| Author |
Topic: $100 for a patch cord?....not for me! |
John Jeffries
From:
New Brunswick, Canada
|
Posted 2 Sep 2010 9:46 am |
|
I was in the local musc store today & saw a new "state of the art" patch cord (not sure if it was 15 or 20 ft.), which was priced over $100.00 CDN. I asked the salesman if that was for real, and he said "Oh yeah - it's the latest high-end tech patch cord....gives you really great sound - brighter tone, more volume, etc". He said "If you are going to spend big bucks on a guitar & amp, why skimp on the patch cord"?
I said "can I ask a stupid question?" He said "sure"!
So in a nice, way I asked him "what do you suppose those little knobs on all those amplifiers are for - you know, the ones that say "Volume, Bass, Treble, Midrange, Presence, etc?" He just looked at me! I said "You expect the consumer to spend up to 3 or 4 grand for a "high-end" guitar and amp, and then you want him to buy a patch cord worth over 100 bucks just so he can get a decent sound??
If I had just bought a new guitar & amp and you tried to sell me one of those $100 cords, I might be inclined to question the value and capability of the guitar & amp. I would'nt buy a "cheapie" chord, but I'm not about to spend 3 times what a decent chord is worth either!"
He kind of agreed with me...I hope he didn't think I was just another "old fart" who thought that he new everything......oh well....
_________________
LAST WEAK I CUDN'T EVEN SPELL "STEAL GIT-TAR PICKUR" & NOW I ARE WUN! |
|
|
 |
Duane Reese
|
Posted 2 Sep 2010 1:24 pm
|
|
| Quote: |
| He kind of agreed with me...I hope he didn't think I was just another "old fart" who thought that he new everything.... |
That's probably exactly what he thought! 
Believe me, I wouldn't pay that much for a cable either (IN$ANE!) but that line about what those little knobs are for...  If I were that kid, I'd have said, "Well, they don't increase fidelity." Then I'd have said, "A $100 cable won't make a crappy amp sound good, so I assure you, that isn't our motivation."
I would be more inclined to tell him that $30 for a cable isn't skimping, rather than trying to make him look like an idiot. That probably kinda backfired.  |
|
|
|
Jason Hull
|
Posted 2 Sep 2010 2:24 pm
|
|
| If it was a Mogami cable, or the like, they are guaranteed for life. If it ever breaks, for any reason, you can exchange it. You're not just buying a $100 cable; you're buying a cable that will last you for the rest of your life! |
|
|
|
Bill A. Moore
From:
Silver City, New Mexico, USA
|
Posted 2 Sep 2010 3:40 pm
|
|
I have several 25+ year old Whirlwind cables that are/were lifetime guaranteed, and they weren't very expensive when purchased. They still work fine, but the outer covering is coming apart on a few. As long as they still work I don't think it's fair to ask for a replacement, but if I was still playing out, I wonder how many times I could roll them up before they do fail.
And by the way, "old farts" do know everything, just ask! |
|
|
|
Bill OConnor
From:
Castle Rock, Washington, USA * R.I.P.
|
Posted 2 Sep 2010 4:29 pm $100. Cord ?
|
|
| JUST PRESS THE VOLUME PEDAL A LITTLE MORE YOU`LL GET MORE FOR YOUR MONEY. NOBODY CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE. EXCEPT THE GUY THAT GOT YOUR MONEY. |
|
|
|
Cass Broadview
|
Posted 2 Sep 2010 7:51 pm
|
|
My friend and forum member George Redmon, once showed me an old Whirlwind guitar cable he said he purchased from Frank Rogers' father many years ago. The cable has a real rubber jacket. The thing is so old, part of the cable jacket has turned white, and has dry rot like an old tire. But it still works. He said he thought he paid around ten dollars for it at Rogers Music.  |
|
|
|
Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
|
Posted 2 Sep 2010 8:28 pm
|
|
At the last studio I worked in recently, the owner/engineer gave me a patch cord that he said was "poured silver". He loved them so much that he said he rewired his entire studio using this 'poured silver' cable. He said it was really expensive but definitely worth it. FWIW...
