By Taylor Lori | Last Upload on Dec 2nd 2022 | Home → 15 Best Mini Guitar Pedals for Compact Touring & Traveling Guitarists
If you have decided to build a pedal board, the first step is to organize and plan what you need. Properly organizing and planning will make moving the pedal board around a lot easier.
Also, it will make the board look a lot nicer. One important thing to consider when choosing patch cables for your pedal board is the length of the cables. Having too many cables that are different lengths can be stressful and difficult to manage during a performance. Apart from cable lengths, the overall quality of your cable is also very much important.
The quality of the cable will have a tremendous effect on the final sound you produce as a guitar player. Some cables are poorly made and not properly shielded, thereby making them prone to interference. It is important to choose not just the right guitar patch cable for your needs but also the best possible ones you can afford.
Off-the-shelf patch cables are great because they have a low failure rate. You can also make your own patch cables if you want, and there are a variety of solderless kits that you can buy.
In this article, we will look at some of the best off-the-shelf patch cables.
We recommend the Donner Pancake Cables because they are of good value. These guitar patch cables are low-priced and have been reliable for us and many other guitar players. The only downside is that they can be difficult to find in some locations, depending on the distribution. If you can’t find the Donners, then the Planet Waves 3-pack is also a good value, though it has a higher profile at the jack end. Planet Waves is also quite a reputable and popular name in the world of guitar cables and other accessories.
What Are Guitar Patch Cables Made Of? What To Look For!
When choosing guitar patch cables, the most important factor is connectivity. You want a cable that will give you a good connection between your guitar and pedals. By “good connection,” we mean a patch cable of overall outstanding quality that is not prone to noise and other unwanted electrical interferences. The next thing to consider is flexibility. You want a cable that is easy to route and doesn’t get in the way. Finally, you want a durable cable that can withstand being stepped on or pulled tight.
The best guitar pedal cables are made of oxygen-free copper (OFC) for the conductor. This ensures that the signal is clear and noise-free. Oxygen-free copper patch cables run much cooler than patch cables with other conductors. These kinds of patch cables are more resistant to shorts and are more durable and long-lasting. Also, corrosion will never be an issue with these types of patch cables. The insulation on the cable should be low capacitance so that it doesn’t degrade the signal. The jacket should be flexible and durable so that it can withstand being routed in tight spaces and stepped on.
High-End Durable, Reliable Guitar Patch Cables
If you want something that will last forever and you don’t mind spending a bit more money, then we recommend the Mogami Gold guitar pedal cables. These are hand-soldered in Japan and they use gold-plated connectors. They are also very flexible, which can be helpful if you have a compact pedal board. However, the downside of the Mogami cables is the price. They are a lot more expensive than other guitar patch cables. But if you want the best, this is it.
We don’t feel that there is a lot of benefit to using very expensive cables. A better compromise is something like the Ernie Ball Flat Angle Patch Cable or Fender Angled Jack Patch Cable, which are still premium but not as expensive. The Ernie Ball cables also come in a pancake version, which is ideal for tighter pedal boards.
It is important to remember that guitar pedal cables are an often overlooked but essential part of your gear. Having good quality cables will save you money in the long run because you won’t have to replace them as often. it doesn’t matter if you are a recording or performing guitar player, to get the best sound from your pedal board, it is important you invest in the best possible patch cables that you can afford. We hope this article helped you choose the right guitar pedal cables for your needs.
The All Around Best Pedal Patch Cables for Most Guitarists
Here is our list of the top 10 guitar patch cables money can buy online:
- Donner Pancake Cables
- Planet Waves 3-pack
- Mogami Gold guitar pedal cables
- Ernie Ball Flat Angle Patch Cable
- Fender Angled Jack Patch Cable
- Instrument cable by Hosa Technology
- GLS Audio guitar patch cables
- Pro Co EXM-EX guitar patch cables
- Evidence Audio SIS plug guitar patch cables
- Sommer Spirit XXL guitar patch cables
Cheap, Reliable Guitar Pedal Patch Cables for Most Guitarists
- Donner Pancake Cable: These guitar pedal cables are of great value. They are low-priced and have been reliable for us. The only downside is that they can be difficult to find in some locations, depending on the distribution.
- Planet Waves 3-pack: If you can’t find the Donners, then the Planet Waves 3-pack is also a good value, though it has a higher profile at the jack end.
- Ernie Ball Flat Angle Patch Cable: At the highest end, there are Mogami cables. But we don’t feel that there is a lot of benefit to using very expensive cables. A better compromise is something like the Ernie Ball Flat Angle Patch Cable
FAQ: Guitar Pedal Board Buying Guide
How to Set Up A Pedal Board (Quick Tips)
When it comes to setting up a guitar pedal board, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, you need to decide what pedals you want on your board. Second, you need to figure out the optimal order for your pedals. Third, you need to make sure your power supply can handle all the pedals on your board. Fourth, you need to choose the right cables for your guitar pedal board.
- Decide what pedals you want on your guitar pedal board.
- Figure out the optimal order for your guitar pedals.
- Make sure your power supply can handle all the guitar pedals on your board.
- Choose the right guitar pedal cables for your guitar pedal board
What Are the Best Guitar Patch Cables?
There are a few things to consider when buying guitar patch cables. The first is the type of copper used in the cable. You want oxygen-free copper to ensure a clear and noise-free signal.
They have electrolytically refined these types of cables to reduce the level of oxygen to about 0.001% or below. These kinds of cables are generally of higher quality than normal copper wires.
However, they may be a bit more expensive than other cables, but they are worth their prices. Second, you want low capacitance to avoid signal degradation. Third, you want a durable and flexible cable that can withstand being stepped on or routed through tight spaces.
- Oxygen-free copper (OFC) for the conductor
- Low capacitance
- Flexible and durable
Compressor Pedal Before or After Overdrive?
The optimal location for a compressor pedal is right after the guitar in your signal chain. This is because the compressor pedal will be able to compress the signal before it hits any overdrive or distortion pedals. This way, you can get a cleaner sound from your overdrive and distortion pedals. Technically and logically, this makes a lot of sense and even most professional audio engineers will always follow this chain when processing guitars and other signals. However, as artists, we should not be afraid of experimenting. Although not strongly advised, you can experiment with placing your compressor somewhere else in your effect chain or maybe even adding a second compressor. If it sounds right to your ears, then do it.
If you have an overdrive pedal that doesn’t clean up well, you can try putting the compressor pedal before the overdrive pedal. This way, the compressor will be able to smooth out the signal before it hits the overdrive pedal. There are a lot of guitar pedal cable options available. Which ones are the finest for minimalist guitar pedal boards? Here’s a list of the top guitar pedal cables for players who want to keep their pedal boards as simple and organized as possible.