Guitar Leads/Cables

rob_on_guitar · Post by **rob_on_guitar** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 7:46 am

Ok guys, now that Im gigging again and stuff, I notice Im flying through the leads.

Mainly from my pedal to guitar, I kind of expected it as we are a pretty lively lot.

Any suggestion for leads that are bit tougher than the others? I can't afford wireless, rock cables and similar dont seem to handle any kind of punishment.

jeremyb · Post by **jeremyb** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 8:15 am

Kloppsta was selling some Ryan built Freedom cables for an absolute bargain price, they'll be tough as!

sopachrga · Post by **sopachrga** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 8:19 am

I've been using the Dimarzio cables the Rockshop sell while we were out touring.
They have been really good. I've got the ones with one right angle connector and one standard. Neutrik one end GH the other. So really good quality connectors.

They do have an odd flex to them though, they are covered in braid, so they do feel a bit more stiff than usual, and take a week of use to stop wanting to coil them selves back up again.

Lawrence · Post by **Lawrence** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 8:20 am

now this is one of my favourite topics to get all high and mighty over.....my past audio students will recall no doubt.

here is question number one. How do you roll and store your cables?

I used the same guitar to pedal cable for 23 years from 1990 till 2013 when I stupidly lost it at a multi band gig at Meow. I reget this deeply as it was a great cable but thats another story. At any gig where I could move more than a few feet I would put a gaffer tape strain relief to prevent pulling the connector sideways at the board, and looped through my strap at the guitar. At packdown I used the BBC approved "under/over " cable wrapping technique and tied with the accepted single hitch. I always pick cables up from the knot. I would clean it a couple of times a year from end to end with a damp soapy cloth. If I had not lost it (

) I fully expected this cable to last out my playing career - maybe another 20 years. Oh and I dont stand still on stage

Now sure I admit it was a good quality cable to start with (question number two) Neutric jacks, heat shrinked inside the connector, monster cable - cost about ($150 in 1990 but given to me as a gift).

I would expect anything of the quality of say, a $50 Planetwaves cable to last for many years. Any more expensive probably gets into cork sniffing, but I can hear tonal differences between some cables (I have another thicker monster cable thats too stiff for live...and a bit bright and brittle for my ears, but sounds great for recording bass...go figure!).

If in doubt, having Ryan or someone similar build a cable from top quality componants is not that expensive.

rob_on_guitar · Post by **rob_on_guitar** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 8:39 am

Some cool advice here, yup, I do the roadie roll, go with the flow of the coil under/over.

A lot of the wreckage is my fault, I only use a HD500 onstage, no case for it (Ive been after one for ages but money is normally spent on necessities like cables) and our whole band is 6 ft plus munters playing on tiny stages. Hilarity, but not gear friendly lol

Anyways, thank you guys, I will investigate the mentioned.

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 8:43 am

Like Lawrence, my cables last. I bought a roll of cable from UK in 1985 and made up a bunch of leads for all my needs at that time. I'm still using them. I've had to replace a couple of jacks since then, otherwise - DIY cables work for me.

Kloppsta · Post by **Kloppsta** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 8:44 am

jeremyb wrote:Kloppsta was selling some Ryan built Freedom cables for an absolute bargain price, they'll be tough as!

Hey Rob, I am indeed selling some mint Freedom Audio cables, see thread - http://www.nzguitars.com/forum/viewtopi ... 49&t=27187

Shoot me a PM if interested

jeremyb · Post by **jeremyb** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 9:33 am

Those who are using old cables, I had one from when I first started playing guitar in the late 80's, was severely underwhelmed when I used it with a new amp 20 odd years later, turned out it was robbing me of all my treble... dunno if it was just shit back then in the 80's or if age had something to do with it... now I don't scrimp on cables, I have a couple of Lava retro coils and I love them, especially like how they don't get tangled like normal leads!!!

rob_on_guitar · Post by **rob_on_guitar** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 9:59 am

Kloppsta wrote:
jeremyb wrote:Kloppsta was selling some Ryan built Freedom cables for an absolute bargain price, they'll be tough as!
Hey Rob, I am indeed selling some mint Freedom Audio cables, see thread - http://www.nzguitars.com/forum/viewtopi ... 49&t=27187

Shoot me a PM if interested

PM soon

Kris · Post by **Kris** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 11:35 am

rockcables are the worst,the jacks and solder fail all the time.I use planet waves stuff and that has been reliable as.

Like sopchrgr i have a braided nylon cable(expensive) and ill never buy another like it-the flex on the thing is so wierd-had it 4 years now and it STILL wants to coil itself up!!!!

handsoffmatt · Post by **handsoffmatt** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 11:53 am

Kris wrote:rockcables are the worst,the jacks and solder fail all the time.I use planet waves stuff and that has been reliable as.

Like sopchrgr i have a braided nylon cable(expensive) and ill never buy another like it-the flex on the thing is so wierd-had it 4 years now and it STILL wants to coil itself up!!!!

Rockcables are pretty bad
The Planet Waves in the BROWN packaging (Classic Series) are even worse.
These are both entry level cables and not suitable for road use at ALL.

Everything else we sell is pretty great. For touring use, I recommend either DiMarzio or Planet Waves American Stage. Both fantastic.

Planet Waves Custom Series (Blue packaging) are good too, though some people get shirty that they are a moulded plug that can't be resoldered.

Eruera · Post by **Eruera** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 12:23 pm

I third those DiMarzios, bloody good cables

moliere · Post by **moliere** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 12:44 pm

Best cables I've had that have lasted were DIY neutrik w/Canare or Mogami. For some reason I bought a bunch of Planet Waves (the cheapies) a while back and they go down regularly (and get quite microphonic). I don't trust them at all. Had a bunch of Fender cables that didn't last long.

I'm definitely one of those people that really don't like molded plugs, I need to be able to get in and resolder them when I need them.

Kris · Post by **Kris** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 1:32 pm

yeah i should have specified i rate the more expensive planet waves

i have some of those brown packaged ones and they are fine as they never leave the jam room,just there for when i wanna get crazy and run every amp in the room!!

Polar Bear · Post by **Polar Bear** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 2:11 pm

I use ewi premium cables, and Vox coily cables. I've yet to have failures on either. I love the dimarzio cables too!

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