Best Guitar Cable

The GLS Audio 10 is our pick for the best guitar cable, which is at 10 feet in length, has an OFC insulator shield and is low on capacitance.

Our step-up pick is the Fender 1/4 Straight-to-Straight and it is also at 10 feet and is okay to use on many instruments. It has a straight design with 1/4 inch ends.

The budget pick is the Culligan Hosa GTR-210 and it is also at 10 feet and has an OFC braid at 90% for the shield. It has a straight to same connector set.

A Little Background

Cables for guitars are an important thing to consider because they are the ones that define how your instrument will sound when it is amplified to an amp or speaker. They are mostly found on electric ones and acoustic-electric ones.

Techniques are important in playing, but it must also come from the heart and soul. Even if you have all of the knowledge about chord theories and things like pitch bending, arpeggio and the like, they will mean nothing if you do not take into consideration how you connect with your song and piece and how you will communicate with your audience in the most effective way.

Music is part technique and part emotion, and the two should always be combined together so you have a clean sounding piece or performance as a result. Without passion in your music, you will have a flat sounding performance.

No matter what size and shape, guitars need to be played in the right way. This can make them last longer and be used for a longer period of time or generations. If you take care of your instrument then it will less likely to cause you trouble in the long run. Therefore, you should make it a habit to understand its parts and how to make them work properly.

Stage presence helps you to connect well with your audience, and let them know that your song is reaching out to them. Stage presence requires eye contact even without looking at your fingers and just relying on muscle memory to do the work.

Any kind of stage gear should be taken care of properly, regardless of what instrument that you have. This is because it will serve you better if you have it working well instead of just leaving it in the dust. Consider consulting the user’s manual to take good care of these stage gear when you perform live with different types of stage gear.

How we Picked

In choosing the best guitar cable, you should consider the following:

Length of the cable: this can vary from 6 to 21 feet depending on your intended purpose. A longer length is important for you to have a better stage movement experience, so that you are not limited to one spot due to the shortage of the cord. This is important for those who need to have a lot of space.

Straight or braided: some of these cables are straight but others are braided in design. Straight ones and braided ones have their pros and cons so you should choose depending on those.

Type of guitar: most cables will be used for electric guitars, but some can also be used for acoustic electric guitars. Electric guitars should have a quality cable that will not easily go loose when you use it for concerts and stage performances.

Home or professional use: you can choose whether you want something for home or professional use. For home use, you should not buy something that is too expensive. For professional use, it is okay to buy one that is a little more expensive, as long as you don’t lose it and easily pack it up.

Our Pick

The GLS Audio 10 is our top pick, which is 10-foot designed cord with a low capacitance and a durability that does not compromise flexibility. It has 38 picofarads for each foot. It has a tweed cloth jacket and it is protected with PVC shielding as well as OFC for insulation so it does not interfere with your signal.

Flaws but Not Dealbrakers

The only con but not a deal breaker with the GLS Audio 10 is that it might not appeal to those who don’t like fabric cables.

Step-up Pick

The Fender 1/4 Straight-to-Straight is our step-up pick, which can also be used on various kinds of instruments other than the guitar. It is at 10 feet or 3 meters and it has a PVC jacket at 6.5 mm as well. The OFC or oxygen free copper conductors are great at producing better sound at 23AWG and its flexibility can prevent unwanted tangles in the stage or in the studio.

Budget Pick

The Hosa GTR-210 is our budget pick, which has an OFC braid of 90% for the shield, and a 24 AWG OFC for its conductor. It has a straight to same connection and a length of 10 feet in total. You can also choose from 5 feet up to 25 feet for the size. It has good rejection of EMI and RFI for superior sound and performance due to the high density.

Best Guitar Cable with Gold Plating

The Monoprice 601403 has a gold plating for the ends so it will not have too much distortion. It is made with 20 AWG solid conductor for better audio reception. It is also made with 99% of shielding for better coverage overall. There are also 2 layers of copper so it can make the device much more durable than those with traditional plastic ones for the jacket.

Best Guitar Cable with a Woven Jacket

The Donner 10 Feet is a 1/4 straight to straight connector and has an OFC center that is at 22 AWG. It also has a tweed woven jacket in black and white combinations. The diameter on the outside is at 7 mm. Because it is easy to take apart, you can make repairs on the fly due to the flexibility of the design of the device.

