Bret Posted March 2, 2013 Share Posted March 2, 2013 I could really be setting myself up with this one but is there any difference between rubber and cloth covered instrument cables? I mean apart from the cloth ones getting dirty are there differences tonally? *wincing* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Steve Posted March 2, 2013 Share Posted March 2, 2013 In my experience there's no tonal difference. I find cloth cables less flexible which is annoying at times. The big difference is the cable itself. I did notice a big difference when I invested in a Pete Cornish cable (cloth) which actually did 'open up' the tone of the guitar (I didn't expect to hear a difference I should add). Unhappily the thickness of the cable became a problem and it failed after about 3 years. I now use ClearTone cables (hand made by Stewart Ward, who is the man behind Session amps) and they are brilliant (and rubber). Same tonal characteristics -so far as my ears tell me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 The covering is immaterial, it's the copper that carries the signal. If the plastics we use today had been available back in the 1950's then covering wire with cloth would never have been seen as an even remotely good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heminder Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 There's absolutely a tonal difference. Braided cables seem to be able to deliver a punchier tone which I've never heard through a standard cable and they seem to hold together passive pickups better because the braiding has a tight weave. I've also found that ones with the springs on the jack plugs have better harmonics than those with rubber sleeves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Steve Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 [quote name='heminder' timestamp='1362801863' post='2005042'] There's absolutely a tonal difference. Braided cables seem to be able to deliver a punchier tone which I've never heard through a standard cable and they seem to hold together passive pickups better because the braiding has a tight weave. I've also found that ones with the springs on the jack plugs have better harmonics than those with rubber sleeves. [/quote] That's so true and all the more so when you're playing with the machine head of your D string perfectly in line with the South Pole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bret Posted March 10, 2013 Author Share Posted March 10, 2013 [quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1362821129' post='2005132'] That's so true and all the more so when you're playing with the machine head of your D string perfectly in line with the South Pole. [/quote] South Pole in relation to magnetic north or the other one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 But which ones the best for metal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bret Posted March 10, 2013 Author Share Posted March 10, 2013 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1362916587' post='2006099'] But which ones the best for metal? [/quote] And is there a danger playing metal too close to the magnetic pole? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 The effectiveness of the screening can depend on the style, but doesn't relate to the outer covering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 [quote name='Bret' timestamp='1362903041' post='2005881'] South Pole in relation to magnetic north or the other one? [/quote] You jest, but CRT screens used to be set up to take into account where in the world they were going to be used. I wonder if 'down-under' guitars are available? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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