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so a while ago i changed out all my cables (patch cables too) for the fender custom shop ones. they we're ok at first, but i've since had two die on me and replaced. a little put off, since in the past i've had planet waves circuit breaker cables and they lasted ages. think i still have a planet waves one somewhere.

so if peeps can recommend me some good cables, i'd be forever grateful.

i tend to buy a set of 3 10ft cables for home use and a set of 2 18/20ft and one of the 10ft for live use.

I've had a Whirlwind cable for about 12 years and it's still going strong. I also have 2 PLanet Waves cables that have lasted me 5 years or so.

I would go for a company that offers a replacement guarantee should they break, like Planet Waves. I previously had some of the cheaper Planet Waves cables and they broke but were replaced by PW no questions asked. Since having the pricier ones though i've had no issues.

I'd go for the Planet Waves American Stage cable. I had one of the cheap ones but after D'addario had sent me two replacements (they break quite easily) I asked if they would upgrade me and they did

The American Stage cable is really really nice. Quite cheap too.

Also wrap your cables with the over/under method, you'd be amazed how much of a difference this makes (no more knotting cables and less broken cables).

I like the generic H/H ones with the Neutrik style connectors. They're inexpensive and about as durable as any cable I've ever bought, save the Fender California cables which are SHIT. I got bedazzled by the cool colours that they come in but the two I bought crapped out on me after 2 months.

I've used the same Planet Waves guitar cables for nearly ten years without needing to replace them so I'd recomment those. I'm not convinced of the gold-plated plugs as a selling-point because the gold probably wears off over time, making the plugs no different from solid steel ones. Still, they're solid and reliable. You can't go wrong with them.

I ordered a speaker cable from Award Session though, and first impressions are that they're well-made (reassuringly solid Neutrik plugs) and reasonably-priced. UK-based too.

Planet Waves do have a great track record for replacing when breaking. I own a few different types, Custom Series & Cable Station and all going strong. But I've replaced a few for customers and it is a happy response / no questions asked deal here. Great company !! Using completely Solderless Planetwaves right now for all cables. One starting cutting out, but just a case of re-cutting and screwing in the plug again. Don't think I did it clean enough first time around.

I also use Fulltone, and Dimarzio.... highly recommend those as well, especially the Dimarzio. Bought it about 15 years ago and no complaints. The Fulltones sleeve moves a lot which is irritating.

Cables I've deemed crappy, or wont buy again:
Worst first...
- Proel Livewire (just don't) !!!! (Lifetime warranty means nothing here, trust me) but at £5 a cable what do you expect ?
- Elixir (too bright & break easy)
- Bullet Coily, was intermittent but could have been me...

Concretebadger wrote: I ordered a speaker cable from Award Session though, and first impressions are that they're well-made (reassuringly solid Neutrik plugs) and reasonably-priced. UK-based too.

I've had two 4m Cleartone cables for the last 5 years and they are still going strong. Dependable and easy to fix if they ever did shit the bed. Quite cheap too and they come in all shapes and sizes.

othomas2 wrote: - Bullet Coily, was intermittent but could have been me...

Mine has been solid as a rock for several years now! Not gigging though, but it's got scrunched and bundled up a hundred times and still works a-ok.

I use these. Gigged them a bunch over the last four years and they've never let me down.

Yeah, my bullet coiley's have been my most robust cable yet. I think it's because they only ever get bunched, then don's get wrapped, folded, and knotted like other cables.

I tend to buy any of my guitar leads from places like Audio/Studio Spares.com They're cheap and as long as you wrap them up properly they'll usually serve you well. I've had loads of leads break on me after lending them to others and them not being wrapped up properly. It's not exactly difficult.