Best Guitar Cable with Straight Connectors

Bearing straight connectors, the Fender California Series can be used for many instruments other than the guitar. It has a length of 10 feet and has ends that are heat shrunk. It is made with straight connectors and you can also choose between 3 colors. However, the main color is a bright candy apple red. Also, the connectors are backed by a lifetime warranty.

Best Guitar Cable with a Right Angle Connector

At 10 feet, the Cable Corp SC10 has a right angle to straight connection and is made with OFC conductor that is able to generate a good tone. It has a solid black color and has over molded plugs. There is little to no interference and noise with the spiral shielding design of the whole system while the OFC conductor makes the signal better.

Best Guitar Cable with a Copper Conductor

The Mediabridge Ultra Series has a 1/4 inch straight cable design and has a total length of 6 feet. It is great for small room practices and is gold plated for better audio output and input. It can be used for various instruments due to the inclusion of many elements. You can use it for bass, electric, acoustic and many others.

Best Guitar Cable for an Amp

The KIRLIN IWB-202BFGL-10/CA is great for an amp and is at 10 feet. It is made with an OFC conductor and is at 20 gauge for sufficient thickness. The woven jacket is at a carbon gray color and the whole thing has a limited lifetime warranty as well. You can also choose a 20-foot model while it has a gold plated contact for better signals.

Best Guitar Cable with Noise Reduction

The Amosic 10 Feet can be used for various instruments and provides good noise reduction. It is made with OFC for its center conductor at 24 AWG and it has red and black patterns for its jacket or tweed braided cloth. The tweed cloth jacket protects the signal quality and it also keeps it from unnecessary twisting and tangling. It is backed by a 12-month warranty.

The Competition

Others were not in our list because they lacked in durability for the materials used and they were also too short for most people, especially for gig use.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does price matter when it comes down to stringed musical instrument cords?

A: The price of the stringed musical instrument cord can vary depending on the following aspects:

1. Core material – the core material can be made of copper, but the quality of copper can also have an impact when it comes down to the price of the whole stringed musical instrument cord.
2. Noise levels – the noise levels refers to whether the stringed musical instrument cord has been shielded or not. Having more shielding means that your stringed musical instrument is less likely to produce noise when played.
3. Type of cord – the type of cord can also play a role on its price. For instance, the usual 1/4 inch jacks are cheaper, but special cords that are used for DJ mixers and the like can be a little more expensive.

Q: How do I find out if my stringed musical instrument cord is the one at fault for my lackluster performance?

A: On some occasions, you may actually have a failing stringed musical instrument cord at hand, which is characterized by the following:

Q: What are the different kinds of stringed musical instrument cords?

A: The stringed musical instrument cord can vary in the end parts, depending on where you connect it to, whether it’s for the amp, for your headphones and others. Here are some of the most common stringed musical instrument cords:

Q: What common mistakes do people make when they try to buy a stringed musical instrument cord?

A: Buying a stringed musical instrument cord may sound like something very easy, but it is not. Here are some common mistakes that people might make when buying them:

1. Cord is too long or too short – the cord should be in the right length for wherever you might want to use it. For home practice, you definitely don’t need too long of a length because it will just make your room a lot messier in terms of looks and organization.
2. Cord is not of good quality – the best material to use is gold and then copper. You should consider the cord that is made with great material, and you should also inspect its parts, especially for its connectors. Consider one that has durable parts so you can save more money in the long run.
3. Incorrect connector type – the connector should have the right type that you will need for your instrument, as well as your device and everything that is needed that you will connect to your stringed musical instrument in order for your setup to be complete.
4. Core part is not of quality build – the gauge should be thick enough so that it will protect itself from wear and tear naturally. The core is usually made out of copper and the copper part should be of quality gauge to prevent easily tearing apart.
5. Not enough shielding – this can help in making your stringed musical instrument bring out less noise so that your stringed musical instrument will not sound too noisy with background noise. Part of what makes a great stringed musical instrument sound is the kind of shielding that it has for the cords.
6. Jacket is too stiff – the wire jacket is what keeps your stringed musical instrument cord protected, but it should not be too stiff to move around.

