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As guitarists and bassists, most of our major purchases go towards amps, pedals and other gear, often overlooking what’s connecting it all together: cables.
Cheap and low-quality cables might get the basic job done, but can start to cause problems and wear down in the long run. Plugs often get bent, ends become loose, and wires inside start to either fray or drop the connection. Having to tighten the cable up or adjust it every time you play can get annoying, particularly if you’re performing, as having the sound cutting out in the middle of a song just isn’t an option. A reliable and durable cable should be an important part of your setup.
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Style: A cable with an angled 90ยบ plug is a great attribute to go for if you’re worried about keeping your 1/4″ jack intact, or from popping out of the amp mid-performance. Similarly, a sealed-up tip, as opposed to the screw-on type, can provide a more solid and steadier feel, and take rougher treatment on the road. Having some textured crimping on the jack’s end can help secure it in place too when plugged in to a preamp, pedal or regular amp.
Material: Strength and durability matters for the body of the cable itself as well. A simple, flimsy plastic or rubber casing can’t stand up to constant contorting, and will eventually tear open, exposing the wires inside. A cable with tough stitching acts as an outer shell or exoskeleton, and is the way to go if you know it’ll need to take a beating like getting shoved into the van nightly with other gear stacked on top of it (an easily untangle-able cable will save you headaches too).
Length: Length is something to keep in mind. While it doesn’t necessarily affect the sound quality as long as it’s a well-built cable, a too-short cord can be physically limiting, and tether you close to your amp. Get some extra slack, so you’ve got room to move around and get comfortable, especially on stage.
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Components: What’s inside counts too. Oxygen-free copper is common, due to its slightly higher conductivity, durability, and resistance to shorting out. It’s also less likely to corrode, and offers some protection from interferences. With a cheaper cable, you’re more likely to get humming and buzzing, while a higher-end cable’s materials give more protection against unwanted signals and noises.
Sound: Finally, last but definitely not least, sound. It may be hard to notice on some of the more common cables, but different builds and brands bring out varying parts of the sound spectrum, some with a focus on mid-range, others on bass or high-end. The ideal one for you is what works best with the style you want to play, and the tone you ultimately want to replicate.
Guitarists might be familiar with them for use as smaller patch cables, but the full-length ones deliver just as well, coming through with crisp clarity and low noise thanks to the high quality pure copper center.
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Built with Mogami 2524 wire and Neutrik NP2RX-B ¼ Inch gold plating, the cable contains a 4% silver solder blend made with a nitrogen-assisted soldering process that’s unique to the company. It’s a best bet for bringing the best sound from your instrument to the amp, and staying within your band’s budget too (though if you want to spring for a pricier model, there are plenty of options).
GLS has created a cable that’s tough enough for daily use, flexible for freely moving around the stage, and sounds great too.
They’re protected with a conductive PVC shield as well as an oxygen-free copper insulated shield, and have a nicely low Picofarad rating (the ability of a body to store an electrical charge, where lower is better) at only 38pf.
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They’re also equipped with external and internal rubber heat shrink strain reliefs, as well as a metal clamp strain relief, beefing up its durability and performance to last you years with regular usage.
D’Addario is one of the top producers of musical gear in the world, and has been at it since 1974, though the founding family started making strings as far back as the late 1600s.
Their American Stage collection is specifically designed for the rigors of being on the road, setting up and tearing down every night, with 100% shielded coverage and 95% tinned copper braiding to cut unwanted noises down. The helio-fused soldering sets a strong ground connection, increasing the cable’s durability against wear and tear, while the gold-plated patented Geo-Tip design helps lock in a more stable grip to whatever it’s plugged into.
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Signal transfer is crisp too, with low interference so just the tone of your instrument shines through. Plus it’s made in the USA, and guaranteed for life. This is a 10-foot cable though other sizes are available.
Monoprice’s cable does more than just get the job done. Gold-plated connectors at each tip are smooth and corrosion-free, with a straight 1/4″ TS plug at one end and one right-angle 1/4″ TS plug at the other. The blue-braided cloth jacket protects the body all over (and is also aesthetically pleasing too), significantly more so than a plastic coating.
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services.I've written about and researched music gear for many years, while also serving as a music director at my local church, in addition to teaching guitar, bass and mentoring young musicians.
Signature Instrument Audio Cable
GLS Audio started out as a guitar amplifier builder in the mid '60s, now they are known for affordably priced cables and accessories. The Tweed guitar cable that they produce continues to get high ratings with its balance of quality and affordability.
This cable comes with double insulator shields (OFC insulator and PVC conductive shields) and oxygen free copper all wrapped in braided tweed cloth jacket, which is quite good for the price. Unfortunately shielding specs are not provided, so while it works great for home use or small stages, it may not offer enough shielding in areas with higher interference.
Thanks to its cloth tweed wrap, this cable looks more premium than it actually is, and fits really well with older amps. This soft yet sturdy exterior does a good job of protecting the innards, and makes the cable easy to twist and store. It also helps prevent issues like cable kinking and breaking.
Crystal Premium Cable
And it's not just skin deep because everything about the cable is solid and well built, including the plug and the soldering joints. Speaking of soldering joints, this cable allows for easy access to the joints, which makes them easier to check and maintain.
While the original soldering work is good, it will give out - sooner or later, depending on how you take care of the cable. Thankfully, resoldering is quick and painless.
Fender is one of the biggest brands when it comes to guitars, amps and related accessories, so it's not surprising to find the brand doing well in the guitar cable market.
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The Fender Professional Series cable does not stray off from the tried and tested path, with a 22 AWG wire that is protected by a 95% OFC spiral shielding. This ensures road worthy quiet operation free from worries of interference.
All of that is protected from the elements by a sturdy 8mm outer wire jacket PVC jacket. It feels solid to the touch but has good flexibility, which helps in preventing cable twisting and kinking. The downside to its thick PVC jacket is that it is relatively bulky and heavy.
At publication time this was the Highest Rated ¼ TS Straight to Straight Instrument Cable for the third year in a row!
Noise Cancelling Guitar Cable Clearance
This cable features a high quality oxygen-free copper core that's designed to be as transparent sounding as a cable can. There's a noticeable jump in clarity when using this cable, and this translates to more accurate playing and better overall tone.
For noise protection, Mogami opted for high-density copper spiral shielding with 100% coverage. And this is supported by a conductive polymer sub-shielding. It also utilizes carbon-impregnated PVC to help reduce handling noise. All these premium features result in interference free quiet operation, ready to take on the busiest stages and recording studios. When paired with a good Noise Gate, you're guitar will even have less unwanted sound artifacts.
Speaking of premium, the Mogami Gold cable requires a substantial investment that goes beyond the usual budget for cables. And given its improved shielding, the cable is a bit stiff, not as flexible as regular ones.
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The higher the price, the higher the expectations, but Mogami stands by their cables enough to offers a no-excuses lifetime warranty. If you want nothing less than the highest rated option, then get the Mogami Gold Instrument straight cable.
At publication time this was the Equal Highest Rated ¼ TS Straight to Right Angle Instrument Cable along with the Boss BIC-10A.
Ernie Ball Braided cable is a consistent market favorite, rating highly
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