Every once in awhile, I witness discussions about the effects of speaker and/or guitar cables on one's sound.  I am surprised at the number of guitarists who say that it doesn't matter what type of cable one uses because it will have minimal to no influence on tone.  Keep in mind that many players realize from personal experience that cables most definitely change the sound of the guitar/amp combination.  Audiophiles have known this about stereo hi-fi cables for years.  There are those who insist that differences cannot be heard.  My view is that experimenting with cables can be a revelation:  both inspiring and discouraging because it's great to learn that such a simple thing can offer improvements for the tone-conscious player; yet there are so many choices on the market that make it difficult to know where to start.

To be honest, I walk a fine line between working on my sound and not worrying too much about it because I've learned that some pursuits have more of an impact on tone than others.  I may get [fill in product here] and find that it greatly enhances my tone while something else results in a more subtle or negligible outcome.  I do care about my sound; but know that regardless of certain adjustments and acquisitions, I will sound similar no matter what equipment I use.  The goal is to find out which things will bring your tone into harmony with your creative vision, even if you are the only one to perceive a difference.

I think many players are too focused on things that will not make a dramatic variation in their presentation, at least to the ears of others.  However, even if the audience can't hear or doesn't care about "improvements", what's often important is how it makes the guitarist feel.  If he thinks there's a worthwhile difference which results in a more inspired performance, then who's to question the process?

I know that different cables, speakers, strings, tubes, etc...can make a big difference in one's sound; but I've never wanted to sink into such a state of obsession where the quest for these things interfered with making music and simply playing.  There's a famous player who is known for perhaps being the ultimate obsessor regarding gear to the point of being able to tell what kind of batteries are in his effect just by hearing them  (most of you know who I'm referring to).   It's hard to argue with his results because his playing and tone are benchmarks for many, though some also find his music overly mechanical and analytical.  I've just never had that kind of drive and desire to be that "tweaky".  That said, I do have my own level of concern about sound that borders on a "just plug it in and play it" attitude and an approach that says "I will search for things (or let them come to me) to improve my tone within reason."  What's reasonable is up to each player.

Back to cables:  Cables have been one of those things that I never placed a lot of emphasis on in terms of finding the "ultimate" brand or style.  For many years, if it was black with a 1/4" jack on it, then it was fine by me.  I've done many recordings and gigs in my life with decidedly non-boutique cables.   I was quite happy too...maybe ignorance is bliss.  Actually, "ignorance is bliss" might be a good way to describe my credo when it comes to many guitar-related things.   Still, I do try to learn more and improve by going to what I think are reasonable extents.  Over the past few years, I have experimented with several brands of instrument cables and found that there are undoubtedly audible variations when they are compared back-to-back.

Recently, I've extended this experimentation to include a variety of speaker cables....running them between amplifiers and their speakers.  I have been both encouraged and disheartened by my findings.  Speaker cables can have a noticeable influence on the sound and feel of one's rig.  Granted, there is some overlap between brands to the point where you might find yourself thinking "Do I hear the difference in that frequency range or am I just imagining it?"  Some cables result in pronounced and dramatic variations.  Furthermore, which one sounds the "best"  is completely subjective.   A cable might sound good with one combination yet might not be the optimal choice with another.

Every once in awhile, I use my students as test ears, no matter the level of their proficiency.  In fact, I often like to solicit opinions from inexperienced players because they are probably more representative of the general listening population and their judgments are often uncolored by the rigors of an obsessive tonal quest  (ironic to put it that way because we hope that more experience equals a better foundation for legitimate evaluations).

I was going back and forth between some speaker cables not too long ago and asking my students if they could hear any differences.  Every single one that I asked, regardless of playing skill level, said they could indeed hear distinct discrepancies.  Some were very forthright and descriptive in expressing what they heard; however some heard different things.  One might've said "Cable A has a sweetness to it" while another preferred Cable B.   We all hear things differently.

The point of this article is not to say "this cable is better" or provide a comprehensive overview of all of the brands on the market; but rather to emphasize that there are perceptible differences in them.  Nevertheless, purely for illustrating some recent experiences I've had,  I will give a couple of specific examples of cables I've tried lately that I'm happy with, knowing fully that with the magnitude of available choices.... there could be products out there that I would like even better.

