Instrument Cables, let's hear your preference.

ivan H said:
I know choices in instrument cables run across the board, from the high capacitance "coily" types that roll off some high end, through "whatever's in easy reach at the music store" on to the high end (& sometimes expensive) low loss, low capacitance cables.
I'm in the later category, liking not only the high end, but also the definition & clarity that a low loss, low capacitance cable offers. For more than a decade I've been using the Klotz "La Grange" cable, simply because my local music store stocked it. This cable's specs are similar to George L's or Mogami at around 75pf/meter. Some months ago however, the bass player put me onto the "Sommer SC Spirit LLX" instrument cable. This is advertised as a "low, low loss" cable with a capacitance of 52pf/meter, & I love it. If you like the clarity of a quality, low capacitance cable, do yourself a favour & check this cable out.
So, what's your preferred cable & why. Cheers
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I've used them ALL. The best cables are the Monoprice. Can hear no difference on a recording from Mogami's. Spend more if you want too....
 
I have one 20' MXR like MR. Grumpy that seems to be a higher quality than the other Musicians Friend or Kirlin budget ones I have.
I dont really hear a difference.
I hear some noise if I step on them, or trip over them.
But then cable noise is the least of my worries at the moment.
 
The only cables that have ever made a difference for me are George L's. It's more an intangible than anything else...how the amp responds using them is somehow different and it's almost like there is the tiniest bit if clean boost from the cables themselves. All other cables seem the same to me.
 
ivan H said:
I know choices in instrument cables run across the board, from the high capacitance "coily" types that roll off some high end, through "whatever's in easy reach at the music store" on to the high end (& sometimes expensive) low loss, low capacitance cables.
I'm in the later category, liking not only the high end, but also the definition & clarity that a low loss, low capacitance cable offers. For more than a decade I've been using the Klotz "La Grange" cable, simply because my local music store stocked it. This cable's specs are similar to George L's or Mogami at around 75pf/meter. Some months ago however, the bass player put me onto the "Sommer SC Spirit LLX" instrument cable. This is advertised as a "low, low loss" cable with a capacitance of 52pf/meter, & I love it. If you like the clarity of a quality, low capacitance cable, do yourself a favour & check this cable out.
So, what's your preferred cable & why. Cheers
Click to expand...
I am rather surprised that you do not solder your own cables, customized for length and jack configuration. I have done this the last few years, although I do not re-configure already made cables when re-used in a different application, so it is still an imperfect system!

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ivan H said:
I know choices in instrument cables run across the board, from the high capacitance "coily" types that roll off some high end, through "whatever's in easy reach at the music store" on to the high end (& sometimes expensive) low loss, low capacitance cables.
I'm in the later category, liking not only the high end, but also the definition & clarity that a low loss, low capacitance cable offers. For more than a decade I've been using the Klotz "La Grange" cable, simply because my local music store stocked it. This cable's specs are similar to George L's or Mogami at around 75pf/meter. Some months ago however, the bass player put me onto the "Sommer SC Spirit LLX" instrument cable. This is advertised as a "low, low loss" cable with a capacitance of 52pf/meter, & I love it. If you like the clarity of a quality, low capacitance cable, do yourself a favour & check this cable out.
So, what's your preferred cable & why. Cheers
Click to expand...
I'm going to use Mogami cable and Switchcraft plugs. And then I would use Belden cable also.
Yes good cable does cost more and it's worth it.
Reason being Mogami is one of the few which actually tests and rates cable, the publishes the specifications.
Most vendors are trying to hide the specifications but Mogami is showing you everything.
Switchcraft USA has always been the top choice and more expensive also. But I always go for the better plug which lasts longer.
 
Almost 15 years ago, I bought a Lava Cable 12' "Vintage" series cable from Lava Cable for about $40. Nowadays a Lava 10' Vintage is $53, but they come with much better G&H connectors instead of the inferior Neutrik connectors that came on mine. Those Neutriks barely lasted 5 years, and since then I installed a pair of Switchcrafts. Also, Mark Stoddard (Lava Cable) posted specs of all the cables he sold at that time. Besides his own branded cables, he sold other high-end brands like Mogami, Analysis, Asterope, and others.

Getting back to the Lava Vintage... Its speced at 23 pF/ft. When I measure mine, I get a total of 300 pF. Divide that by 12, with the jacks, and I'm getting 25 pF/ft. This is very low capacitance and therefore the signal through the cable has very minimal high frequency loss. This to me has made this cable as my reference cable that all others are compared to. In fact most, if not all, cheapy cables sound dark and lifeless compared to a cable with low capacitance like my Lava cable.

Lava Vintage - Lava Cable

Lava Vintage
www.lavacable.com www.lavacable.com

Also... Two years ago I replaced one of the Switchcraft plugs with a Pivot-All plug. This type of plug is really cool, but it's also kind of pricey at $20 a plug:
20191223_153509.jpg

I have not had any problems with it, but then again, I'm not a working, club-playing guitar player that is going to really test this to its limits...

godlyke.com

PV-A Pivoting 1/4" Audio Plug

ORDER NOW. A revolution in audio connector design, Pivot-All plugs feature a ¼” shaft that can be continuously rotated over a 180-degree arc, making connections in even the tightest, most limited spaces virtually effortless. Crowded pedalboards, complicated rack systems, and awkwardly-located...
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I used to make my own cables from Gepco X-band cable.

It had a double braided shield, plus the 100% conductive shield, and it had super-low capacitance. It was 22 pFd a foot, I think.

But, Gepco doesn’t make it, anymore.

Serious bummer.

I’m down to my last five feet from a bulk of 50 feet I bought a few years ago.

But, you can get a pretty decent, low-capacitacne cable if you buy D’Addario Planet Waves American Stage Cable. It is 28 pFd a foot. It‘s the best pre-made, low-capacitance cable I’ve found.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
Most vendors are trying to hide the specifications but Mogami is showing you everything.
Switchcraft USA has always been the top choice and more expensive also. But I always go for the better plug which lasts longer.
Click to expand...
Most all the high end cable manufacturers provide specs for their products, but I agree about others not showing them.
The (German manufactured) Sommer LLX cable has the double braided shield & conductive sleeve that many high end cables feature. Capacitance is extremely low at 52pf/meter which equates to 15.8pf/foot. I do hear slightly improved high end clarity & definition. Until the bass player put me onto it I'd never heard of this cable manufacturer
It wasn't expensive either. I got a length from a bulk supplier & put the Switchcraft jacks on myself (straight/90*), total cost (including shipping) was less than half of what buying a quality 20' cable would be.
My pedal board is all connected up with patch leads that I made using the Lava mini cable which is also quite good.
I use Belden shielded cable in amp builds, also quite good. Cheers
 
syscokid said:
I need to check this Sommer LLX stuff. I have few extra cable plugs and even an extra Pivot-All plug!

Dang... Now I got CABLE GAS... o_O
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Search "Sommer SC Spirit LLX" instrument cable. It's a little thicker than some cables (0.275"/9mm) so doesn't fit through the Switchcraft jacks strain relief spring. I used double walled adhesive type heatshrink tubing over the jack body & about 3" of cable as a strain relief. Cheers
 
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