Plugging your expensive guitar into your expensive vintage tube amp with a bargain-bin cable is like buying a Ferrari and slapping some '81 Buick whitewall tires on it to save a few bucks. Sure, it will still drive, but will it drive like a Ferrari?
Why compromise your tone with cheap cables?
As musicians, we are constantly perfecting our tone. Guitars, basses, pickups, pedals, mics, rack effects, more pedals – the possibilities are truly endless. So why do we connect all of this expensive gear with cheap cables that degrade the very tone we are seeking to achieve? Unfortunately, cables are too often an afterthought, but they shouldn’t be.
Affordable Premium Cables That Deliver
We get it - high-end cables can be shockingly expensive. And let’s be honest: At some point, the law of diminishing returns kicks in where any marginal improvement in tonal quality or clarity from expensive cables becomes unnoticeable to the human ear.
That’s why we focus on hitting the sweet spot: building cables that deliver exceptional sound clarity and tonal accuracy without breaking the bank.
Meet Signal Chain Audio Labs®
We handcraft premium guitar and microphone cables for musicians who demand performance and reliability - on stage, in the studio, or at home. All of our cables are soldered and assembled by hand and are backed by a lifetime warranty.
Rob Haralson
Founder
Signal Chain Audio Labs
What Makes Our Cables So Exceptional?
A lot of things. But let’s start with craftsmanship.
Each cable is made-to-order, soldered, and assembled by hand—one at a time, with precision. Before shipping, every cable is fully tested in our shop to ensure it can handle the demands of touring, recording, and daily use. This level of attention guarantees a lifetime of clarity, reliability, and signal strength from the very first time you plug in.
But craftsmanship isn’t just about assembly—it’s also about the components and materials we choose.
Premium Parts for Uncompromising Performance
We rigorously test every component to ensure maximum functionality, durability, and sonic integrity. The G&H High Clarity Profile Copper Core plugs far exceeded our expectations. These plugs eliminate the traditional tin plate (found in most plugs) where the cable is typically soldered. Instead, it uses a copper pin that shoots directly through the plug to its tip. This creates a cleaner, copper-to-copper connection for a pure signal transfer.
For patch cables, we rely on Squareplug™ for the same high standards. The SP500 and SPS5 models offer an ultra-low-profile design that saves space on any pedalboard—without compromising quality.
Our obsession even took us down a rabbit hole with solder. After testing a few different (cheaper) kinds, we selected Cardas Audio's Quad Eutectic solder. This proprietary blend of copper, silver, and tin is proportioned to melt and solidify at a temperature lower than that of any of the component metals, which helps create clean, pure, and uniform connection. The good folks at Cardas said it best: "There's a reason Quad Eutectic is considered the best in audio. [...] No other solder flows as well, solidifies as uniformly, sounds as good or provides as durable and long lasting solder joints."
Designed for Superior Tone
Our instrument cable features a 20 AWG oxygen-free copper (OFC) conductor and produces a capacitance 20 pF/ft (65.5 pF/m). The result? Pristine sound clarity, enhanced dynamics, and greater definition at higher frequencies. Bass players will also appreciate tighter low-end response while still retaining fullness and warmth.
Capacitance matters - but it's only part of the equation. It measures how well a cable preserves the integrity of your signal over distance. Many off-the-shelf cables have higher capacitance, leading to signal degradation—especially at longer lengths—which can dull your tone by muddying the higher frequencies.
We source our XLR cable from Mogami®. In our opinion, the 2534 Neglex quad cable is unbeatable. It’s perfect . Seriously, we wouldn’t change a thing on it.
If you want to dive deeper into what makes a premium cable better than a cheap one, I encourage you to read our post: “Premium Cables Vs. Cheaper Cables: A deep dive into why you should never skimp on cables that connect all of your gear.”
What does a lifetime warranty mean? Exactly that. If your cable becomes defective during the time you own it, just send it back and we will repair or replace it at no cost to you.
No B.S. It’s really that simple.
If you are a professional musician, producer, or studio engineer, we’d love to work with you. Send an email to the address below to start a conversation.
artistrelations@signalchainaudio.com