Guitar Cable Showdown – 13 Guitar Cables Under $20.00
This month we are taking a look at 13 different guitar cables from 9 different manufacturers, we invited 12 manufacturers to participate in the review but only the following companies accepted the challenge.
We first started out by testing all the cables to make sure that they were wired properly for proper grounding and continuity. We would like to thank our good friends at Morley Pedals for providing us with their Ebtech Swizz Army Cable Tester.
All 13 Cables passed both the Continuity and Shield Test.
Each cable was connected to 3 different setups to simulate a variety of practical playing environments.
We used the following setups to actually test the cables:
1. Squier Stratocaster with a Fender FM25 DSP Amplifier
2. Fender Standard Telecaster with a Fender Deluxe Reverb 65 Reissue Amplifier
3. Fender American Stratocaster with a Blues Jr. Amplifier
While using each cable we tested it for the following:
1. Appearance
2. Workmanship
3. Stiffness
4. Sound
RapcoHorizon G1-10 Guitar Cable
Price: $8.00
Connectors: RapcoHorizon Connectors
Wire: 24
Shielding: Spiral Shield
Description:
The Professional Audio division, consisting of the RapcoHorizon brands, has been a world leader in audio and video products to the live sound, and Professional A/V installation market for over 20 years. The company brands are recognized and sold in the majority of retailers in the domestic music market, and is growing at record pace in the Pro A/V installation market.
Editors Notes:
This guitar cable has the look of a generic guitar cable with standard connectors. The cable itself has a chalky feeling to it and is a little stiff while moving across the floor.
None of these observations affect how the cable functions, as how it performs is the most important thing.
Soundwise, this cable perform well, we did not observe any hiss or static while using this cable, well engineered for sound. This cable sounded great for the price.
ProCo SEG-10 (StageMaster) Guitar Cable
Price: $10.99
Connectors: Neutrik/REAN
Wire: 24
Shielding: Spiral Shield
Description:
StageMASTER instrument cables are solidly built, budget friendly, imported cables.
Pro Co Sound prides itself on the high integrity of its cables and warrants StageMASTER cables with an “any excuse, even abuse” limited lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and material.
Editors Notes:
This guitar cable is a good solid built cable that moves well while performing, we did notice that this cable is thinner than some of the other cables we tested.
Soundwise, this cable performed well with very little noticable hiss. A great sounding cable at an affordable price.
HOSA GTR-210 Standard Guitar Cable
Price: $12.00
Connectors: HOSA Straight
Wire: 24 AWG OFC
Shielding: 90% OFC Braid
Description:
Hosa Guitar Cables are designed to provide years of dependable service. High-quality components and world-class manufacturing combine to deliver products of exceptional value. Features include:
• Serviceable, all-metal plugs for touring and other applications
• Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) conductor for enhanced signal clarity
• Hi-density OFC braided shield for superior EMI and RFI rejection
Editors Notes:
This is a nice looking cable with stylish white ends, it moves well across the floor.
Soundwise, we noticed very little hiss, hardly noticable at all. This is a solidly built cable that sounds good.
CBI Artist Series Guitar Cable
Price: $12.95
Connectors: Nickel 1/4″ Connectors, Hand Soldered
Wire: C.B.I. A-24 Artist 24 Gauge Black Instrument Wire
Shielding:
Description:
CBI Artist Hot Shrink cables are USA-made with high-quality CBI Artist 24 gauge wire.
Neutrik nickel 1/4-inch connectors are hand-soldered for high-quality construction. For extra durability, the ends are wrapped with two layers of Heat Shrink under and over the barrel. This extra reinforcement protects the most vulnerable part of the cable. This is a fantastic deal on superb cables.
Editors Notes:
This cable has the appearance of being a basic guitar cable. It moves well across the floor.
Soundwise, it sounded good with a little noticable hiss.
zzyzx Snap Jack Bazics Series Instrument Cable
Price: $13.00
Connectors: High Density Casted Metal Shell w/ Gold Plated Contacts
Wire: 0.08/60s OFC Conductor
Shielding: 0.12/144s Helical Braided Shield 100%
Description:
The ZZYZX Bazics Series Straight Tip use the same professional cable as the ZZYZX SNAPJACK Series, and are made to last on tour, in studio or stage. Great quality, construction, and tone. Features 2 Straight 1/4in Tips 0.5mm opaque PVC cover High Density Casted Metal Shell Gold Plated Contacts.
