The right guitar cable will deliver the best sound and signal from your guitar. The moment you strike the string of your guitar, the generating sound will travel through the guitar cable, and then listeners, audiences, and recorders will grab it.
There is no alternative to choosing the best guitar cable for your needs. Considering the type of guitar you’re playing, select the cable with the proper configuration. As the cable will be carrying the sound, better to ensure there isn’t any leakage and built with the perfect outer layers.
The capacitance of the guitar cable is very important. Keeping this trait in mind, consider other characteristics like durability, longevity, brand, reputation, etc.
Finding The Best Guitar Cables For Your Needs
Before you find the best cables for your guitar, make sure you know its purpose. Knowing that already, you can go with the features it’ll be bringing to the table. In addition, you can look for additional features as per your requirements. Take a glimpse of some points, that can help you find the best guitar cables you need.
Understanding Guitar Cable Basics
Guitar cable transfers the signals of your guitar to an amplifier or any other audio equipment to produce the sound and tone louder. The capacitance of the guitar cable is the determinant factor of the tonal transmission happening within the cable.
Now, there are different guitar cables for different purposes. Enlisting them below for your better acknowledgment.
Instrument Cables
Instrument cables take the signals from the guitar way up to the amp with little quality or signal loss. The cable is connected between the output jack of your guitar to the amp’s input jack.
The cable functions in carrying low-level audio signals with a good and preferably noise and the least signal loss. Casual issues like discreet noise or microphonic usually arise if the quality of the cable and connection is not properly assured. Electric guitars, bass guitars, and other electronic instruments have the best uses.
Patch Cables
Patch cables are quite like that of the instrument cable but thinner with core AWG 22 to 26. Such a thinner cross-section enables the cable to fit in tighter spaces without causing any sound issues. The connection is established to connect guitar effects pedals on the pedalboard. Get a right-angle plug on both ends to reduce the space between the paddles; it’ll be more dedicated and useful on the pedalboard.
Speaker Cables
The speaker cable transmits electrical signals representing the adjusted and amplified sound by the guitar amp/bass amp. It is the last link of the signal from your instrument to the speaker. The heavier gauge wire can handle higher power levels and produces a smooth output as per requirement.
So, the entire performance of the sound system depends on the quality of the cable. What you hear from the speaker generated by your guitar amp is what the virtue of the cable brings. Such wires are more likely used in live sound and recording setups.
Synth Cable
Synthesiser, also known as synthesizer generates the audio signals from your guitar with every stroke you deliver. Synth cable transfers the audio signals from the synthesizers to the audio interfaces, mixers, and other audio devices.
The cable transforms the waveforms through its special method called subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis, and frequency modulation synthesis. Such sound may be altered by filters and modify itself on the way to come out as the final delivery.
USB Interface Cable
For a prolific and superb digital recording of sound, USB interface cables are very much proactive and more into the game. With such cable, you can connect your guitar or bass guitar to the computer and record the sounds there. This brought a superb addition of compatibility to your daily guitar jamming; you’re getting the freedom of recording your sounds at home with the cable.
Assessing Your Needs
Depending on the type of guitar, you will need the guitar cable. You might be having the acoustic guitar or electric guitar. Moreover, other types of guitars like bass guitars also have their specialty of having specific guitar cables.
Now, setup is important here. Set-up is a regular maintenance implemented on a guitar. It can be numerous services such as adjusting the neck, replacing the strings, and adjusting the height of the string. Now without a proper guitar cable, you won’t be able to have a perfect setup as well. You’ll have your perfect tune, but still, your guitar won’t sound well.
As such, proper attention and priority should be given to the build-in quality of the cable. First, get the right cable for your guitar. A Zager Amplifier cable indeed can be suitable for your electric guitar there. Good in length, flexible to be with you under any circumstances, and definitely a long-lasting one. What more can you ask for?
Key Features to Look For
Now, your guitar cable’s longevity has to be a prime priority. You don’t want to change the cable now and then, unnecessary expense and cost there. Rather, go for the one that a good cable shielding and construction material.
Cable shielding is important, it serves as electromagnetic compatibility protection. The better the shielding, the better the protection of the interference of the signals inside the cable. Moreover, the shielding ensures that no external impact or effect reaches inside the cable and disrupts the connection.
Now construction material of the guitar cable also should have your proper attention. Don’t go for any cheap or casual build-up cable, rather go for a durable and long-lasting one.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and rubber build-up cable can be of a good serving. These components prevent the electric signals from coming in contact with the outer shield. You’ll need such a feature when you’re using an electric guitar. Otherwise, any other less durable cable might not tackle the series of strong electrical conductions there.
