Right Angle Guitar Cable vs Straight


Are you someone who plays the guitar as a hobby or wants to start playing in a band? When planning how you will play your guitar in any of these situations, you may wonder what the difference is between a right angle and a straight guitar cable. So, what differs between right-angle and straight guitar cables?

Right-angle guitar cables are bent at the end, giving them a lower profile and making them safer with most guitars. Straight cables have long straight ends for guitars and equipment with deeper plugs. Straight cables are the utility pick, while right angles are the more versatile option.

Whether you are an experienced guitar player or just getting started, there is a lot of noise about these different guitar cables. Many people insist on only using one cable type, and they might tell you that it is the only way to use your guitar. Below is information about both types of cables so you can decide which one is best for you.

What are the Differences Between a Right Angle and a Straight Guitar Cable?

First, we need to look at the differences between these two types of guitar cables. The main difference between the two is the cable’s ends. The differences in the ends of the cables make them tailored to specific situations and give each of them its name.

The straight guitar cable is the older of the two cables and is simpler than a right-angle cable. The cable comprises a wire with a straight jack at the end. This jack is simple and meant to connect to a variety of guitars and types of equipment.

The end of this straight cable is longer than a right-angle cable. The other main difference between the straight cable and its right-angle brother is the utility of the straight cable. It can be used with any equipment and guitar, making it the more popular cable choice.

The right-angle cable shares a purpose with the straight-ended cable but differs in other ways. The end of the cable is shorter and bent at a right angle, which is how it got its name. This gives the cable a lower profile and puts less stress on the guitars and amps that it is connecting. While the straight cable is utilitarian, the right angle is more of a specialist piece of equipment. It can’t be used with every type of guitar or equipment.

Remember that you can buy guitar cables with a straight jack on one end and a right angle on the other. This allows a guitarist to benefit from the specialization of the right-angle cable while playing it safe with the utility of the straight-ended cable.

What are the Pros and Cons of Using a Right Angle Cable?

While a right-angle cable is a great specialist choice, it is not the best option for every situation. Here are some pros and cons you should consider before buying a cable with a right-angle jack.

Pros

  • Low Profile: The cable does not extend far past the instrument or equipment.
  • Durability: These cables tend to last longer than other cables and cause less wear on the guitar and equipment.
  • Ease of Use: The cable is easy to use with a guitar strap and does not provide a tripping hazard.
  • Visuals: It is easier to hide a cable with a right-angle end while performing, which makes managing equipment inputs a breeze.

Cons

  • Limited Use: Not usable with all guitars.
  • Difficulty to Replace: It is relatively hard to find and repair right-angle cables.
  • Odd Cable Placement: The low profile of the right angle can cause the cable to get trapped in dials and buttons on equipment.

What are The Pros and Cons of Using a Straight Cable?

The straight-ended guitar cable is a safe and traditional choice for guitar players. Here are some reasons why you should and should not use this cable type.

Pros

  • Usable Everywhere: All guitars and most, if not all, types of equipment like speakers, amps, and pedals work with straight cables.
  • High Profile: The cable is above the equipment and the guitar, preventing it from being caught in dials and switches while in use.
  • Ease of Repair: Simple end is easy to repair and replace if it wears out.

Cons

  • Stress: Wears out quicker and can damage guitars if used carelessly.
  • Not Discrete: The cable is prominent and must be accounted for during a performance since it is trickier to hide in a guitar strap or underfoot.

What Are The Best Right Angle and Straight Cables to Buy?

Having looked at the differences and benefits of choosing between a right-angle and a straight-ended guitar cable, you might wonder where you can purchase one. We have listed a handful of popular and high-value guitar cables below to help you get started.

What are the Best Guitar Cables?

The best guitar cable is the Mogami Gold Instrument Cable. The ends of this double straight jack cable are plated with gold, which may make the sound produced travel better. It also makes it an expensive option, as this 10-foot cable costs around $70.