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 3 Sep 2010 2:02 am
|
|
There are many theories on cables, but the majority are that, just theories or marketing hype.
Mogami is a high grade cable, but not worth $100 for a guitar cord, regardless if it is guaranteed for "life". |
|
|
|
Robert Brown
From:
West Mifflin Pa.
|
Posted 3 Sep 2010 2:31 am
|
|
I'll just stay with good ole George L's Bob
_________________
Zum D10 8x6 w/Alumitone's,Fender D8,Regal Dobro,Fender twin reverb, Peavey nashville 112,Hilton pedal,Peterson Strobo-flip,BJS&Zirc Bars,George L's cables |
|
|
|
Alexa Gomez
From:
San Francisco
|
Posted 3 Sep 2010 11:53 pm Some call it cheap, I call it furgal...
|
|
Hello John,
I have always just gotten the little six-foot plastic-coated Radio Shack cable and simply love the tone. It's totally low-capacitance since there's just barely any wire, much less sheilding, so each note rings clear and true. Once those little plastic ends start crackling, I just bring it back with my receipt. They never bat an eye and just say to fetch a fresh one. They also make some pretty nice professional looking cables which I hear Eric Johson likes using. Go figure.
Alexa
_________________
Sister Alexa>SX Lap Pro>Rocktron Surf Tremolo>Pignose 7-100.
www.youtube.com/sisteralexa |
|
|
|
David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
|
Posted 4 Sep 2010 5:17 am
|
|
Hendrix specifically used the coily cords because they dropped the resonant peak coming out of his Strat, before going to a wah, Fuzz Face and octave box. Eric Johnson, Julien Kasper and other Strat-masters keep some kind of cheap, high-capacitance cord around when recording just for this purpose. Pickups, cord, amps, speakers, microphones, they're ALL "tone controls" to some extent or another, which is why the idea of a single component which is "perfect" or the "ultimate" is so appalling & ridiculous (yet ever-so profitable! ) Many millions of dollars are spent every year to duplicate the sound of a cheap guitar through an exploding amp into overloaded speakers. |
|
|
|
Jason Hull
|
Posted 4 Sep 2010 6:46 am
|
|
| Jack Stoner wrote: |
There are many theories on cables, but the majority are that, just theories or marketing hype.
Mogami is a high grade cable, but not worth $100 for a guitar cord, regardless if it is guaranteed for "life". |
Marketing hype inflates the cost of almost every kind of musical merchandise, but worth is subjective. If you tour for a living, you come to appreciate anything that is guaranteed. |
|
|
|
chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
|
Posted 4 Sep 2010 9:30 am
|
|
| keep in mind that 'guaranteed for life' means the 'life' of the company offering it. |
|
|
|
John Groover McDuffie
From:
LA California, USA
|
Posted 4 Sep 2010 9:44 am
|
|
It is important of course to have good quality cables that function correctly. I have no doubt that there are some differences in various cable designs that effect frequency response. However when comparing a normal high quality cable to an "audiophile/cork-sniffer" cable the benefit is probably marginal, may be discernible only to the player (and may be only in his perception), and probably won't get you many more gigs unless you're Eric Johnson and being insanely anal about gear to an unreasonable degree is part of your mystique. 8~)
There are factors about a cable other than sound transmission that are also important to me, especially pliability and durability.
And as we say on the golf course "It's not the arrow, it's the Indian." |
|
|
|
Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
|
Posted 4 Sep 2010 10:00 am
|
|
I like the skinny GeorgeL cords cuz they take up less space... I can fit like twice as many cords in my Steel Seat than thick cords.
