do cables really make a difference

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 17 Mar 2004 12:36 pm

I've tried many brands over the years, as well as making my own, and I definitely hear differences. The George L's seem to be very transparent for steel. On bass and six string, I prefer some of the Monster styles. It does seem that if we'd pay thousands to search out the right amp and volume pedal, preamp or effects units, that it would make sense to explore the options in how we hook 'em all up, eh?

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 17 Mar 2004 9:19 pm

Several years ago, I had John LeMay to do him Mod. application to two 400 amps. Included in that proceedure was the change of speaker-wire gauge. He insreased the speaker-wire gauge to 8-Gauge. Later, when I was hooking up a couple of EDI's I wanted to also pick up some heavy speaker-wire for that purpose. So, I went to Radio Shack. I didn't find the 8-gauge, but; they do sell 10-Gauge, which I bought and used. I honestly don't know what the benefit was, but; I did it anyway, due to external-advise!

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“Big John” Bechtel
Franklin PSG D–10 (9 &

Fender ’49–’50 T–8 Custom
Fender ’65 Reissue Twin-Reverb Custom 15”
http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohnBechtels

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 18 Mar 2004 12:14 am

I'm going to ad an alternative opinion. I uased GeorgeLs for years, and really noticed an inprovement in tone versus the chords I had been using (usually generic soldered cable). But about 4 years ago I tried some cables from a local Seattle guy, very high end, way too expensive, with solderless connections of a very high tech kind. The cable is unbelievably thick and heavy. These things sound amazing, for the sound I am going for. The best way I can describe it is that these cables add as much to the lower mids and low end as the GeorgeLs do to the high end. It still has as good (or better) high end as the GeorgeLs, but the bottom end is bigger than (gratuitous JayLo joke deleted).

I have since tried many high end, way too expensive cables, and have found several that sound as good. So I think there is a difference that you can hear.

But the big thing is that the difference is in the ear of the beholder. The GeorgeLs have a clear, crisp high end that a lot of steel players love. They might hate my cables. It really comes down to what sounds good to you. And the only way to figure that out is to try them out on stage and in the studio.

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Dan Tyack on 18 March 2004 at 12:26 AM.]</p></FONT>

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 19 Mar 2004 1:06 pm

What is the highest frequency that a typical steel amp can produce?

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 19 Mar 2004 5:26 pm

I imagine that if you put a signal generator on one you could sweep thru the range of human hearing (20 to 20,000 Hz) and get results, but the range above 8,000 - 10,000hz may be clamped. You can get a 6L6 to oscillate at 1,500,000 Hz (I've done it as a child).

Just recently, somewhere, in the pile of PSG books I've acquired, I read where the upper limit to the PSG is about 8,000 Hz.