[thesteve]

what do ya'll recommend as far as amp -->effects-->amp cables go. I already have a 18 or 20' guitar cable, a 5' for the end of my efx to the amp, and a 6 or a 12" to go between my wah and my efx set. now that I have an amp with an efx loop, I'm going to connect the wah to the distortion with the 6/12" (I forget which it is, but I think it's a six). I'm thinking about getting two 5' or 10' cables for the effects loop, and either use the 5' (if I get two 5 footers) or buy a third 10' to run from the distortion to the amp input.

so...well...any recommendations or cable brand and type (i.e. short instrument cables vs. speaker cables...etc.)...are instrument cables fine to use in efx loops?

[Flyguy]

Yeah, instrument cables should work fine. At least I've used them before without any problems. Don't have any reccommendations for brand really..just get stuff that is shielded really well...pretty much the best you can afford. And then when you get it, take really good care of the cables so they'll last you a while. (I'm sure you already knew that). Good luck!

[ryanspeer]

I've made the leap from traditional instrument and patch cables to George L's. Yeah, it costs more to make the initial move, but in the long run, really, you're going to be breaking even or possibly even saving a little bit over the cost of decent instrument and patch cables. Figure that a GOOD instrument cable will usually run you a minimum of $15.00. For that price, you can pick up two George L's right angle ends and about 10 - 15 feet of cable. For your pedals, I love George L's because I can cut the cables to length and have a non-cluttered pedalboard instead of the old tangled mess that I used to have. Also, take into account that GOOD patch cables (I'm not talking about Radio Shack garbage here) will run you a minimum of about $7 - $8 for a 6-9 inch length. In the end, it only makes sense to me.

I use George L's to connect absolutely everything on my pedalboard, my guitars to my pedalboard, and my pedalboard to my amp/PA system.

[nate95366]

A good instrument cable has different properties than a good speaker cable. So that said, you probably want instrument cables connecting all of your gear that's handling an instrument-level signal. The key (IMO) is having cable that has:

1) Low capacitance per unit length

2) Good strain relief

And then taking that type of cable and making sure that there's not too long a length of it in between your guitar and your amp.

Basically, I just try to stay away from anything fancy, like gold connectors or "oxygen-free-copper" or stuff like that. Those things have nothing to do with the performance qualities (listed above) that I find important.

Nate

Another vote for George L's.
Cut your own length, look great and sound superb.

[Brent]

Not to mention the fact that if they were actually to short out (not terribly likely) that you can just cut the cable where the short is and re-attach the end (it just screws on...no soldering) and you could have two cables then.

[thesteve]

Are George L's sometihng I'd have to order, or do alot of guitar shops carry the kits?

[Brent]

They're getting more and more common in shops. One of our local shops has a big reel of the cable and you can buy whatever ends you need in whatever quantity or you can buy pre-made ones in select lengths. They sell them at Musician's Friend now as well.