I often find them on Sale at a good price. I've noticed alot of music stores have a GeorgeL bulk cord/jack display that goes largely unsold and they are glad to discount when asked. |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 4 Sep 2010 2:15 pm
|
|
What happens to the "guaranteed for life" cable if it goes bad. You have to, in most cases, contact the manufacturer to get a return authorization, then ship it back (including shipping costs) and wait for a replacement. The turnaround time can be weeks.
If I have a "user repairable" cable and a connector end goes bad, I can fix it and be ready for the next gig.
When I was doing amp repair, I fixed a lot of bad cables. For my personal use with my steel I only use George L's and in over 20 years I have had to redo one end (5 minute job). |
|
|
|
Duane Reese
|
Posted 4 Sep 2010 9:47 pm
|
|
| I bought a 25' Live Wire Advantage cable from Guitar Center for about $30 and it has a lifetime guarantee (or something). I had it go south, so I brought it in with no receipt or anything, and they just took it and gave me a new one, no questions asked. |
|
|
|
Cass Broadview
|
Posted 4 Sep 2010 10:41 pm
|
|
George & i purchase cable bulk by the foot. Belden, Mogami, Canare. Then we terminate them with Switchcraft, Neutrik or any decent plug. I've gotten to be pretty good at soldering. I can purchase custom colors, and build to any length. Short patch cables for stomp box's, to 20 footers. Much cheaper then any you can buy. And everything also has a lifetime warranty. I can also build XLR quad mic cables. And you thought us ladies only did knitting....  |
|
|
|
Jason Hull
|
Posted 5 Sep 2010 2:23 am
|
|
| Jack Stoner wrote: |
| What happens to the "guaranteed for life" cable if it goes bad. |
You walk into a music store and exchange it for a new one, no questions asked. |
|
|
|
Cass Broadview
|
Posted 6 Sep 2010 8:51 am
|
|
| you have to read the fine print to the "Limited Lifetime Warranty". And i've always wondered who decides what is "Normal Wear" or "Normal Use"? Now the big question remains, do you honestly keep your proof of purchase for a lifetime? And what about the "Original Buyer"? how do you prove you didn't get it off the forum for five bucks for instance? |
|
|
|
David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
|
Posted 6 Sep 2010 10:36 am
|
|
Well, Mr. Hull sounds like he speaks from experience. I mostly use the Bill Lawrence cables and ends which were the system he invented, then George L "borrowed", but they are very low-capacitance, i.e. trebly. Just for instance I have a "gig" at a birthday party where I'm going in to play electric slide guitar for 10 minutes, totally clueless as to what through - a Marshall Stack? A Fender Twin... (likely)
I'll bring a Lawrence low-capacitance (bright!) cord, and an old beat-up thing that won't die, for some reason (not-bright!)
Marshall + Lawrence = Fender + beater cord, roughly speaking. Everybody but me should be drunk by then, anyway.  |
|
|
|
T. C. Furlong
From:
Lake County, Illinois, USA
|
Posted 6 Sep 2010 11:25 am
|
|
But what if it did sound way better?
It might sound better and it might sound worse...or it might not sound any different at all.
Last edited by T. C. Furlong on 7 Sep 2010 7:41 am; edited 2 times in total |
|
|
|
John Groover McDuffie
From:
LA California, USA
|
Posted 6 Sep 2010 12:37 pm
|
|
| It's still $100.00. The individual can decide whether that is reasonable, proportionate, and gives the desired "bang-for-the-buck". I'll take a pass. |
|
|
|
Jason Hull
|
Posted 7 Sep 2010 3:51 am
|
|
| I make and repair my own cables, so I would pass too. I was playing advocate for the 99% of musicians who can't or won't fix their own stuff. For a lot of them, a guaranteed "no questions asked" cable is a valid and valued product. |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 7 Sep 2010 4:12 am
|
|
| Quote: |
| You walk into a music store and exchange it for a new one, no questions asked. |
Not the case with all cables. Some have to be returned to the manufacturer for warranty repair/replacement. |
|
|
|
