Finding the best guitar cable to plug your guitar into your amp can be tricky. There are so many instrument cables for your guitar and pedalboard, how are you supposed to know which one to get?
Don’t worry. We’re here to help. Before you start looking at the quality of different cables, you should think about what you are going to use it for. Do you need a guitar effects pedal cable to link one pedal to the next or do you need a long instrument cable to connect your guitar to your amp? Length is super important in finding the right cable. The next thing is you might want to think about is if you want a 90 angle or a straight to straight guitar cable. Both of these have different purposes. Finally, look at quality of the components. We’ve only included quality cables on this list, so you really won’t have to worry about that.
Let’s review the top-rated guitar cables and compare some of their pros and cons, so you can find the best one for your guitar rig.
Compare the Top Guitar Instrument Cables in 2020
Contents
- 1 Compare the Top Guitar Instrument Cables in 2020
- 2 What We Recommend and Why
Here’s a full list of the best guitar cables to plug in your guitar and make it scream!
- Mogami Gold Instrument-10R Guitar Cable
- GLS Audio Guitar Instrument Cable
- Planet Waves Guitar Cable
- Pig Hog PCH10DBR Guitar Instrument Cable
- Amboz Cables Red Dragon Instrument Cable
- KLIQ Guitar Instrument Cable
- Fender California Series Guitar Cable
- Hosa GTR-210 Guitar Cable
Mogami Gold Instrument-10R Guitar Cable
Specs, features, and benefits
The Mogami Gold -10R is quite expensive for a cable, but if what you need is a high quality cable you can rely on, then it’s exactly what you need. It doesn’t make much sense to spend good dollar on the amplifier and pedalboard but hold back on the cables.
These are high-performance cables that will make a notable difference in any recording studio. They come well shielded to guarantee a crystalline tone. Its UHD spiral shield and a conductive sub-shield fend off low-level hums and buzzes. This produces a pin drop silent background.
Having the L-shaped jack plug comes in handy if your guitar’s jack is located directly on the front. Also, it gives the kind of low-profile connection that helps prevent the plugs and jacks being bent or broken – if musicians and crew members will be walking all around the stage and over your pedalboard amp.
While the Mogami Gold 10R is undoubtedly a reliable, high-performance cable, we noticed the interface where the cable joins with the gold-plated connector was weak. Even so, seeing as most users claim it has served them perfectly for over 2 years, it’s safe to assume it can take a beating or two.
Pros and Highlights
- Fully gold-plated conductors
- Carbon infused anti-static layer
- Well-shielded
- Limited Lifetime “No Excuses” Warranty
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Weak interface
Bottom line
As a professional guitarist, you cannot overlook the quality of your instrument cables, lest everything falls apart. The Mogami Gold 10R Guitar Instrument cable is a high-quality cable that offers exceptional performance. It is quieter. It is clearer. And, it is the kind of cable that was built to withstand even the most punishing tour experiences. If budget is not your concern, this is an excellent choice instrument cable.
GLS Audio Guitar Instrument Cable
Specs, features, and benefits
The GLS Audio cable is a dependable cable that was professionally designed to look, feel, and sound great. They combine seamlessly with your instruments (perfectly with the bass guitar) to produce a fantastic musical performance.
If you care about your tone and minimizing handling noise, you’ll love how the GLS Audio cables come adequately shielded to prevent the pickup of low-frequency disturbance. What’s more, its low capacitance makes for an improved high-frequency response.
The jack plugs at either end are strong so you won’t get a finicky connection. The tip fits securely on new studio jacks and in traditional jacks like on the 2011 Gibson Les Paul Studio and the 1996 Fender Stratocaster.
In terms of durability, the GLS Audio Guitar cable was build to overcome whatever grueling conditions you put it to. I’d say they are straight up tour-grade dependable. Moreover, its tight tweed cloth jacket is heavy duty to guarantee that your cable outlasts itself. Yet, it is extraordinary flexible so it kinks less. The Velcro fasteners prevent coiling and tangling when the cable is stored in your gear bag.
