-
Hot Wires Guitar Instrument Standard Cables
$8.95 - $18.95When it comes to live sound, recording, and electric instruments, these quality Hot Wires cables are a vital tool. Hot Wires guitar instrument cables are flexible, durable, and have an inner and outer PVC shielding...h m s
-
Hosa CGK Edge Guitar Cable with One Angled End
$58.95 - $85.95Hosa Edge Guitar Cables are designed to provide a lifetime of outstanding performance. Genuine Neutrik plugs combine with world-class manufacturing techniques to deliver the most neutral, dynamic tone in their class...4 Payments of $14.74
h m s
-
Fender Pro Instrument Cable 10 Feet Straight Checkerboard
$29.99<p>The Fender Checkerboard Instrument Cable features a woven artificial leather jacket and custom molded ends. Sporting quiet and resilient spiral shielding, these cables are engineered to avoid twisting, kink...h m s
-
EBS Deluxe Flat Patch Cable
$59.95 - $89.95An original design by EBS, the PCF flat patch cable is used world-wide. Due to the clever space saving design, the cables have become the patch cable-to-go for professional musicians. If you have ever struggled with...4 Payments of $14.99
h m s
-
Pig Hog Lil' Pigs Low Profile Patch Guitar Cables
$17.95 - $19.95With low profile design and durable and reliable design, these Pig Hog cables are the perfect choice for any pedalboard to other application where 1/4-inch cables are required! Pig Hog cables are precisely overbuilt...h m s
-
Hosa HGTR-010LE Pro Series Guitar Cable
$27.95 - $32.95Limited Edition Pro Guitar Cable REAN Straight to Same This Limited-Edition Pro Series Guitar Cable celebrates Hosa’s 40 years of innovating and supporting the needs of musicians. In collaboration the Save ...h m s
-
Orange Crush Instrument Cable 1/4" Straight to Angle
$18.99 - $22.99Orange Crush instrument cables are manufactured using the finest components available, including the highest grade oxygen-free copper for optimum signal clarity and articulation. 1/4" jacks are nickel-plated for ext...h m s
-
DAddario PW-CGTRA-10 Instrument Cable
$19.99D'Addario Classic Series instrument cables provide the ultimate in quality and value. The right angle plug is a great choice for plugging into guitar side-mount jacks and effects pedals. The 20-foot length is ideal ...h m s
-
Gibson Vintage Original Instrument Cable
$59.00 - $69.00Gibson Vintage Original Instrument Cables faithfully carry the signal from your instrument to your amp without the tone-robbing effects of cable capacitance. These Switchcraft-manufactured cables use only premium, l...4 Payments of $14.75
h m s
-
Pig Hog PCH10GXXR RIght Angle Instrument Cable Graffiti
$27.95 - $39.95Available with one right angle end and a variety of graffiti colors. Pig Hog cables are precisely overbuilt to stand up to the most grueling tour conditions imaginable. They feature extra-thick 8mm wire, performance...h m s
-
D'Addario Classic Series Instrument Cable
$19.99Classic Series Instrument Cables feature Planet Waves exclusive In Out technology. Planet Waves cables offer extremely low capacitance for pure signal transparency. Classic Series cables feature nickel-plated pl...h m s
-
Hosa Guitar Instrument Cable with One Right Angle Plug
$14.95 - $29.95The Hosa Guitar Cables with one right angle plug are designed to provide years of dependable service. High-quality components and world-class manufacturing combine to deliver products of exceptional value. ...h m s
Skip to Content
Get FREE shipping on all orders!
Fast FREE shipping on all orders!
Guitar Cables
American Musical Supply is your stop for the best instrument cables in the business! Your instrument needs to sound its best and sound consistent when you plug in, so don't settle for no-names from unreliable third parties. 1/4 inch TS (tip-sleeve) instrument cables are absolute necessities for any musician or live sound technician. Make sure you have plenty of them on hand - American Musical Supply is stocked with sturdy, reliable 1/4 inch instrument cables of different lengths and designs (standard, braided, coiled) ranging up to 25 feet long. This includes guitar cables, bass cables, and cables that can be used with keyboards, synths, drum machines, samplers, and other audio hardware. We also carry a wide variety of small patch cables (from six inches to two feet long) for connecting and chaining your effects pedals - flat, low-profile, and right-angle configurations are all available!
American Musical Supply is excited to be your stop for 1/4" instrument cables – including guitar cables, bass cables, keyboard cables, and cables that can be used with drum machines, samplers, and other audio hardware. We offer True 0% interest payment plans - applying is easy. Use your own debit or credit card, enjoy fast and free shipping, and add 1/4” instrument cables to your creative setup.
We make buying 1/4" instrument cables quick and easy - in-stock items that are ordered before 5PM will ship out the same day! (see our Shipping Information Page for more details) Do you have questions about 1/4" instrument cables and want to know which items would be best for you? Give us a call at 800-319-9043 - our experts are standing by.
What is an instrument cable? A 1/4 inch instrument cable, also known as a TS (tip-sleeve) cable, is generally used to move unbalanced mono signal. These TS cables are straightforward - having audio signal travel over the positive ‘tip’ (T) with a ground in the ‘sleeve’ (S). However, due to this unbalanced TS design, extra noise and audio inconsistencies may occur over very long cable runs. It helps to keep your TS cables on the shorter end of things while still remaining comfortable and flexible during your performances.
Most commonly, electric guitars, acoustic-electric guitars, electric bass guitars, keyboards, and audio devices use 1/4 inch TS cables to connect to amplifiers. Most keyboards have two 1/4 inch outputs – which means you’ll need a cable for both the ‘left’ and ‘right’ to move signal in stereo. Otherwise you can just connect one cable to the properly marked output and move that signal in mono. In addition to amplifiers, you can also use these cables to connect your instrument directly to an input channel on a mixer or audio interface (many of these devices allow either unbalanced or balanced 1/4 inch connections).
If you’re an instrumentalist looking for an extra layer of stability and flexibility in your signal chain, a direct box changes the signal from unbalanced to balanced, which helps eliminate the noise issue over long distances. There are both active direct boxes (powered) and passive direct boxes (unpowered) that are suited to different applications and connection types. An example of a DI box in action would be connecting your electric guitar cable and its unbalanced guitar signal to a direct box input and then running the now-balanced direct box output to a mixer/house PA system at the back of the performance venue.
Patch cables (sometimes called effects pedal cables) are short 1/4 inch TS cables ranging from six inches to two feet long for chaining your guitar effects or bass guitar effects together. These cables make it incredibly easy to arrange your effects in order on a pedalboard, making setup a breeze. Simply go from your guitar or bass into the input of your first pedal, then go from the output of that pedal into the input of the next pedal. Repeat as needed until you get to your last pedal output, which will now run into your amplifier’s input. For additional information on properly ordering the placement of your pedals in the signal chain, be sure to take a look at the AMS 'Pedal Flow 101' Buyer's Guide.