Advice on Guitar Leads or Cables?

Boab · Post by **Boab** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:19 pm

I'm gonna be needing to get a new lead or two so I was wondering what most of you folks would recommend for reasonable prices?

I've been looking at these:

Cleartone Cables

and, since I live in the UK, they seems like a fantastic deal.

Any ideas?

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:31 pm

What's a reversible cable?

chisa · Post by **chisa** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:09 am

those silent jacks don't last well in my experience.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:20 am

Gavin wrote:What's a reversible cable?

You can turn it inside out so that it's like two cables for the price of one.

Bill Oakley · Post by **Bill Oakley** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:09 am

chisa wrote:those silent jacks don't last well in my experience.

I've been using the Neutrik silent jacks for a long time now and they have held up just fine. They aren't silent with active pickups though. Just passive.

gaybear · Post by **gaybear** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:28 am

what's a lead (sorry if i'm ignorant)?

as far as cables go, i love Planet Wave stuff, and there's almost always something on sale in their line.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:36 am

yea dude, cheap cables are fine for guitar. as for mic cables, outboard gear, etc... yea, get some high quality stuff. but guitars are not hi-fi equipment, you really don't need fancy shit. I do like neutrik plugs though. I've found them to be the most durable.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:47 am

I don't like silent jacks. They sometimes don't un-mute with certain guitars which is dumb as hell.

Plus the sound when you plug a guitar into an amp that is on is awesome.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:52 am

Mike wrote:I don't like silent jacks. They sometimes don't un-mute with certain guitars which is dumb as hell.

Plus the sound when you plug a guitar into an amp that is on is awesome.

urrnk.. urrnnkk...... urrnnnnk.............

...Visiting is eaaasyy, Visiting is good,
seems like, all he ever wanted was a bro..ther

Post by **Mike** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:53 am

I was thinking more:

Bzzt Bzzt

Are you such a dreamer to put the world to rights?

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:57 am

What sort of a cable would give you that authentic Radiohead 'bzzt bzzt' sound, as opposed to the Foo Fighters 'urnnk urnnnk' sound?

Post by **Mike** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:02 am

Not Silent

AMIRITE?

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:29 am

You're not wrong.

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:05 am

I just turn on my tuner so that it doesn't make any weird noises.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:45 am

i switch amp channels, as i set my drive channel to act like a mute. ie turn the fucker down because it sounds shit.

i'm thinking of getting some new cables, my planet waves ones died a long time ago. using a leem hot line and a get connected vintage look one. the vintage look is really good. the hot line has started making noise, though i think i can chop the affected section out and just make a short lead.

that reversible jack sounds good, though i could live with just a straight jack for my strat/melody maker.

Rhysyrhys · Post by **Rhysyrhys** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:12 pm

Ive always used Monster. Yes, they are mentally expensive but I have pretty much tried to destroy them at gigs and rehearsals and at home, and they just keep on living. Solid jacks, good cabling, built to withstand nuclear war and they sound amazing. Shielding is second to none as well.

I love Planet Waves, but the shielding is poor so I always get weird static noise when playing in carpeted rooms and I move the cable around (I like to move, so when or if I use them then they are from my pedalboard to my amp and not from my guitar to my pedals). It sounds like someone scratching there pubes into a mic. Otherwise, sick cables for the money.

Other than that there are a couple of brit companies making the good shit. My fave for a while was Whirlwind, they are just up the road from me and you can specify what you want etc. They aren't flashy or posh, just solid as hell. Nice man too. I forget his name.

Rayjaysonic · Post by **Rayjaysonic** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 11:38 pm

I have heard good things about Cleartone. After all, they use Van Damme cable and NEUTRIK connectors which is a decent spec combination. Prices are good for what you get I reckon. I have just ordered some Van Damme cable to wire my pedal board. By the time I have added on the cost of the plugs and the time soldering the things, probably could have saved the effort and bought Cleartones.