Pro Quality Instrument Cables

What’s the deal with these cables? Why would I buy these?

I’m glad you asked!

Guitar/instrument cables have always been a source of debate and lots of unanswered questions. Let me try to shed some light. An instrument cable consists of two connectors with a length of cable between them. Simple? It should be. Then what makes a cable inferior?

• Low quality cable with high capacitance. This means that the longer the cable, the more loss of high frequencies there will be. Most medium quality, moderately priced cables are fine when using a short length. However, when running a longer cable, a significant loss of high frequency information is more common than you’d expect.

• Handling noise, aka microphonics. A lower quality cable will pick up and transfer more handling noise. This means that, as you move around with your instrument, unwanted sound is transmitted through the cable as the cable is banging into objects, the floor or your body.

• RF interference. A lower quality cable will be more susceptible to interference from transmitted signals flying around you. Think of cell phones, radios, wireless systems, wifi internet, etc.

• Sound aside, low quality cable is less durable and more likely to cause shorts inside the cable. You may not even be able to see it, yet the cable doesn’t work or is very noisy when the cable is torn or cut on the inside.

• Low quality connectors. Simple physics and common sense here. Cheap plastic breaks over time, non-plated nickel will corrode, etc.

• Bad soldering. Either a bad job, or inferior quality solder. The single most common thing to happen to a cable is for a solder joint to break loose and the cable shorting inside a connector.

So what’s better about my cables?

• I use industry standard Mogami 2524 cable. Virtually every big commercial studio has an in-house technician or tech department where they make their own cables. And virtually every one of those uses Mogami 2524 for their instrument cables. At the same time, touring companies and major touring acts also have their own techs making custom cables for the performers, and most of them also use Mogami 2524. Why?

  • Mogami cable has an ultra-low capacitance. No loss of any frequencies, even over long runs.

  • Ultra-low handling noise.

  • The insulation jackets around the conductors of Mogami cable have a much higher melting point than other cables. This means connectors can be soldered at higher (proper) temperatures, ensuring a more reliable and durable solder joint.

• I use Neutrik XX Gold connectors. These are by far the most durable and robust connectors on the market. Gold-plated pins will not corrode. Additionally, solder “adheres” to gold plated contacts easier, more reliably and more durably than nickel connectors.

• I solder better! Really. Not trying to toot my own horn here, but… Open up the connectors on your current instrument cables and look at the solder jobs. I think it’s safe to say that 90% of solder joints on mass-produced mic cables are dreadful. Too much of the conductors’ jackets stripped, shielding frayed all over the place and ready to cause a short, dull looking cold solder joints that can crumble at any time… My solder joints are clean, solid and will not break. I make sure everything inside the connector is insulated so no shorts are ever possible. I use a high-end soldering iron, set to the right temperature, as well as high-quality solder.

Mic cables will always remain a bit of a mystery and it’s hard to tell if a cable on a display rack at a store is going to be a quality cable. In general, stores try to create the assumption of quality by offering very expensive cables next to more affordable ones. These cables are often not actually high quality, which makes it all the more confusing. My cables are truthfully, objectively, the very best you could possibly buy. If you know anything about me, you’ll know that I’m a nerd when it comes to researching gear. That’s how I ended up making my own cables (I have been since the 1990’s!). I also wanted to make sure these cables would be as affordable as possible. The parts are not cheap, but I am keeping my cost down by buying parts in bulk. I’m not making much money off these cables at all. I just want the best quality cables to be accessible to my friends, and anyone visiting my site.

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