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How Long Is Your.... Cable?


How Long Do You Like Your Bass Cables?  

31 members have voted

  1. 1. How Long Do You Like Your Instrument Cables (Bass to Amp/Pedalboard)

    • 2 Metres
      0
    • 3 Metres
      15
    • 4 Metres
      1
    • 5 Metres
      9
    • Longer than 5 metres
      6
    • Shorter than 2 metres.
      0

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  • Poll closed on 05/10/24 at 09:50

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As many of you know, I make cables for people on here. I am considering making cables for stock but I would like to know what lengths of Instrument cables people prefer. I will still be making cables to order but it saves a lot of time and effort making two or more cables of a particular type.

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11 minutes ago, spyder said:

I use two cables lengths that can be swapped out depending on venue size. 

 

3m and 5m

 

Hope this helps.

Same here, wireless bass to pedalboard and cable back to amp

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6m for me bass direct to amp 

 

5-6m seems to be the optimum gigging length for me gives approx 3m on the ground with 1m up to amp head and 1m to bass,

I also prefer a right angle jack one end with straight jack the other 

Edited by BassAdder60
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Thanks guys, this is really useful. I usually make cables to order but the last two orders, I decided to make some cables for stock/sale. I made the following:

 

  1. 5m (approx 16.4 feet) right angled connector on one end, straight on the other. SOLD
  2. 4m (approx 13 feet) right angled connector on one end, straight on the other. SOLD
  3. 5m (approx 16.4 feet) straight connector on both ends. Unsold
  4. 4m (approx 13 feet) straight connector on both ends. Unsold
  5. 5m (approx 16.4 feet) right angled SILENT connector on one end, straight on the other. SOLD

So clearly bassists want one right angled and one straight plug. Of course Strats need  straight connector at the guitar end as do some later Fender Aerodyne Jazz and Ibanez basses.

 

Anyway with your input and the evidence of sales, it looks like 3 and 5 metre cables with one right angle and one straight  connector will be the stock sizes with the occasional 6 metres. Thanks to all that have contributed and anyone that wants to add anything is welcome to until the 5th Oct.

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33 minutes ago, SimonK said:

Question is does the angled jack go into the bass or the pedal board...

Whichever you like, but for longevity of your cable, I'd recommend whatever puts less strain on it. On a front or traditionally side mounted jack, I'd go for right angled on the bass. On my Dingwall or on a strat/angled Ibanez, I'd go straight. I prefer having a cable with both so I can swap it round based on my choice of instrument. 

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Wireless to multieffects/pedalboard, then 3m or 5/6m lead to amp. Only use right-angle jacks if it's a pedal board that I'm keeping the internals as slim as possible. Don't use right-angle jacks into amps or basses (I have some with recessed jacks and a one-lead-fits-all policy).

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On 27/09/2024 at 13:46, spyder said:

I use two cables lengths that can be swapped out depending on venue size. 

 

3m and 6m

 

Hope this helps.

Same for me, 3 meters for home use is quite obvious.

 

Angled for side mounted jack, otherwise straight ones all the time.

 

Edited by Hellzero
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20 hours ago, Martin E said:

Can I add that I find a coloured cable, well anything other than black, is useful just  to identify it on the floor from all the other stuff.

I have purple ones. Also means no one can nick them too easily 

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On 28/09/2024 at 14:23, Martin E said:

Can I add that I find a coloured cable, well anything other than black, is useful just  to identify it on the floor from all the other stuff.

I only stock black at the moment but can put coloured heatshink on either end. Is that OK or must you have coloured cable? If so what colour?

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16 hours ago, PinkMohawk said:

Angled for bass, straight for board/amp. In terms of length, I prefer longer cables, but at a certain point, it's just time for a wireless. 

I tend to think that up to 5m, a good general purpose cable such as Sommer Tricone* or Van Damme XKE is fine. Over 5M I would go for Sommer Spirit LLX as the low loss characteristics work better for longer cables. I would be happy to go up to 10 metres for an instrument cable (passive) or 15m for an active bass.

 

I use Sommer cables as they are as good or better than the competition and they are easier to deal with.

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7 minutes ago, PinkMohawk said:

I prefer black cable with coloured heatshrink, or you could even do the techflex stuff, that keeps it pretty subtle but gives it a clear identifying mark as well. 

Techflex adds to the weight and also makes the cable less flexible and more difficult to wind. It would also add to the cost. This does raise another question. How many people have had a cable fail through damage or breakage? Some of the early Van Damme cables were very prone to breakage close to the plug. As yet I have never had a cable break using Sommer Cable and Neutrik Connectors but there will always be a first time.

Edited by Chienmortbb
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4 minutes ago, Chienmortbb said:

Techflex adds to the weight and also makes the cable less flexible and more difficult to wind. It would also add to the cost. This does raise another question. How many people have had a cable fail through damage or breakage? Some of the early Van Damme cables were very prone to breakage close to the plug. As yet I have never had a cable break using Sommer Cable and Neutrik Connectors but there will always be a first time.

True, but I'm looming 5 cables together into one, so it was never going to be too flexible for me anyway haha. I've had cheap cables fail through general wear and tear, bad solder joints, etc. but never anything high quality or that I made myself. Good heatshrink works well as strain relief, and I've never had issues with any cable like that. 

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