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Post by SonicExplorer on Oct 24, 2007 17:11:47 GMT -5
Yes, Monster cables are for the most part crap when it comes to durability in live situations. That is, unless you stand still most of the time. The lifetime warranty is there for a reason.
Mogami Gold are indeed awesome cables. However, some people find them a bit hi-fi (sterile) sounding and end up not liking them because they are used to hearing the "coloration" many other cables induce. Mogami Gold's are one of the truest audio reproduction cables that can be had for less than a fortune.
Sonic
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Edward
Member
When all was right with the world
Posts: 241
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Post by Edward on Oct 25, 2007 15:40:09 GMT -5
I 100% agree with Sonic.
JammerMatt - Only use speaker cables for connecting head to cab. They dont have the same shielding like instrument cables do and will sound like a$$, even in an effects loop. Also, using a guitar cable as a speaker cable can be bad for your amp as well. Mark them with different color tape if you are prone to getting them confused. Keep that expensive equipment working its best!
Edward
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Post by gtrwun on Oct 25, 2007 16:12:33 GMT -5
How many of you think there is a possible "placebo" effect when you spend the big money on some of these cable's? Ive been using Geoege L's for years and now im questioning how good they really are after reading this thread and some other online reviews.....just interested in more opinions..SN
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Post by scoobrock on Oct 25, 2007 17:26:25 GMT -5
I can tell you I had cheapo cables (PROCO's) from the 90's. Then I kept hearing about GeorgeL's. When I got my QR, decided to try them. My experience was that the highs were brighter, and you lost low frequencies using them. I got a couple monsters and the balls were back. But monsters are evil I guess...don't spend a fortune unless you are in Ozzy's band is my motto. lavacable.com has good prices and good information. Mogami, Gepco, Lava, and a few others are in the "not cheap, but not $150 for a 12 ft. cable" range.
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Post by gtrwun on Oct 25, 2007 17:56:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the input Scoob......appriciate it. Anyone else?
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Post by Jammermatt on Oct 25, 2007 22:03:52 GMT -5
I 100% agree with Sonic. JammerMatt - Only use speaker cables for connecting head to cab. They dont have the same shielding like instrument cables do and will sound like a$$, even in an effects loop. Also, using a guitar cable as a speaker cable can be bad for your amp as well. Mark them with different color tape if you are prone to getting them confused. Keep that expensive equipment working its best! Edward Thanks Edward. |
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Post by SonicExplorer on Oct 25, 2007 22:04:35 GMT -5
I can 100% assure you there is no placebo effect.
Just a few years ago I spent about $300 on a half dozen different cables and compared them, along with the half dozen different cables I already had, in some very specific tests. Including recording.
Sometimes there can be as much a difference between cables as with different pickups. Sometimes the connectors even come into play.
I'd say on average the difference in tone between different cables is similar to about 25%-50% of what you'd notice between different pickups. If that makes any sense. Problem is, with cables there's no "tone chart" to go by and not a lot of people have done enough tests to get much feedback on forums. That's what prompted me to get a slew of cables and figure it out for myself. I did the same exercise with speaker cables. They absolutely can make a sound difference as well, albeit about HALF or less of the sonic difference of audio cables. Also, if you live in an area that is very humid (like the Florida hellhole I reside) you need to be careful with copper speaker wire corroding. That will definitely congest your sound more than you'd realize and becomes audible at loud volumes when compared to a new cable.
Placebo effect? Hell and no. LoL But how far you are willing to go to get improved sound is each person's choice. Many people change tubes and strings and pickups, etc. But cables often get overlooked.
Sonic
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Post by gtrwun on Oct 25, 2007 23:40:04 GMT -5
Ok....cool Sonic....but help a brother out man, what are you using for your live rig? I thought I was getting a great cable when I bought a 100' roll of that damn George L's! Guitar Player just raved about those years ago in a cable shootout they did. I guess the market has changed a bit since then? Im cool with making my own decision obviously, but I'd rather not buy a whole slew of cables if I dont have to. An yeah, my tone is very important to me, and ive never spared any expense to achive what I think is a great sound....but im always looking to improve. Thanks.....
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Post by SonicExplorer on Oct 26, 2007 4:14:33 GMT -5
First rule of thumb, never take to literally those guitar mag reviews. Second, the reason George L's sound a bit harsh or lacking low-end to some people is because they are often times much better than the cables being replaced - and the players simply aren't accostomed to hearing the upper registers which the George L's can reveal. Lastly, the George L's were primarily targeted for pedal patches and short runs. (And they also garner some additional "clout" because they are designed to be "hand custom made" by the player for whatever lengths are desired).
I can't tell you exactly what cable to get for your particular situation as it depends on the amp, cab, guitar, pickups, style of music, etc. Each cable will effect your tone in a slightly different fashion, and it also depends on length and purpose (patch cables vs. guitar cable, etc)
PM me if you want to discuss specifics of your situation.
Sonic
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Post by scoobrock on Oct 26, 2007 8:24:21 GMT -5
I see what you are saying Sonic...but there was a major low end difference from George L's to Monster in my situation. I mean it was huge. And most reviews of them do mention the lack of low end response...which I ignored thinking it wasn't a big deal. The lower impedance allows the highs freq.'s through, but again - with a QR, you already have the highs - so all it did was make me turn the treble knob down to 1 or 2. But there are plenty other cables like you say....so the best thing to do if you have the disposable income is to try a bunch. Or read up on them...TGP and lavacable.com are 2 good places to start.
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Edward
Member
When all was right with the world
Posts: 241
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Post by Edward on Oct 26, 2007 11:28:52 GMT -5
I use George L's in my...(gasp, cue scary music)...rack. But I use the Mogami to the pedalboard, and from the pedal board to the rack. The only thing I have on the pedal board is a Boss Tuner and a midi switcher. The Boss tuner has a buffer, and so does the GCX switcher that I use, so the George L's have literally no impact on the sound that I can tell, and are all completely out the "sound" path when effects in the rack are not in use. I have Mogami every where else, and I have been very happy with them. I have done multiple setups and tear downs a month, and some small "regional" tours with this setup and never had a failure since I ditched the Monster Cables.
I dont think I would use a George L's cable from the guitar to amp/rack/whatever. But what do I know, Eric Johnson uses them so can't be all bad.
BTW: I only use a Wah with my splawn, and 2 mogami cables to patch up. I use the rack gear with another setup I have.
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Post by gtrwun on Oct 26, 2007 12:34:30 GMT -5
Ok ,I stepped up last night and bought some of the Lava cables. $150.00 for 2 20 foot cables. I did some more reading, and it seems some people say that certain cables actually work better for different types of music.....which kinda makes sense to me. The George L's seem to get good marks for cleaner type music, but supposedly aren't real great for higher gain type stuff, which again makes sence...like Scoob was saying, why add high end to an already high end type amp/tone. I apologize if I'm sounding like a noob, definitely not the case, but i am new to all this cable voodoo. Thanks for the opinions guys, and I hope I'm not taking any time away from that important Yngwie/Rhoads thread.........=)
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