I have an open-mind to trying new things in hopes of evolving and refining my sound.  However, for all of the gear I've tried, I have actually been quite settled with my primary rig for the past few years.  I am still in love with the Carr Rambler combo amp that I've had since the model was first introduced.  For my needs, it's the most practical and versatile 1x12 combo I've ever played....this is reflected by my sustained usage of it.  Steve Carr, the amp's builder, could be considered an audiophile.  He is very conscientious about sound, not only evidenced in the guitar amps he builds; but also in his love and attention for tube-driven stereo equipment.  While it's true that the demands of a stereo system are often different than those of an instrument amplifier, a passion for the nuances of sound on the part of the engineer are prerequisites for creating lasting toneful products.

After extensive experimentation and determining the proper price-to-performance ratio for his products, Steve decided to start using Analysis Plus speaker cable in all of his guitar amps.  I've been able to A/B a variety of Carrs with and without the A-Plus cable and can say without hesitation that I notice a pronounced and consistent difference in the way the amps respond.  While every amp has differences due to normal tolerance variations in components  (tubes being one of them), there is enough of a consistency between the sounds of stock Carr amps to make a reasonable judgment in my opinion.  The A-Plus cables result in a much punchier and present sound with more clarity and immediacy in feel (ie: how the guitar's pick attack responds when amplified).  Before I sink into a mess of vague and highly-cliched tone descriptions, let's just say that I sense a dramatic improvement as Steve does too.

Lately, I've been using a completely different type of amp for certain applications called the Fuchs Overdrive Supreme (ODS).  It is a channel-switching amp that is capable of a wide range of tones that differ from the Carr Rambler, for example.  When I received the ODS-50, a relatively cheap and generic cable was supplied with it.  After I got it to the studio, I tried running some of the A-Plus cable with it and noticed similar results with the amp that were prevalent with the Carr.  The difference was like looking through a dirty windshield and one that had been cleaned.  The highs frequencies sparkled more and the overall presence of the amp was increased.  It was definitely a more pleasing sound to my ear.

It was a few weeks later when, by chance, I had the opportunity to try yet another cable with the Fuchs made by K&M/Two-Rock  and designated as their "Crystal Clear" offering.  After A/B'ing it directly to the A-Plus cable, I found that I really enjoyed how the Two-Rock cable emphasized a smoother mid-range aspect while still maintaining great clarity.  There I go again with the subjective and ambiguous descriptions....I think the Two-Rock cable complemented the voicing of the Fuchs in a manner that I preferred to the A-Plus.   Conversely, I still liked the A-Plus cable better with the Carr after trying the Crystal Clear cable with it.  It all depends on the application and voicing of the amp I guess.  Similarly, I've found that a certain type of instrument cable will work better with different guitars and amps.  It is possible to get into the tone quest very deeply as you can see.

So, as my "Quick Thoughts on Cables" extends into "Long Thoughts on Tonal Obsession,"  I'll close by reiterating a theme I've tried to articulate many times before.  We can get as deeply involved in sound as we want to; but it's good to have the awareness of what improvements and aspects of "the quest" are practical for our own purposes.  Despite the differences in cables that I've described and contrary to what the length of this writing might imply, I still don't worry too much about what I'm plugging into. If given the option, though, I'll certainly go with what I know will sound better.

My personal tonal quest is fairly relaxed in my opinion.  In fact, I no longer think it's really a quest...at least not on the level of what it has been in the past.  That doesn't mean I'm totally satisfied with my sound.  I think maybe it means that I realize any deficiencies I perceive in my tone or playing are more the result of my ability or need to practice rather than due to how the equipment is performing.  If it's convenient to try something out and I like it, I'll try to integrate it into my approach; but some things may not be worth the trouble or obsession to pursue.

I don't mind making an hour drive to Lexington, NC to get some barbecue (some people think even that is crazy) but it's not worth it to me to go two or three hours for something else.  We all draw the line of how much time, effort and money we are willing to invest in order to get the results we want.  I think this site serves as an appropriate forum to get a little picky and technical from time to time.  In the real world, though, most people aren't going to notice or care about incremental improvements in how our guitars sound.

After all, it's just guitar playing we're talking about 
 

Jason