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Author
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Topic: George L Cables-The best
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Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 26 June 2006 11:10 AM
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The George L's (.155") thin wire and the (.225") thick wire do seem to sound different. They really are quite different wires if you look closely. They have very similar capacitance ratings, but the similarities seem to end there. The insulator on the larger wire is fatter, nearly twice as large. The thin .155" cable has a core of 7 strands of raw copper. The fat .225" cable uses about 18 strands of tin plated copper. Right there is probably the key to the sonic differences. People who have really listened closely swear that the fatter wire has a fuller, beefier sound to it. It's not dramatic, but it's there. This sonic difference would not likely have anything to do with capacitance as both wires have similar and spectacular capacitance ratings. It's more about geometry, wire material, insulator size, shield size/braid, etc. Generally I'm happy with the sound of either, but I'll admit that for my steel rig, I've converted entirely to the fat wire. My guitar rig is almost all the thin stuff. I've generally had real good luck with the straight solderless ends. The right angle ones however, can come loose pretty easily, and those plastic caps barely help. I like to put a very tiny amount of removable threadlock on the right angle models so they stay put. Not too much though or else you can weaken the electrical contact because the threads are what cut to the shield. Even though their jacks are solderless, the real world has proven that they're still pretty reliable. Plus, if the connection goes weak, just snip off an inch and do it again. They're the best for laying out pedalboards as the cables don't really get messed with. The problem is with cords that get yanked on and used a lot. Even still, my George L's guitar cords with their long (Strat-grip) ends just keep on going. And hey, if you're worried, just get some good Neutrik or Switchcraft plugs and solder them on there. I have a couple like that that I can surely trust. Brad
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David Wren
Member From: Placerville, California, USA
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posted 28 June 2006 02:35 PM
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After a cord failure (one of 4 that needed to be identified) during a one set performance, I changed my ideas about using "cheap" instrument cables, and then did quite a search on what was available, what were legimate claims to more dependable use and full signal, vs items like the cable jacks shaped like a .357 cartridge, or the ones shaped like a human skull  I did look at Gerogel L., but didn't like the solderless connection, long-short I ended up spending more on cables than I have for some of my amps I went for the larger diameter cable, higher end Monstor cables. The price bothered me, but I couldn't justify playing a great steel through great amps, using a state of the art VP, and "cheap" cords. I did get the gold plated phone jacks, so now when packing up, I "KNOW" my cables (keeping honest musicians honest ) ------------------
Dave Wren
'96 Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com |
Jim Peters
Member From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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posted 28 June 2006 07:02 PM
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A couple years back, guitar player did a cable comparison, I'll try to dig up the article. One of the best sounding and physically reliable cables was Carvin cables, inexpensive, well made, reliable. No offense to anyone, but I must not have as good of ears as everybody else in this thread. I just can't hear the advantages of the expensive cables, but I always have a buffer(tube screamer)in my guitar chain, and 3 cable my steel into NV112, negating a lot of the expensive cables' "advantages". JP |
Brint Hannay
Member From: Maryland, USA
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posted 29 June 2006 09:42 AM
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Jim, as noted by Kevin in the post that started this thread, that Guitar Player comparison also gave high marks to the George L cables, and they're not expensive. |
Gene Jones
Member From: Oklahoma City, OK USA
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posted 29 June 2006 10:35 AM
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*[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 28 December 2006 at 05:07 AM.] |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 29 June 2006 11:43 AM
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My Monster cables were microphonic on stage. When we are doing our large out door concerts
they are just too noisy moving around the stage (guitar and fiddle). The George L's are dead silent. I also notice a clarity difference. | |
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