Top 5 Cable Mistakes That Bass Players Make (And How to Fix Them)

[@titichartay7216]

As both a lighting tech & musician, the only way i was taught to coil cables was the over/under method. Great tips.

[@khankann]

@@titichartay7216 it seems to be a professional standard! Thank you for your comment!

[@titichartay7216]

@@khankann yes ! over the years I have taught many people the over/under way to coil cables just as I was taught as a young person in the 1970's.

[@techslfink9722]

Great advice! I always build my cables myself since I have control over the quality and it is cheaper

[@ChrisJohnsonChannel]

A rarely talked about subject.. thank you for taking time to make this video.. there a lot of helpful tips in this video!

[@khankann]

@@ChrisJohnsonChannel thank you for the comment! I’m glad you found this video helpful!

[@ElectricSmurf]

Another good thing about looping the cable through the guitar strap or amplifier handle is it acts as a cable restraint, meaning that any movement on stage by the musician isn't tugging at the connectors/plugs and potentially damaging the internal wire of the plugs.

[@khankann]

@@ElectricSmurf this is a good point, thank you for mentioning this! 👍

[@soepil]

Very informative. Thank you.

[@lrowlands53]

Hi Tatiana, my advice with rolling a cable is to, yes, over/under, but also make sure each coil is sitting flat. It may take some slight twisting though in the end it is worth it. I have been doing over/under for many years (40) so can roll a cable perfectly in a very short time. As I mention, the secret is to twist the cable as you create each coil. The test is to roll a 10 meter cable a throw out the end and if the cable sits completely flat, your technique is good - just like practising scales!

[@Riccardo_Silva]

Perfect! Especially the last tip...ah those guitarists😂! Thank you Tatiana!

[@khankann]

@@Riccardo_Silva ah you know! 😂 I’m glad you like it!

[@thomasfioriglio]

Some nice tips of a topic that is basically ignored. Thanks for sharing.

[@khankann]

@@thomasfioriglio thank you for your comment!

[@graemerobertson5160]

Good advice! Remember that our friends in the USA will refer to the cable as a "cord". My tip is to avoid the cable being pressed at 90 degrees to the jack plug. It could strain the internal wires and even make a few snap.

[@TheMaartian]

This is why I prefer to use Fender instrument cables with a 90° plug on one end, the end I plug into my bass. They work with both front- and edge-mounted jacks. The only jack type they don't work with are the slide-in type like on Fender Stratocaster guitars.

[@khankann]

That’s a good tip! Thank you for sharing! I know that American people call it a cord, and it’s pretty tricky to me to choose what to name it! Around me people mostly call it a cable 🤷‍♀️

[@khankann]

There are many useful details in one comment! Thank you! ☺️

[@laurenceellis8311]

As others gave mentioned, 90° ¼" jacks are the business, also I'm a fan of woven cables, the quality is right there on display..but my cable life hack is to put a coloured cable tie on ALL your cables... good quality cables 'get lost' very easily come end of show, and at 20 euros+ that's nothing I want to have happen...

[@khankann]

@@laurenceellis8311 oh, I couldn’t agree more!

[@timmerred5]

Cables have a natural “coiling”. You should be able to coil them for storage in perfect circles if you take your time. You’ll feel where the cable wants to coil naturally. Similar to a garden hose.

[@khankann]

@@timmerred5 you are right. However, often we have no time nor desire to think about them…

[@christosfragias592]

Thank you. Good insights.

[@khankann]

@@christosfragias592 thank you for watching! ☺️

[@sturusk3620]

I use Orange, excellent.

[@khankann]

@@sturusk3620 thanks! ☺️👍

[@SombraDeLaMosca]

I would recommend doing one extra loop through the strap when plugging into the instrument, gives you extra safety not having friction on the plug in when stepping on it once.

[@khankann]

absolutely! I think I covered it in this video, but it worth an extra reminding!

[@MrDanilop45]

Good tips, I would add that for freedom think about going wireless if possible.

[@khankann]

@@MrDanilop45 I simply love going wireless! However, you have to be super careful with your batteries!

[@MrDanilop45]

@@khankann absolutely

[@johalareewi]

Although take a cable in case of wireless interference. I have played a few pubs lately that have wireless DJ sound systems and they have messed with the band's wireless.

[@khankann]

@@johalareewi

[@SeattleSam-ul5hr]

I can’t imagine ever using a cable again. The concept is something from a bad dream.

[@josephplaugher7324]

Thank you. That was chilling and felt very real. I think it’s all going to be OK. But I’m still scared.

[@khankann]

@@josephplaugher7324 why are you scared? ☺️

[@josephplaugher7324]

@@khankann i’m scared because there’s a person running for President, who wants to use the same law that was used to put Japanese Americans into interment camps, to deport latin Americans; Who has demonstrated that he does not care about free speech; who said he would ban trans people from sports when that is not anywhere near something a President is supposed to deal with, in other words, he thinks he can do whatever the fuck he wants; who orchestrated the first major reduction in personal rights since the founding of our country by overturning Dobbs; who attempted to undermine a free and fair election, and to stay in power. And the list goes on. What I’m afraid of is that this is a tight election, even considering everything I just said. There is a cult controlling roughly half of our country. And that might be enough to end this great experiment of democracy. That is what I am afraid of.

[@Bannaeable]

All you said is worth but the thing is : capacitance.. use a professional cable with golden plated plugs from a well known brand. Generic cables act like a tone control, cutting all high tones and harmonics...you will be amazed how your bass will sound with a good cable.. and adittionally i have a plenty of famous basses and got a Cort just like yours but 5 string active, and it is amazing how it plays well and sound well.