Q: How do you fix a 1/4 inch cord?

A: For you to be able to make repairs on your 1/4 inch cord, here are the things you should do:

1. The wire should be disconnected from the plug by the means of cutting.
2. Make a clean end on the end of the cord.
3. Make a twist on the shielding.
4. Set the wires for soldering on the shielding wire.
5. Make cleanups around the solder joint.
6. Make another soldering to the tip from the center wire.
7. The shrink wrap should be replaced.
8. Adjust the mechanical joint.
9. Create pancake style plugs for protection.
10. Finish the setup over your stringed musical instrument cord.

Q: If you live in an apartment and want to play stringed musical instrument, what possible problems can happen and what can you do to remedy them?

A: Living in an apartment can be trouble if you want to play an instrument, let’s say a stringed musical instrument, since most tenants do not want to hear practices when they are relaxing. Here are ways to survive being in an apartment and playing or practicing stringed musical instrument as you wish:

Q: Is it possible to connect a 1/4 inch cord for an acoustic-electric stringed musical instrument?

A: Yes, most acoustic-electric stringed musical instruments also use the same kind of cord as other stringed musical instruments, making them suitable even for the cord that you have for your electric stringed musical instrument. This is because they use the same principle as with electric stringed musical instruments, albeit in an acoustic sound.

Q: What is the ideal cord length for a stringed musical instrument?

A: It depends upon where you want to or intend to use the stringed musical instrument. Here is a brief guideline:

Q: What are the common problems with shared practice spaces (e.g. rental studios) and how do you work on them?

A: Most people just lack etiquette when it comes down to practice spaces that are shared, such as rental studios and the like. Here are some things that stringed musical instrument players should know and remember when they want to (get a) share (of) a practice space:

1. Make sure you ask permission before borrowing other people’s gear. The problem with most people is that they go on ahead borrowing other people’s gear without any kind of permission, which is bad and annoying. It only takes a few seconds and words of “may I borrow your stuff?” and being lazy is no excuse. People have stuff and they spend dollars for it – be considerate and ask permission first before you ruin things.
2. Rent time should be paid as soon as possible. In addition to this rule of etiquette, renting time should be paid by every member of the band and not just one person. It’s not a band if only one person is active and all, and shouldering all of the expenses. Using someone’s property is something that you should pay for because it is not yours.
3. Put back things where they belong, as if you own the place. Make sure that you clean up after your mess, as with every group that followed or will follow. You don’t own the place so make sure you leave it like how it was left there so that you will give courtesy not just to the owners, but also to the next act or band in line with the schedule.
4. Consider setting schedules and planning songs ahead of time. You don’t want to have an awkward moment where you accidentally have the same song as the band that is ahead of your schedule. This is why you should plan in advance and see which bands will play and what kind of song they will play. Consider communicating with other bands and building a stronger connection with your music community or local scene.
5. Most practice studios are smelly – be responsible about your scent. Bands will have smokers and drinkers, and they will sweat a lot, so you should be considerate about your smell, even when the place has no designated smoking area – just go outside for a while. Because the room is soundproof, it also lacks some ventilation so you should open up the door a little bit once in a while.

Q: What happens if you buy a cord that is too long?

A: Cords can potentially not work properly if they are way longer than 20 feet. This is because there will be a case of signal loss, which can make your music less desirable. The quality of your sound will become poorer if you add more length. It can also potentially get you tripping on the stage.

Q: What cord properties can make it durable?

A: The properties of a stringed musical instrument cord that can potentially make it more durable are the following:

Q: What are the pros and cons of an electric stringed musical instrument?

A: There are many advantages and disadvantages of learning and using the electric stringed musical instrument, such as the following:

You should buy this kind of stringed musical instrument if you want to:

– go for a rock-related or metal-related genre

– want a diverse selection of stringed musical instrument tones at hand

– break away from fingertip pain from acoustic stringed musical instruments

Q: What is stringed musical instrument etiquette and why is it important?

