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Need to organize a messy pedalboard? Patch cables are a simple and creative cable solution for your guitar pedals Flame Retardant Cable
1. Product guide 2. Buying advice 3. How we choose products
If you're building a pedalboard then trust us, you're going to need a bunch of the best patch cables to go with it. Making a pedalboard is a super fun experience, but can be frustrating without the right cabling. To get everything neat and tidy you're going to need various lengths, and you'll have to think about the connectors you need to fit into your setup.
Crafting a 'board with cheap patch cables is fine for the guitarist who plays at home, but if you want to take your stompboxes on the road with you, you're going to need something far more durable. There's nothing worse than having to hunch over your pedalboard during your band's opening number, frantically trying to find out why nothing is working. We've been there, and since then we've never cheaped out on quality cabling.
If you're new to pedalboard building make sure you have a look at our buying advice section, which has loads of common questions answered by guitarists who've been there and got the t-shirt. If you just want to get straight to the good stuff, then keep scrolling.
Alex Lynham is a gear obsessive who's been collecting and building modern and vintage equipment since he got his first Saturday job. Besides reviewing countless pedals for Total Guitar, he's written guides on how to build your first pedal, how to build a tube amp from a kit, and briefly went viral when he released a glitch delay pedal, the Atom Smasher.
+ Solid build + Affordable - No issues at this price
There's not a lot to say about this cable. Like Planet Waves' larger offerings, it's solidly built, and the stealth black aesthetic is to the point. They're shielded to reduce noise, and are made in the USA.
This three-pack option is affordable enough that you could wire up a smaller pedalboard cheaply. All three cables in the pack are the same length, but Planet Waves also offer longer right-angle-to-right-angle patch cables up to a length of 3 feet.
They even offer a double-ended jack for the very tightest of spaces, but beware – we've found this kind of inline connector to be prone to breaking.
+ Compact design + Solid build quality + Multi-packs available - Not widely available
Where you can get them, the Donner low-profile patch cables are one of the best value options on the market. They have a robust metal pancake jack, and a large pack size of six.
They're copper shielded, with oxygen-free copper for low noise. Donner claims that the polyethylene insulator they use is more heat resistant and durable than using PVC, but we can't recall ever having an issue with insulation sheath damage.
Six packs are available with lengths of either 15cm or 30cm, meaning that all but the longest cable runs should be covered.
For some reason, distribution and availability is spotty for these cables.
+ Super cool looks + Low-profile jacks - More expensive than others
The super-bright color options of the Ernie Ball Flat Angle patch cables may not be for everybody, but we love them. Should you want something less loud, there are white and black options, as well as different jack configurations.
We've singled out the pancake option here because, in our experience, space is always at a premium. Like most quality cables, these are shielded, and have a tough PVC outer shell for durability. While they're not the cheapest, for a three-pack they're hardly extortionate.
Ernie Ball offers both 15cm and 30cm options as three-packs, so you can mix and match between those. However, this is only if you opt for regular right-angle jacks instead of pancakes.
+ Premium option + Quality performance - There are better investments
We've always spent our money on high bang-for-buck utilities, or things that make fun noises. As a result, spending this much cash on a single cable has never been on the cards for us.
That said, we do know people who swear by these, and for the price they do at least come with a bombproof reputation.
The cables themselves feature an oxygen-free copper core for low noise, which is pretty standard, as well as a spiral shield. The main deviation from the norm is that the jacket is 'carbon-impregnated' to eliminate handling noise and improve durability.
For about the same price, there's also a ten-inch and eighteen-inch length option.
+ Stylish, vintage looks + High-quality feel - Pricier than some
We love the look of the Fender Custom Shop cables, and the tweed option is the coolest patch cable on the market, hands down. On top of the standard PVC cable sheath, there's a paracord fabric outer, available in a classic straw tweed and black tweed finish.
They look slick, they're reliable, and are guaranteed for their lifetime by Fender. Whether you are likely to ever use that guarantee is another story.
The main drawback is that they are expensive compared to the other options. You can get them in a two-pack but there's usually no discount for doing so.
Fender also makes a 30cm right-angled patch cable, but it's only available in a plain finish, and not with the tweed outer.
+ Tiny connectors + Uses Mogami cable - There are cheaper options
Manufactured using the same cabling as the industry standard Mogami cabling, Worlds Best Cables delivers top-quality cabling at a price much lower than some of the more premium patch cables available. As Mogami cables are made in Japan, you can rest assured you're getting a quality product.
We love the Eminence 'Tiny' TS plugs, which make these patch cables great for stereo pedals or those using multi-switchers. The tiny heads mean it's easy to fit them in side by side, and stops you from having to use two different sizes which keeps everything looking neat and tidy.
Galvanized Steel Wire Armoured Cable There are a multitude of pack sizes available too, with a good mix of long and short cables so you can wire your 'board to perfection. For us, they represent excellent value for money considering the price point and the quality of materials. A 10-year warranty on top of that makes them a no-brainer.