Editors Notes:
Nicely designed contoured connectors, moves well across the floor while playing.
Soundwise, this cable performed very well. No hiss noticed at all, sounded very good.
This is a great guitar cable at an affordable price. The only drawback was that we did have a hard time finding this cable at some of the popular online guitar stores, but you can purchase it at the zzyzx web site.
Mogami Silver Guitar Cable
Price: $14.95
Connectors:
Wire:
Shielding:
Description:
Mogami Silver Series Cables are the recognized standard in music recording and post-production facilities worldwide. Until now Mogami was only available to professionals and then only in large bulk quantities. Now the world’s best cable is available prewired, for all live performance and music recording applications. 1/4″ to 1/4″ phone plugs on straight instrument cable.
Editors Notes:
This is a great sounding cable that looks good and moves well across the floor. This cable is a little thinner than some of the other cables we tested.
Soundwise, This is a great sounding cable with no hiss.
This is a solid performing cable available at a very good price.
ProCo EG-10 (Excellines) Guitar Cable
Price: $15.99
Connectors: Amphenol
Wire: 20
Shielding: Dual Shielding,
Description:
The Pro Co Excellines cables are the appropriate choice when a good, general purpose cable fulfills the requirement.
Pro Co Sound prides itself on the high integrity of its cables and warrants Excellines cables with an “any excuse, even abuse” limited lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and material.
Editors Notes:
This is another basic looking cable, we found it to be a little stiff while walking around the room.
Soundwise, there was noticable hiss while using this cable.
Overall, It is a good cable at an affordable price.
Hosa GTR-010 Elite Guitar Cable
Price: $17.99
Connectors: G&H Industries
Wire: 20 AWG OFC
Shielding: G&H Industries, 95% OFC Braid
Description:
Hosa Elite Series Guitar Cable delivers superior sonic performance and world-class workmanship without the boutique price.
A 20 AWG Oxygen-free Copper (OFC) conductor reduces resistance for improved signal flow. Utilizing a stranded-copper conductor contributes to the cable’s low capacitance and the signal clarity pros demand.
Foamed Polyethylene, a dielectric formed by injecting gas into polyethylene, further reduces capacitance. This results in increased headroom and crystal-clear high-frequency transmission. With conductive PVC to absorb handling noise and an OFC braid to reject electromagnetic interference, Hosa Elite Series Guitar Cable delivers noise-free signal transmission and the most neutral, dynamic tone in its class.
Your sound all of it
Editors Notes:
This is a solidly built cable made with quality components, moves well across the floor.
Soundwise, we did notice a little hiss coming from this cable, but overall it performed well.
This is a rugged cable that can definitly take a beating and provide you good guitar cable at an affordable price.
Whirlwind Leader Guitar Cable
Price: $18.99
Connectors: Leader Connectors
Wire: 20 AWG Whirlwind Accusonic+1 Cable
Shielding: Braided Shield
Description:
There’s not a performer out there that doesn’t bend, pinch, or tangle their cable. That’s why Whirlwind invented the Leader Series. Premium, rugged, and practically indestructable, the Leader plug’s patented cable grip absorbs any typical straining in the field. And its flexible boot extension has virtually eliminated breakage at the cable exit. Combined with Accusonic+1cable, the Leader is the highest quality instrument cable manufactured today.
Editors Notes:
This cable is a solidly built cable with quality components, moves well across the floor.
Soundwise, we did notice a little his while playing but overall this is a good sounding cable at an affordable price.
CBI Gold Rush Guitar Cable
Price: $19.99
Connectors: 100% Gold Plated G&H Show Saver Connectors
Wire: 20
Shielding: 100% Spiral Shield
Description:
Editors Notes:
This is a nice looking cable with a cloth cover. We felt that this cable was a little stiff and it wanted to kink up while using it.
Soundwise, this cable has a little noticable hiss. This is another good sounding cable at an affordable price.
