HF losses in guitar cables now being sold as a tone control

[jazzyvee]

I can't say i've ever heard of a cable being sold by promoting it's negative properties as a benefit.
But I guess they will make some money out of it.
I used to hate those coiled cables, not because back then I new about cable losses but because they always get tangled up in some dreadful knots and going open circuit.

http://www.accessories.daddario.com/pwProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=4115&productid=1186&productname=Coiled_Instrument_Cable_Black&utm_medium=email&utm_source=marketing_cloud&utm_campaign=FRETTED-Braided_Coiled_Cables&sid=0b7b3ef0-a1cc-40b9-a5d7-af84fffa79a3

[cozmik_cowboy]

And for only $40!

But it gets worse - I've seen ads for a stompbox said to mimic the effects of a coiled cable.  Because guitarists will buy anything, I guess.

Peter

[gtrguy]

I have always hated the 'being on a leash' feeling that a coiled cable gives you. However, they seem to have come back (or are they dragging you back?) in style somehow.

[lbpesq]

I LOVED my coiled cable ... when I was 13 years old!

Bill, tgo

[adriaan]

Mind you, the low-pass filters give us the same HF losses, though in a more controlable fashion.

[StephenR]

The coiled cables have a vintage retro look that some like but I can't imagine touting a loss of frequency response as a selling point.

[jazzyvee]

Mind you, the low-pass filters give us the same HF losses, though in a more controlable fashion.

Yeah but do the filters give you that unpredictable crackling noise and German radio stations and taxi radios during a rehearsal?

[adriaan]

Yeah but do the filters give you that unpredictable crackling noise and German radio stations and taxi radios during a rehearsal?

They don't do dirt, I think.

[StephenR]

Mind you, the low-pass filters give us the same HF losses, though in a more controlable fashion.

Yeah but do the filters give you that unpredictable crackling noise and German radio stations and taxi radios during a rehearsal?

You just have to find a way to incorporate the radio stations and taxi radios into the performance. I saw Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention on an afternoon bill with Miles Davis in the headlining slot at the 1969 Newport Jazz Festival. The 69 festival had the biggest crowds to date due to the inclusion of a few rock bands so there were 40,000 people at, or in the vicinity of, the festival. Frank had written music especially for the festival and had a CB radio tuned to the police channel (which was getting a ton of activity due to the huge crowds) and patched into the PA so random bursts of police communications would come blaring out of the PA while they were playing. Great show.

[lbpesq]

And who could forget the control tower transmissions coming through the amps when Spinal Tap opened for Puppet Show!

Bill, tgo

[bigredbass]

Everything old is new again (except me . . . . . . ).  Now when they get around to those damn dark red tapewounds again, I'm SO outta here . . . . . .

[StefanieJones]

An article I was reading about getting Hendrix' sound mentioned that a coiled cord was/could be/may be part of his sound. So I guess people just latched onto that as a marketing tool.

[lbpesq]

Jimi's sound was also dependant on the brand of lighter fluid he used!

hehehehe

Bill, tgo

[StefanieJones]

Fire! I beg you to burn!

on topic, I couldn't imagine going back to a coiled cord.

[edwin]

I have a modern coiled cord that I like pretty well from Lava Cables. With an active bass, it doesn't seem to alter the tone at all and it's well built. Seems OK with my passive guitars.

OTOH, I still have an orange coiled cable from the early 70s that is an utter POC. It's just cool looking. The outer covering is some kind of vinyl.