A: Stringed musical instrument etiquette is an important aspect of being a musician because it allows you to be a person of value regardless of your skill level. Here are the things you need to be wary about when it comes down to stringed musical instrument etiquette, and how to have some (tell it to the people you think are rude):

1. You go to the store to test and buy gear, not show off how awesome you are at the stringed musical instrument. Some people like to use music stores to brag off their skills and end up not really buying anything, basically just to play different stringed musical instruments, which is kind of annoying for some people. Be considerate if you do test on-site and don’t get so ahead of yourself – just play some good riffs that you know and be humble.
2. Unless they want to hear your music first, if someone wants to start a conversation, hear them out. Music is a good thing to listen to, but you should communicate with people first before you interrupt them with your music. Nothing is more annoying than playing a song randomly when someone is talking to you, because that means that you are not interested in the person’s topic or interest.
3. Don’t mess with other people’s gear as if they were your own. People have gears because they want their sound to sound like this and that. But if you want that kind of sound, you should buy one – not mess with other people’s stuff! Be considerate and put the settings back to what they were before the owner reprimands you. Not everyone likes overly wet reverbs.
4. Keep things in order and play in tune and in the right tempo, as much as possible. Most people irk at the sound of uneven tempo and off-tune stringed musical instruments, so be considerate and practice your way to success, or use a metronome and a tuner, in that case. It will save you from being booed by the audience.
5. Don’t be a stage hogging person – it’s rude. Hogging the stage all the time causes problems, not just in your band but also in other people. It is kind of a selfish act, so you should let other acts get their way instead of hogging the stage for too long when others are about to get up there.
6. Be friendly and considerate – watch other people’s acts if they come later in the show. Not only are you supporting them even when they are the last act of the show, you may also learn a thing or two about their music, and maybe you can improve your music by getting inspiration from them.
7. Practicing in the middle of the night is only applicable with headphones or earphones. This helps with quiet practice, so it is a must-have if you are a stringed musical instrument player and you are itching to practice at night with your skills, but don’t want to ruin other people’s beauty rest.
8. Don’t be afraid to show off your gear, no matter how cheap or expensive it is. Just don’t brag about it – bragging and simply showing are two different things. Who knows, some people might actually learn a thing or two about how you make your stringed musical instrument shine with your own style.

Q: What kinds of amps can be used for stringed musical instruments?

A: Amps or amplifiers are the kinds of mechanisms or devices that can be used to play stringed musical instruments loudly in an event or stage concert. Stringed musical instruments need an amplifier for certain effects or for loudness. Some are just designed to work with amps, like electric stringed musical instruments. Here are the different kinds of amps:

Q: What’s the importance of having the right tempo or using a metronome when playing stringed musical instrument?

A: The metronome is something that most stringed musical instrument players often neglect, hence they lack in tempo. Having the right tempo is important in any performance because:

1. It always sounds “ehh” for musically inclined people, especially perfectionists.
2. It doesn’t move the crowd very well as compared to having the right tempo.
3. Your band mates, especially your drummer, will have tons of problems with you.

Q: How do you safely travel with your stringed musical instrument?

A: Travelling with a stringed musical instrument seemed impossible at first for most people because of airline security and all that, especially if you have a prized $500 to $1,000 stringed musical instrument or so. Here are ways to help secure your stringed musical instrument properly:

Q: How can music affect your life?

A: Music has a great contribution to your life, whether you’re listening to it or playing an instrument. It has the following benefits:

Studying better: This is so that you can memorize stuff easier for the next test or pop quiz. Listening to music that is hypnotic, such as trance, experimental and indie, can actually speed up your brain processing power. It can help with concentration, attention, thinking and the like, so you can memorize things better. In fact, even those who play instruments have better memory because of having to memorize chord theories and other aspects of their instrument playing.

Know yourself: Music, whether you are listening to it or playing it, may reflect your personality in general. Those who like to be outgoing might like pop, rock or hip-hop and R&B, while those who may be feeling shy might like artistic genres such as indie and ambient or experimental music. Gamers might also like 8bit or chiptune as well as EDM.

Physical and emotional pain relief: Whether it’s emotional pain or physical pain, we are all experiencing some form of pain in one way or another, and that’s where music comes in handy. Listening to music takes away the grief and relieves us from really bothering things in life momentarily.

