footer, and jeez I wish I could afford more of them.

[dot-dot-dot]

Originally Posted by CrossingStar

I've been hearing good things about Evidence Audio cables. They have audio of a comparison test on their website between theirs and Monsters.

If it was an independent comparison I might be interested. Evidence have been pushing themselves very vigourously on various musicians' boards, but they seem incredibly expensive to me. I'm also skeptical about the wisdom of a dual-conductor cable for guitar level signals.

I'd personally suggest Klotz LaGrange cable and Neutrik plugs; either make them up yourself or get a tech to do them. It's a very low pF/m cable, very physically robust and should still work out cheaper than most of the premium branded cables - mine cost me little more than those "guitar shop cheapos".

Klotz seems to be hard to find (and expensive) in the US though, so there I'd think that the George L cable, but with soldered Neutrik plugs, would be the best solution. I find it hard to trust unsoldered connections.

[urkoman]

I use an Evidence Lyric HG and i am completely happy, won´t change it for any other.
Yes, they´re expensive, but 50-60$ is not that much (how much do your guitars or amp cost?)...

[dot-dot-dot]

Originally Posted by urkoman

Yes, they´re expensive, but 50-60$ is not that much (how much do your guitars or amp cost?)...

It is if they don't offer any benefit over the Klotz or others.

When I see (or had a chance to try) a blind AB between them I might consider spending five times as much money on a cable.

[adamcbest]

you guys that said george l;s.. i've been reading up on them some and saw on their website two different types of cable (.155 and .225). there is not too much difference in price. What is the real different between the two??

[dot-dot-dot]

As far as I can remember it's just the thickness of the cable; they're electrically pretty much identical, so I'd go with the thinner for patch cables (more flexible) and the thicker for stage cables (more robust).

[darren wilson]

I use the thinner George L's cables on stage and i really like them. They're lighter and more flexible than heavy-duty guitar cables, so you don't feel as 'encumbered' when moving around on stage. The angled plugs are great, too.

[Ferrous Lepidoptera]

I started using Monster Cables after years of using cheaper stuff. At the guitar center where I buy them, they told me if they ever quit working, just bring them back. After a year or so, I dropped a guitar, it landed on the output jack and bent the cable's plug at about a 20 degree angle. So I took the cable back, no receipt, or anything and they gave me a brand new cable. Pretty cool.

[adamcbest]

so the thinner cables don't have any less sound quality than the thicker?? just are lighter and more flexible??

[power freak]

Originally Posted by adamcbest

so the thinner cables don't have any less sound quality than the thicker?? just are lighter and more flexible??

I have not tried too many cables myself but from my electronics stuff I can guess at it:
Thinner wire has a higher resistance than thicker wire of the same legnth. This doesn't seem like much of a problem but the resistance effects higher frequencies more than the others. This makes it seem like there is less top end.

I have listened to A/B tests of a few cables ( www.proguitar.de ) and I have personally found the Horizon line to be the best, followed by the Schaller ASD followed by the George Ls. I have never found a source of the others so I use george Ls.