Going into the inside part, most guitar cables are made up of copper core. As there are high conduction flow happening inside, a strong conductor like copper is ideal. It does well in transferring the signal from one end to the other.
Evaluating Sound Quality
Guitar cables have an active contribution in evaluating the sound quality. With a good build-up quality, you can assess and expect a good transmission of the sound from your guitar.
Now, the main feature of the cable stands for the sound quality management here. Clarity and fidelity a primary features to ensure and justify. You’ll be needing the parameters as you go on to produce sound without any external noise, interface, or other signal loss. Such restrictions and features won’t be that much applicable with a cheap or casual guitar cable.
Moreover, the sound quality depends on the cable’s connector, shielding, and build-up quality. With any cheap or go-to element, you’ll be facing issues now and then. Whereas, a good guitar cable with high-quality elements won’t issue any problem regardless of the kind and heavy usage you indulge with your guitar. This will improve your guitar’s performance, the sound quality, and your jamming with the guitar.
Durability and Longevity
You don’t want your guitar cable to go out of service soon. Who even wants that? An investment for such an element should prevail in the long run, delivering a top-notch quality of sound.
That’s why the durability and longevity assurance of your guitar cable is very important. Signals always flow through inside the cable. With highly intensified signals and a continuous flow of current, the cable should have good resistivity and strength.
Normally, a guitar cable lasts for 5 to 15 years on average. And guess what, a durable and good quality guitar cable can serve you longer than that. But with the opposite one, you won’t reach that period even. Even if you do, you’ll be facing a lot of sound and technical problems with this.
Now, what makes the cable durable and long-lasting? As said before, a good cable shielding will be protecting it for a long time. Cables with braided shielding also provide good protection inside. The copper wire is well protected with metal strands. Reinforced connectors also help to lower the pressure and stress on the cable. Indeed, a good measure to work the cable for a longer time.
Comparing Brands and Models
Different brand brings different features to the table. For the guitar cables, there are different brands with their specialty and values. Their built-up quality, value addition, and convenience get their names among the guitarists.
Zager’s amplifier cables are surely one of the most renowned and worthy cables in the market. It is built with oxygen-free copper wire that focuses on minimizing interference and signal loss. The connectors are gold-plated, making a smooth flow of conduction.
Moreover, the Mogami Gold Series is vowing to produce the perfect sound quality along with its long-lasting durability. The specialty of this cable is to provide a clean and transparent signal, with low noise and interference. Your outcome becomes crystal clear and pretty much perfectly summed up.
And when you’re a beginner, why not choose D’Addario America Stage Guitar Cable? Its patented Geo tip technology assures a perfect and strong connection and fits with the line and the output jack. This tends to omit all sorts of potential signal losses by paving the way for the best signal transfer.
Lastly, D’Addario America Stage Guitar Cable has a good reputation for its durability and longevity. The shielding and components in the cable are top-notch, especially the addition of the Oxygen Free Copper conductor. This does last long, even after heavy usage.
Practical Tips for Maintenance and Care
As the cable vows to provide you with the best of the services, you also must keep them healthy and active. Sometimes, the cable’s performance will depend on how you’ve been dealing with them. Most likely, damaging the cable comes majorly with its maintenance and safe handling.
Don’t tie your cables into a know. With the bendings, there are high chances of damaging the internal wirings. Try the over-under method of wrapping your guitar cables. This is a simple and go-to technique for dealing with your cable for a long time, especially considering its lifespan.
You can even loop your cable through the guitar strap into the output jack. Most guitarists do that, it helps them deal with the cable well on the stage. It prevents any bending or any potential damage to the cable.
Now the basic, keeping the cable clean. Keep the connector tip clean and tidy all the time. Don’t let any dust, sweat, or other particles make any clotting on it. A basic parameter could be in keeping the tip shiny all the time.
Also, treat the cable with care. Yanking on the cable now and then will bring no value, instead, it’ll be self-harming in the long run. The plastic cover over the tip is meant for disconnecting the cable. Use that well all the time.
Lastly, get the cable with the proper length you need. Getting a shorter one will produce more stress on the cable, which might result in breaking the signal and tearing the cable out. Also, a cable with more length than needed might be messy all the time. You need to fold and manage the extra cables carefully, as bending or any other external impacts might damage the cable.
So, Which One Will You Pick?
To find the best guitar cables for your needs, determine the type of guitar and the purpose you’ll be using it for. Then, go on to check the cables available in the market and analyze their built-up quality. Remember, the main focus of the cable is to transfer and maintain the sound flow conveniently. So the internal wire composition should be durable.
Lastly, know to use them properly. Don’t keep them unclean and messy all the time. Also, consider choosing the actual length you’ll be needing. And while making the budget, don’t compromise the quality because you don’t want to go for the same over and over again.