[@khankann]

@@Bannaeable thank you for your comment! Absolutely, quality cables rule! My Cort is passive, and I’d be happy to try a bass like yours. I believe it is good! 👍

[@trevorgrenon9162]

I suggest that all cables should be coiled using the under/over method. If you only coil using the over/over method you will stress the braided wires within your audio cables, where they will soon break, causing a 'scratchy' sound. I use the under/over method for power cables etc too (and even my garden hose) - it really helps to keep them tangle-free and easy to lay. I like your idea of having differing cable lengths, but also like to have a mix of standard and angled jacks. The cables I run between pedal boards, DI boxes and amps are always brightly coloured (as my ID tag) so that these don't get packed down with PA system after a gig.

[@khankann]

@@trevorgrenon9162 here are the words of a person who really knows things! Thank you! I thought to add a bit about the angled jacks but didn’t for some reason. And of course you need a set of the short cables for your pedals if you use them; that’s a great thing to add!

[@freddiecrumb77]

Also never leave your cable on the floor unplugged. The tip of the quarter plug can easily damage when Simeon accidentally step on it. It happened a couple of times with mine and they were suppose to be the tough monster cables.

[@khankann]

@@freddiecrumb77 wow, thank you! I’ve never experienced incidents like these, and I don’t want them to ever happen! 😯

[@freddiecrumb77]

@@khankann the hi Z or mic cables are ok to be left on the floor because the shape of that being flat at the end but not the instrument cables which have pointy tips that's vulnerable to hard sole shoes. I noticed that either when you have a tick carpeting or you walk around with socks on the carpet that will never happen but when I moved out from the States to Indonesia, almost all building's floors in here are made of hard tiles, so that I guess what really did it.

[@khankann]

@@freddiecrumb77 Thank you for the insight!

[@insidewater]

As for the cable tier I use this product reference: Daddario PW-ECT-10 It's meant to be clipped on the cable so you don't lose it and you can tie the cable with the elastic string, pretty handy

[@khankann]

Yeah, I’ve seen them, they must be really handy!

[@frozenborderline2109]

Right-angled cables c/w Dunlop strap locks are my preference for a more safer and tidier fit.

[@khankann]

Oh yes, you know what you’re doing! ❤️

[@haynerbass]

Okay but should you plug into your bass first or your amp first? Is it detrimental to plug into one or the other first if the amp is on?

[@khankann]

@@haynerbass no, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you don’t turn the power on until it’s plugged. And you don’t unplug while the power is on!

[@archertam]

Yeah! I’ve been through all that pain. Wish somebody told me that somewhat 20 years ago

[@khankann]

@@archertam ah, you know! ❤️ thank you for the comment!

[@discoRoyale769]

For techniques on over-over or over-under on cables, is it best to wear what kind of glove wear in doing motions such consistently? If not all is fine, I'd just not have rubber-burns on my hand.

[@khankann]

@@discoRoyale769 🤔 I’ve never had them. Maybe your hands are super sensitive…

[@zoechance]

What do you consider medium length cable size?

[@khankann]

I would say it's 3 metres (10 foot) for most rooms.

[@pleasantlindsey33]

Definitely put the cable through the strap!

[@khankann]

@@pleasantlindsey33 I’m glad you think so! ☺️❤️

[@66mmpow]

Cool video

[@khankann]

Thank you! ☺️

[@Andrew-qc9xw]

Going wireless has its advantages too

[@khankann]

Absolutely! You just have to be careful with the batteries! ☺️

[@balmoraltowers]

Your not Twissling the cable when looping! Hold cable between finger and thumb and twist as you loop 🤩😊

[@khankann]

There are two options to come to the same result! For me, I found this one faster and easier ☺️

[@bussc067]

@@khankann you actually don’t understand the reason for under over, then. Your cable stil is twisted, the way you do it. You can see it by the bends it makes. It only bends like that when it’s twisted. If you do it correctly, the cable will hang perfectly together. Putting it in your bag like you will eventually damage it just like when you roll it any other way Copper mantle in it can damage. The only reason for the method is to prevent that twist in your cable.

[@khankann]

@@bussc067 😄

[@mojito6629]

The tangled cable problem is not as easy as we think. Even in the video, we can see it's still tangled a bit somehow LOL, I know, I experience it too, even tho I do it right with my good, 3m only cable 😁

[@khankann]

@@mojito6629 😄

[@johalareewi]

I think that cable has an unusual twist in it which makes it difficult to coil properly. I have a headphone lead just like it.

[@SonamD.Bhutia]

The thumbnail, "E & A" tuning pegs vanished❗Magic❓🤨🤔

[@khankann]

@@SonamD.Bhutia this is how iPhones cut the image sometimes when you take it off from the photo 😄

[@the116army2]

Dump the cable and go wireless

[@kleberveridianogoncalvesde6293]

👍😀🙏

[@khankann]

❤️☺️

[@derekpierkowski7641]

🖖👍🏻👌🤘🖖👍🏻👌🤘🩵

[@khankann]

@@derekpierkowski7641 ☺️☀️☀️☀️

[@fomalhaut9]

Why would a bass player move?!

[@khankann]

@@fomalhaut9 why indeed people move while playing music?!

[@johalareewi]

I am lucky if I have room to stand still. :D

[@khankann]

@@johalareewi I'm really sorry you have to work in these conditions! It happens sometimes to me, but not too often!

[@Bannaeable]

Such as John Entwistle... 😂😂😂