Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: hhcave on June 15, 2008, 10:52:31 PM

Title: Leads
Post by: hhcave on June 15, 2008, 10:52:31 PM: I'm looking to invest in some good leads as i've figured they do make a noticeable difference to the tone from an amp. I was wondering what my best bet is? I'm looking for top quality leads and am prepared to pay anything up to say, 50 quid for a 6m lead...

I've looked at the Chord 'Cream' leads and they seem good - any opinions? What about fulltone leads?

Thanks!
Title: Leads
Post by: Daniel G on June 16, 2008, 12:23:19 AM: Spectraflex, Monster, Klotz...
Title: Leads
Post by: Lew on June 16, 2008, 05:20:03 AM: It all depends on what you want the cable to do, add Cordial, Evidence and Mogami to your search list. George l's do the .155 that is nice and transparent(and cheap).

Check this out, Scott goes into a lot of detail about halfway through the video that you should find interesting :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeJYAH-Kiy8
Title: Leads
Post by: Roobubba on June 16, 2008, 07:45:02 AM: I would say that, before you drop money on some expensive cables, check out the Cleartone leads from Award Session first. It won't cost you much, and you're likely to be pleasantly surprised!

If you still want to go for expensive leads after that, then you won't have spent much first...

Roo
Title: Leads
Post by: QS-Nalle on June 16, 2008, 08:10:44 AM: I would say Evidence audio, by far the best lead I have ever tried
Title: Leads
Post by: hhcave on June 16, 2008, 08:16:53 AM: Okay i'll check out the companies you guys mentioned... anyone know about the cream leads?
Title: Leads
Post by: hhcave on June 16, 2008, 08:27:23 AM: I basically want a transparent tone from them
Title: Leads
Post by: IntenseJim on June 16, 2008, 08:50:30 AM: Klotz
Title: Leads
Post by: Twinfan on June 16, 2008, 09:01:53 AM: Quote from: Roobubba
I would say that, before you drop money on some expensive cables, check out the Cleartone leads from Award Session first. It won't cost you much, and you're likely to be pleasantly surprised!

+1 They're the only ones I buy
Title: Leads
Post by: hhcave on June 16, 2008, 10:50:52 AM: Hmmm what are the George L's cables like? What difference does the 0.155 thing make?
Title: Leads
Post by: noodleplugerine on June 16, 2008, 01:38:31 PM: Definitely Cleartone.
Title: Leads
Post by: Lew on June 16, 2008, 04:18:47 PM: Quote from: hhcave
Hmmm what are the George L's cables like? What difference does the 0.155 thing make?

The best thing for me about George l's are the kit's, it's really easy and relativeley cheap to wire a pedal board up for example.

If I was going to buy a guitar to amp cable right now it would definetley be an Evidence lyric hg, it's not to far out of your budget either.

http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/cables/evidence_audio
Title: Leads
Post by: hhcave on June 16, 2008, 05:14:22 PM: Wow that site is great for cables! I'm checking out the Monster cables as well...

SO... I've shortlisted these brands - could you say which of these you would recommend?

Evidence
Chord - 'Cream' leads
Cleartone

Thanks!
Title: Leads
Post by: dave_mc on June 16, 2008, 05:19:05 PM: are those cleartone cables at award session really that good? i might have to try them... :)
Title: Leads
Post by: Brow on June 16, 2008, 05:38:02 PM: Quote from: Roobubba
I would say that, before you drop money on some expensive cables, check out the Cleartone leads from Award Session first. It won't cost you much, and you're likely to be pleasantly surprised!

If you still want to go for expensive leads after that, then you won't have spent much first...

+1 to this.

I tried 1 out to see how they were and haven't bought anything else since!
Title: Leads
Post by: noodleplugerine on June 16, 2008, 05:47:31 PM: Quote from: dave_mc
are those cleartone cables at award session really that good? i might have to try them... :)

They're brilliant.
Title: Leads
Post by: hhcave on June 16, 2008, 06:19:17 PM: Does anyone here know if the Oxford Guitar Gallery stock them?
Title: Leads
Post by: Brow on June 16, 2008, 06:21:20 PM: Quote from: hhcave
Does anyone here know if the Oxford Guitar Gallery stock them?

Order them direct from http://www.award-session.com/cleartone_cables.html

They're made to order in whatever length and jack type you want :)
Title: Leads
Post by: JJretroTONEGOD on June 16, 2008, 06:43:52 PM: George L's are the best that I have tried, they have a lower noise ratio than any other, and seem to clean up the sound massivley. I have tried brass, nickel and gold plated ends and I like brass the best.
Title: Leads
Post by: Nolly on June 16, 2008, 06:50:14 PM: Evidence are reportedly some of the best cables out there. I'm going to be entirely recabling my rig with them soon. Vovox are supposedly excellent.

According to the ClearTone website, they use Van Damme cable, and Neutrik cables. I use Van Damme/Neutriks at the moment, and they are great. Certainly better than your average Planet Waves etc. If you can't stretch to the "boutique" cables, these are probably your best bet.
Title: Leads
Post by: opprobrium_9 on June 16, 2008, 07:30:44 PM: Mogami, if you want the cheap answer.