Pros and Highlights
- Innovative design
- Low picofarads per foot
- Low capacitance cable
- Angled and reinforced connectors
- Conductive PVC layer
- Tight tweed braided jacket
- Tension-resistant relief
- Velcro hook & loop straps
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No different plug sizes
Bottom line
At only 10ft, this isn’t going to serve you well on stage at that big concert, but it’s a pretty dependable cable for the beginner and professional playing at the local pub or on stage at a local gig. The GLS Audio is a high-quality instrument cable that offers secure and dependable connection to your guitar and pedalboard. It is the kind of cable you go for if you care for the tone out quality. Special shielding minimizes noise and other disturbances while its heavy-duty contacts hold firmly in place. It is a flexible cable and coils easily without kinking or tangling.
Planet Waves Guitar Cable
Specs, features, and benefits
I found Planet Waves American guitar cables to be unparalleled in terms of reproduction of instrument tone and silent operation. This instrument cable has a quality build and is visibly durable.
Its patented tip design ensures sturdy connection in your instrument, jack amp, or pedal. This redesigned tip is shorter but broader towards the end, improving hold inside the jack body. With such a reliable connection, you get a proper signal and escape the typical crackling ordinary plugs experience.
Featuring 95% tinned copper braid shielding and a conductive underlayer, the Planet Wave American cable gives better electromagnetic disturbance rejection. Its inline solder splice offers superior conductivity. This makes the cable sturdy while sending the purest signals.
The short length connects better to any effect pedal, but it won’t meet all your stage application needs. Longer lengths up to 40 ft are available, however. And with this cable’s low capacitance, it makes for a secure connection for gigs where you are closer to the pedalboard and amp.
Pros and Highlights
- Proprietary Geo- tip
- In-line spliced joints
- Tinned copper braid shields
- Conductive PVC jacket
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Tip doesn’t admit all jack profiles
Bottom line
Performance-wise, the Planet Wave American Instrument cable shames Monster cables. It gives perfect sound reproduction and dead-drop silent handling. It’s not as firm as the Mogami Gold, but you cannot find it to sound weak and murky. It delivers quite the beautiful bass and gives a noticeably clearer high end and low mid tone. Its price is what any player will be comfortable spending on cables.
Pig Hog PCH10DBR Guitar Instrument Cable
Specs, features, and benefits
PigHog series cables come in the thickest braided cloth jacket that feels durable. The PCH10DBR Pig Hog cable is a solid cord. It is well made so you can get exceptional service from it.
The gold-plated ends are markedly compacted. They give an excellent fitting, so you get a secure and robust connection. You also get one right angle input jack that provides a low-profile connection. This minimizes the risk of bending or breaking -common with straight end cables.
Visually, the Pig Hog PCH10DBR cable comes in fun colors (an appreciated break from your typical black cable color). What’s more, having your instrument cables in different colors helps you color code your lines.
Pros and Highlights
- Thick woven cloth jacket
- Gold plated connectors
- Patented 20AWG OFC conductor
- Electromagnetic interference rejection
- Lifetime guarantee
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Straight end isn’t strong
Bottom line
These aren’t $100 gold plated instrument cables but high quality, low-priced cable that any musician can afford. The Pig Hog is a tough, durable, and dependable instrument cable. It works well producing the kind of disturbance-free, silent connection professionals need. It is flexible but strong enough and can stand up to any beating you and your band will give it.
Amboz Cables Red Dragon Instrument Cable
Specs, features, and benefits
Are you looking for a cable that guarantees smooth and pure sound? The Swiss made red dragon instrument cable is the one. It is perfectly designed with a high density stranded copper serve shield that ensures you have uninterrupted performances. With this cable, people will not have enough of your music.
It transfers smooth, clear and pure sounds that will make you want to listen to your music every time and it is neutral and clear at low and high frequencies. It is perfect for stage performances. It sends full signal to your amp as it has a higher level of conductivity that is ensured by an oxygen-free copper core.
The cable is built to last with dragon skin design woven tweed that makes it strong. It does not corrode easily as it is fitted with gold-plated jack plugs.
Pros and Highlights
- Smooth, clear and pure sounds.
