Are cables created equal?

[NotValid]

Originally Posted by Kip Carter

I’ve been told monster cable are also over sized and can cause damage.

This is wrong. How can a cable increase signal strenght? The only thing a cable does is transport the signal from source to point, some cables do this better than others. Look for cables with real gold or silver. No they are not created equal. This is coming from a rehabed audiophile who sometimes has relapses. I'll put my 70's Sansui stereo reciever against anything built today under $10,000. Why? Because back then they used real metal and not this junk recycled tin metal found in todays equipment. It DOES make a difference.

[RoyBoy]

Originally Posted by eatswodo

I measured 5 or 6 plugs. Diameters varied from 0.248"-0.250".

I also put the caliper on several plugs, all 0.247- 0.248". The neutrik connectors on my american stage series planet waves were 0.247". For $20 for a 10 footer, mine have held up under heavy use. Endpin jacks are steel and as such, I fail to see how they can be "reamed out" by a quality plug.

[varmonter]

Originally Posted by NotValid

This is wrong. How can a cable increase signal strenght? The only thing a cable does is transport the signal from source to point, some cables do this better than others. Look for cables with real gold or silver. No they are not created equal. This is coming from a rehabed audiophile who sometimes has relapses. I'll put my 70's Sansui stereo reciever against anything built today under $10,000. Why? Because back then they used real metal and not this junk recycled tin metal found in todays equipment. It DOES make a difference.

Ah yes they certainly don't "increase" signal strength .. not without an inline
amplifier. But just like your Sansui receiver they can be made
From better and thicker metals which reduce resistance across
the cable.

[Paultergeist]

Originally Posted by David MacNeill

....... with the exception of Monster cables, which are of good quality but WAY overpriced — and the people who run the company are bullies: why innovate when you can litigate?

Careful.....those guys would sue their own mothers......

[Dru Edwards]

Long & McQuade (Canada) sells the Yorkville Studio One cables. Lifetime warranty, just bring it into the store and they'll exchange it for you. I bought 5 or 6 of them about 7 years ago. No problems with any of them.

[jimmy bookout]

Well, I have a 10ft. Monster instrument cable (90degree/straight) that I've had for THIRTY years...countless gigs, still works perfect. So, I don't know about "overpriced", but 30 years seems like a pretty sturdy deal.

[ModlrMIke]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Long & McQuade (Canada) sells the Yorkville Studio One cables. Lifetime warranty, just bring it into the store and they'll exchange it for you. I bought 5 or 6 of them about 7 years ago. No problems with any of them.

Another vote for the L&M cables. I have some of their Standard Series Vintage cables that are excellent.

[Bob Womack]

As with the rest of the guitar world, there are tiers of cables:
There's cheap junk
There's a wealth of good, workmanlike cables in the middle that do the job excellently and last well
There are overpriced, boutique, some of which are excellent and some are only average.

I'd prefer not to comment on the extremes. I can tell you that Guitar Player Magazine ran an excellent article around the year 2000 comparing all the major brands. They put the cables through electrical, wear, catastrophic damage, utility, and listening tests. They found little advantage to the boutique brands. Their favorite was a mid-priced tweed-covered cable from Horizon (now Rapco Horizon). I went out and bought a couple of them and they've lasted marvelously and are my favorite cables.

Bob

[BT55]

I agree with "home made" cables. You can purchase top of the line Mogami W2524 Bulk Guitar Cable for about .99 a foot and excellent quality connectors for 3-4 dollars each. You will now have the most expensive cables available for peanuts. Monoprice also sells excellent quality guitar cables.