But if you are looking for professional quality i would check out Alessandro Instrument Pro instrument cables.
Title: Leads
Post by: hhcave on June 16, 2008, 08:41:58 PM: Okay guys thanks for the advice, i'm going with the Evidence audio Lyric HG leads!
Title: Leads
Post by: Nolly on June 16, 2008, 09:04:26 PM: Quote from: hhcave
Okay guys thanks for the advice, i'm going with the Evidence audio Lyric HG leads!

Good man. Look forward to hearing your thoughts!
Title: Leads
Post by: Dreichlift on June 17, 2008, 01:45:20 PM: I always liked Monster cables, I used to sell them and while pricey they are really fantastic and come with a lifetime warranty (brilliant for when the roadie drops a flight case on the cable).

Check out their power strips too, they cut out all the radio frequencies that house and pub wiring picks up so that you don't get "rentacab" or the police talking through your amp during your quiet intro sections.
Title: Leads
Post by: hhcave on June 17, 2008, 01:47:27 PM: The problem with monster cables for me is that there are no convenient suppliers in SE england... (apart from Stringsdirect but they are out of stock...)
Title: Leads
Post by: dave_mc on June 17, 2008, 02:04:03 PM: looks like i'll have to look into those award session cables... :)
Title: Leads
Post by: Roobubba on June 17, 2008, 04:27:10 PM: I didn't mind Monster cables, until I read THIS (http://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/blue-jeans-strikes-back/monster-sues-blue-jeans-cable) and THIS (http://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/blue-jeans-strikes-back), and now I refuse to buy anything from them at all. This is one example out of MANY where the company uses litigation, in my opinion, in a grossly immoral manner. Just google "Monster Cable" and "lawsuit" and you'll see what I mean. Despicable company, if you ask me.
Title: Leads
Post by: hhcave on June 17, 2008, 04:35:19 PM: Hmmmm yeah its slightly off-key but i can see where Monster are coming from there...
Title: Leads
Post by: dave_mc on June 17, 2008, 05:02:35 PM: haha, wow. nice return letter! :lol:
Title: Leads
Post by: Afghan Dave on June 18, 2008, 02:37:29 PM: Fantastic return letter!!

PDT_003 PDT_003 PDT_003
Title: Leads
Post by: Antag on June 19, 2008, 10:08:57 AM: Quote from: Afghan Dave
Fantastic return letter!!

PDT_003 PDT_003 PDT_003

+1 :lol:

I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when the Monster lawyer opened it...
Title: Leads
Post by: waves on June 19, 2008, 02:35:54 PM: I've just ordered one of these:

http://www.elixirstrings.com/cables/

Looks like quality science at work. It'll be interesting to hear the difference in tone. (I'm using AwardSession Cleartones atm).
Title: Leads
Post by: Roobubba on June 19, 2008, 03:08:58 PM: Just remember that no cable ADDs to your tone, it only takes away!

In some cases, that's of course desirable (uber long cables taking the top end off, trying to emulate someone famous, case in point).

Most of the time, it's not desirable.
I found that the ClearTone cables take away far less than the Planetwaves cables. Incidentally, they are also cheaper. I would be *very* surprised if a £200 cable would take away so much less than the Cleartones to make it worthwhile on any level (unless I were given such a cable, if it really is superior!).

I am biased, of course, because I don't have one of these expensive cables, and I'd rather not have to worry about saving up over £1200 to spend on them should they really turn out better...

But by the same token, all cables break, and as long as I have a source of high quality cables at really rock bottom prices, I'm very happy :)

Roo
Title: Leads
Post by: Antag on June 19, 2008, 04:15:50 PM: Just ordered a couple of Award Session cables based on this thread - will post comments when I get them...
Title: Leads
Post by: Afghan Dave on June 19, 2008, 04:43:26 PM: Quote from: Antag
Just ordered a couple of Award Session cables based on this thread - will post comments when I get them...

I feel exactly the same... I really want to give them a try. Let us know what you think Antag.
Title: Leads
Post by: dave_mc on June 19, 2008, 05:35:20 PM: when i get round to ordering them, i'll let you guys know about them too. current estimates are around the 4 year mark...

:lol:
Title: Leads
Post by: hhcave on June 22, 2008, 09:04:18 PM: Just got a couple of the top end cordial leads (the ones with the silent Neutrik jacks and they are really really nice! Sturdy build and really have 'improved' my tone! You can hear that the clean settings are much clearer and when you're not playing it is much quieter... The distortion channel basically sounds much clearer and quieter as well but to a lesser extent - it makes the amp sound tighter almost!

Also, there seem to be less mids, as a result i think it sounds more 'natural' - i LOVE these leads and i highly recommend them!

Also, they come with a lifetime warranty :D
Title: Leads
Post by: Nolly on July 04, 2008, 07:23:50 PM: Just placed a monster order of cables: Vovox for guitar->rack/rack->amp/fx send & return/amp->cab, and Evidence Monorails throughout the rack setup, pedal loops etc. Looking forward to seeing how they stack up.