Story writing skills: Most musicians can also end up as songwriters who not only create great music but also make up stories with their music. One really cool thing about songwriting is that you can present a story and visualize it better if you have more influences in making music. Even if you are just covering a song, you can also interpret it in your own story and colors through music.

Focus: If you always keep getting distracted then there’s a way to remedy that – with music. In fact, many playlists of music players and apps do have playlists dedicated to “intelligent music” or things like “brain food” so that you can remain focused even when you are listening to some cool tunes.

Q: What values do you need in order to learn stringed musical instrument properly?

A: Learning how to play the stringed musical instrument can teach you life lessons, and may also require some other aspects of your personality to be enhanced, such as with the following values:

1. Open to opportunities – aside from a short-term goal, some people who want to play stringed instrument just “want to play stringed instrument” and that’s it, but it’s a lot better to have an open mind to opportunities.
2. Commitment to what you’re doing – Trust us, you won’t know until you’ve tried halfway, whether playing stringed instrument is for you or not. Commitment is something that can make you successful someday, because you are pouring your efforts into something that you know you really want to master or at least get good at.
3. Fighting spirit – Sure, holding chords is painful at first, but if you really do have the determination and the passion to learn then that’s all you need to be able to pull off any kind of chord or technique that you want!
4. Patience – Trust us, every stringed instrument legend out there started out as a frustrated musician in one way or another. Any kind of instrument takes not just practice, but also patience and hard work, so don’t worry if you can’t get it right at first! These things take time.
5. Humility – nothing beats humility when it comes down to music, especially with stringed musical instrument. Many stringed musical instrument players out here have this “attitude” that’s kind of a turn-off, and doesn’t make them any greater than beginners who are trying to learn and are humble of their skills. Remember that what makes an awesome guitarist is not his or her skills, but the way he or she interacts with people. There’s a line between confidence and over-confidence.
6. Learning to be open to mistakes – what makes a better stringed musical instrument player is the fact that he or she is accepting well his or her mistakes when it comes down to the things they have done wrong on the instrument, or on a certain piece. People make mistakes in the beginning, so there is nothing wrong about it. what matters most is that you don’t make (or try to not make) the same mistake again later on.
7. Accepting your own style – some people play stringed musical instruments to imitate their idols, but in the end, you should be able to come up with your own style. This is especially true if you will be a composer or songwriter – merely copying the style of another person isn’t going to make the cut. You need to be creative and mix all your favorites together to develop your own style, even if it isn’t that unique – at least it’s yours.

Q: What are the three kinds of stringed musical instruments?

A: There are generally 3 kinds of stringed musical instruments to choose from, each having their own aspects of things, such as the following:

1. Classical: These kinds of musical instruments are also cheap. The sound is very warm and mellow due to the nylon plucking component. The problem with this kind of stringed musical instrument is that its neck is kind of wide so it is not ideal for those with small hands, and can pose a bit of a challenge.
2. Acoustic: Acoustic refers to the one that has a steel string for playing. It is mostly renowned to be slightly more difficult than the classical one because of the strings being painful to play. It has a narrower neck, however, so it is okay for smaller hands.
3. Electric: it has a loud sound and is great for making those rock star solos. It is powered through an amp or amplifier in order to produce loud sounds, as the strings themselves do not produce anything without a sound hole.

Q: Does price matter when choosing stringed musical instrument and stringed musical instrument gear?

A: Usually, it is depending on various factors, but there’s not much difference between cheap and expensive, all in all. Sometimes, the only thing that makes some stringed instruments expensive is the “signature series” thing. You’ll be pleased to know that there are some cheaper stringed instruments that sound like branded ones.

Wrapping It Up

Overall, we think that the GLS Audio 10 is our pick for the best guitar cable because of the decent length of 10 feet and the quality of the OFC or oxygen free copper.

Jennifer Jones

Jen is a guitarist and singer-songwriter who spends much of her time on the road and has lived in 13 cities across 4 continents. She picked up her first guitar at the age of 6 and learned to play by ear shortly after. She received her formal music education at the Berklee College of Music, and currently plays for a few bands in her free time. She has an uncanny ability to improvise creative melodies and harmonies. Her early influences include blues, jazz and rock.