- Has a higher level of conductivity.
- The cable is built to last.
- It does not corrode.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- They are too thin and feel flimsy
Bottom line
The red dragon instrument cable is perfect for both home studio and stage performances. It is strong and durable and will definitely not be a weak link in your set up.
KLIQ Guitar Instrument Cable
Specs, features, and benefits
The KLIQ guitar instrument cable is uniquely designed for all your music needs. It doesn’t matter which instrument you use. This cable enhances guitar, bass, keyboard and every other instrument’s performance. What’s more important is that it is more durable with a chuck-type strain relief and very flexible so you will be able to move around the stage freely without having to keep untying knots.
It has beautiful gold-plated plugs that are efficient in transmitting your signal and preventing corrosion. This cable can stand the test of time. It is durable with bullet-proof chuck-type strain relief and an armor-like tweed outer shell. It has a beautiful bright color and not the ordinary black. This makes it stand out and you can easily notice it preventing unnecessary accidents. This cable boasts of triple shielding that prevents EMI and RFI interference.
Pros and Highlights
- Plugs are efficient in transmitting your signal and preventing corrosion.
- It is durable with bullet-proof chuck-type strain relief and an armor-like tweed outer shell.
- It has a beautiful bright color.
- This cable boasts of triple shielding.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- It may produce buzzing and humming sound.
Bottom line
Bottom line is that this cable will ensure that you will not have to keep looking for replacements. It is durable and will stand up to considerable amount of abuse. It will have your friends wanting to hang out in your home studio every day.
Fender California Series Guitar Cable
Specs, features, and benefits
Tired of boring and uneventful cables? Fender California series instrument cable will make you stand out from the crowd with its unique and bright color. It is different from the monotonous and uneventful dark colored cables. One look at it and you will want to remain in your home studio and sing your heart out.
This beauty is uniquely durable as it is made from quality raw materials and it will overcome all the technical hitches whenever they come up or even cover them up making your music sound like it was supposed to. This cable is very flexible. It will coil as much as you would like. You will not have to spend all your time untying knots and your studio will always be tidy.
Its lustrous color spells elegance, catches everybody’s attention quickly and can be paired easily with almost every other color for coordination. The bright color also makes it easier to be noticed so you can’t step on it easily. Its performance is great as it enhances sound making it smooth and clear.
Pros and Highlights
- This cable is very flexible.
- Its lustrous color spells elegance.
- Enhances sound, making it smooth and clear.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- It is not too elastic
Bottom line
Every singer, experienced or inexperienced loves good sound. This cable is perfect for complete control of the sound as it carries every bit of your precious tone while rejecting all unwanted sounds. I would definitely recommend it for stage and home performances.
Hosa GTR-210 Guitar Cable
Specs, features, and benefits
Another powerful cable that gives you smooth and pure sound is the Hosa GTR-210. Isn’t it very annoying to hear noises when all you want to do is listen to good music? It’s even worse when this happens while you are on stage performing for a big crowd. If you hate embarrassments then, this cable is for you.
The quality of sound it transfers is high as it doesn’t have unnecessary noises. The sound is so clear that you would want to listen to your music more and more. It is metallic around the soldiering point making it repairable in case of breakage. Its terminals are well shielded. Moreover, its material is not stiff and it is smooth to touch. It is lighter than most cables but it’s also durable.
Pros and Highlights
- The quality of sound it transfers is high
- Repairable in case of breakage.
- Its terminals are well shielded.
- Lightweight
Cons and Potential Flaws
- The end connectors may be loose Bottom line
Bottom line
Even if you’ve had it with replacing cables every time, the Hosa GTR-210 cable will not be a disappointment. Give it a try today, make music and even better make memories.
What We Recommend and Why
After testing dozens of cables, our points definitely go to GLS Audio cable. It has innovative design, low picofarads per foot, low capacitance cable, and conductive PVC layer.
It’s highly durable and offers tension-resistant relief. With angled and reinforced connectors, you are sure that longevity will be at its point! Finally, it belongs to an affordable price point category. For this price and the quality it offers, we may easily conclude that it’s the best you can find on the internet!