Monster S-100 Guitar Cable
Price: $19.99
Connectors: Heavy-Duty Injection Molded Connector
Wire:
Shielding: 90% Copper Braided Shield
Description:
Put the Monster in Your Music! Introducing Monster Standard® 100 Instrument Cable
A quality connection starts with quality cable. And with Monster Standard 100, you’ll use a cable that sounds as good as it looks. So, whether you’re gigging, tracking in the studio, or jamming in the garage, Standard 100 is a great entry-level cable to get you started. All the pros know cable makes a difference…that’s why a lot of your favorite bands are using Monster. Standard 100 delivers the quality, durability, and reliability every Monster musician needs…it’s always ready to perform when you are.
Editors Notes:
This is a great looking cable that moves well while playing. This cable has nice connectors and color coded bands to easily identify it if you have muliple cables connecting your gear together.
Soundwise, this cable did not have any hiss and sounded great.
We like how Monster put some nice touches on this cable.
Planet Waves Classic Guitar Cable
Price: $19.99
Connectors: Molded
Wire: 24
Shielding: Spiral Shield
Description:
Featuring our exclusive In=Out™ technology, Planet Waves cables offer extremely low capacitance for pure signal transparency. Classic Series cables feature nickel-plated plugs, ultra-pure oxygen-free copper conductors, dense shielding that virtually eliminates triboelectric (handling) noise, and molded strain relief for ultimate durability. All Planet Waves cables are guaranteed for life!
Editors Notes:
This is a nice solidly built guitar cable, when walking around the cable flowed smoothly across the floor.
Soundwise, no hiss noticed at all, totally quiet while playing.
This is a great sounding guitar cable at a great price,
RapcoHorizon NG3-10 Guitar Cable
Price: $19.99
Connectors: Neutrik
Wire: 20
Shielding: Braided
Description:
The Professional Audio division, consisting of the RapcoHorizon brands, has been a world leader in audio and video products to the live sound, and Professional A/V installation market for over 20 years. The company brands are recognized and sold in the majority of retailers in the domestic music market, and is growing at record pace in the Pro A/V installation market.
Editors Notes:
This is a nice cable with a good feel to it, solidly built. When we walked around the cable moved nicely across the floor.
Soundwise, no noticable noise while playing, this cable sounds great as well.
This is a very good cable at an affordable price.
After running our tests on all 13 cables we felt there were alot of good cables in this batch but now to pick the best.
Again, our good friends at Morley Pedals helped us out by providing us with one of their Morley AB/Y Combiner Pedals.
Using this pedal we were able to take our selection of the best cables and quickly compare them to each other to shorten our list down to the 5 Winners we have selected below.
Now it’s time to announce the winners:
Winners
Best Guitar Cables Under $20.00
zzyzx Snap Jack Bazics Series Instrument Cable
This is a sharp looking cable with nicely contoured handles. During our sound test, it performed quite impressively. We found it hard to believe that this cable actually cost less that $20.00. At $13.00, this guitar cable is an incredible bargain.
Mogami Silver Guitar Cable
Mogami is known for the quality of its cables, and even this economically priced cable costing only $14.95 delivers in a big way. This cable is built with quality components and delivers incredible sound that you would expect from cables costing much more.
Monster S-100 Guitar Cable
Monster Cable has a reputation of building quality cables, and this cable did not disappoint us. The cable looks and sounds great at an affordable price of $19.99.
Planet Waves Classic Guitar Cable
This cable from Planet Waves is sturdy and will take a beating, We liked the looks of this cable and it is one of the best cables that we tested in this price range.
RapcoHorizon NG3-10 Guitar Cable
We really like this cable, solidly built and sounds great too. We only wish that these cables were available at some of the more popular music stores.
You can find these items at one of our fine advertisers listed below:
Disclaimer:
*This review was conducted by Red Dawg Guitar News which is not associated with any of the manufacturers in this review.
The items in this review were reviewed by a panel of 3 people then given to others that were not aware that this article was being written to get their impressions of the product.
After the review was completed some of these guitar cables were donated to students at local music schools in the area.
Some of the items in this review were provided by the manufacturer and Red Dawg Guitar News was not compensated for doing this review or endorsing these products.
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