Mogami Gold INSTRUMENT-10 Guitar Instrument Cable, 1/4″ TS Male Plugs, Gold Contacts, Straight Connectors, 10 Foot
  • Mogami GOLD INSTRUMENT Guitar Instrument Cables provide crystal-clear tone and a drop-dead silent background. The top choice for wiring professional recording studios for decades, Mogami Gold Instrument Cables exhibit amazing clarity and preserve the unique personality of your instrument and effects.
  • Engineered for the highest level of transparency, Mogami Gold Instrument Cables are constructed with a conductive polymer sub-shield, an Ultra High Density (UHD) spiral shield, and an oxygen-free copper (OFC) core. For musicians on the move, Mogami Gold Instrument Cables are also designed with a carbon impregnated PVC anti-static shield layer to prevent all handling noise.
  • Wired with Mogami Guitar/Instrument High Impedance Cable, Mogami Gold Instrument Cables feature high definition sound ideal for use with acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, pedal effects, and other unbalanced instrument cable applications.
  • This Mogami GOLD INSTRUMENT-10 Guitar Instrument Cable is a 10 foot length. The Mogami GOLD INSTRUMENT Guitar Instrument Cable series is also available in 3, 6, 18, and 25 foot lengths.
  • Mogami Lifetime “No Excuses” Warranty: all brand new Mogami cables include Mogami’s Limited Lifetime “No Excuses” Warranty to the original purchaser and are proudly supported by Mogami and their dedicated network of Authorized Resellers. Please reference the entirety of Mogami Cable’s Limited Lifetime “No Excuses” Warranty specification for complete details.

Another cable to take a look at is the New Bee Guitar Cable. It is one of the best-selling guitar cables on Amazon. The cable comes with a straight and right-angle end. It only costs about $13.

Sale
New bee Guitar Cable 10ft Electric Instrument Cable Bass AMP Cord for Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Electric Mandolin, Pro Audio (Right Angle to Straight, Black)
  • [Low Noise High Fidelity] New bee guitar cord with 22AWG oxygen-free-copper center conductors provides enhanced signal transfer, the PVC insulation material and the high-density stranded copper double shield provide noise rejection for quiet operation
  • [Ideal for Choice] New bee 1/4 straight and right angle metal connectors, ensures a secure connection in any instrument, pedal, or amp jack. L shape great fro on stage guitar stands.
  • [Wide Compatible] Suitable for mixer, power amplifier, microphone, effector, decoder, equalizer, electoronic organ, electric guitar, electric bass and other electronic equipments. Widely used in the installation of smart home, karaoke speaker, professional stage audio, etc.
  • [Easy Disassemble] Making incidental repairs quick and easy! Very nice, flexible cable!
  • [Dont Hesite to Order] 24 hours customer services and professional technology team are standing by.

What are the Best Budget Guitar Cables?

The BOSS Instrument Cable is one of the best budget cable options that you can choose from. This cable only costs between $16 and $20 and is made out of high-quality materials. The cable is made with double-ended right-angle jacks, so make sure your equipment is compatible before buying it.

BOSS BIC-1AA Studio Grade Instrument Cable
  • Custom right-angle 1/4-inch connectors
  • 1ft./30cm length
  • 24K gold-plated contacts
  • Heavy-duty braided shielding for quiet operation and durability

Another choice is the Fender Deluxe Instrument Cable. This cable only costs about $20. This cable has a mixed right angle and straight-ended cable end, letting you enjoy the best of both worlds.

Sale
Fender Deluxe Series Instrument Cable, Angle/Angle, Tweed, 3ft
  • Made with the highest quality materials to deliver durability, conductance and transparency
  • 95% oxygen-free braided shielding for crystal-clear audio
  • Custom kink-resistant 8mm tweed Jacket
  • 20 gauge conductor for ultimate signal path strength
  • 24K gold-plated connectors that won’t tarnish or degrade your sound

Eli Smith

I'm the managing editor for this website. I like being a dad, writing, and listening to angry music. Thanks for visiting.

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