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.
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.
Best patch cables: Product guide
+ 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.
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.
+ Basic, inexpensive solution
+ Low profile for a tidy board
- Only available in black
If you just want a set of cables that ‘does the job’ then this pack from MXR should tickle your somewhat restrained fancy. There’s no pretentiousness, they just do what they say they do – patch.
You do get oxygen free copper wire, flexible PVC outer jackets and ultra-low profile pancake-style connectors for cabling those inevitable tight spots (every board has at least one).
They only come in one length – 15cm – and a single colour – black – but other than that, at this price what’s not to like? After all, if anyone knows good pedalboard tone it’s MXR.
+ Enables custom wiring
+ Solderless
- More than a pack of pre-mades
An affordable option in the custom cabling stakes, this widely available Boss set has the benefit of being solderless. There's a price to pay for the flexibility of making your own cables though. Not only the ticket price, but in debugging time if something does go wrong with your custom creations.
Luckily, these are pretty foolproof as custom cables go. If that's the sort of thing that's likely to play on your mind though, then it may not worth the hassle.
The BCK-24 is only a little bit more expensive in some stores, and is double the size, with 24 connectors, and 24ft of cable – one for guitarists taking on a bigger pedalboard.
+ It looks blingtastic
+ Super compact
- Not cheap…
Trust those quirky Swedes at EBS to come up with a patch cable that looks this bling. However, it’s not all style over substance. The connectors feature a tough, die-cast zinc housing that’ll take a few knocks, and naturally the cable core and shielding are made from premium oxygen-free copper.
Those tough connectors are genuinely ultra-low profile too, fit for the tightest pedalboards. And, in case you hadn’t noticed, they’re also bathed in 24K gold.
What we love though is the super-compact flat cable that really will make any pedalboard setup look a whole lot neater.
The PG patch cable is only available singly but in four lengths: 10, 18, 28 and 58cm.
+ Low-profile
+ Good value
- Barely cheaper than Ernie Ball
The 'go-to' pancake, or low-profile patch cable, the Hosa is a workhorse. It's cheap, widely available, and rock solid.
Although they sit at the budget end of the market, they're low-noise, with oxygen-free copper conductors and spiral shielding. This will keep EMI and RFI interference under control.
Hosa makes many different cables and lengths. Should you want 30 or 45cm long patch cables, Hosa makes them with both standard right-angle and low-profile connectors.
The only drawback to the Hosa product line is that some more exciting looking patch cables, like the louder Ernie Ball offerings, are now available at a similar price.
+ Compact design
+ Good variety of sizes
- None
Every pedalboard has one or two annoying cable runs that need an odd length. Usually, this is from one 'row' of a stepped board to another, or due to a weird-sized pedal like a wah, whammy or multi-effect.
Rockboard have a wide range of patch cable lengths available, with moulded ends that are even lower-profile than a pancake cable.
The cables have low resistance and capacitance as well as full copper shielding. They make short TRS patch cables, which will help with expression pedals that take TRS. A small number of pedals also use TRS for stereo input or output.
+ Sturdy
+ Compact
- No woven option
Kirlin makes some simply exquisite woven guitar cables in a multitude of patterns and colors, but sadly this patch cable is more prosaic. Nevertheless, it’s inexpensive and a couple of sets will keep your guitar sounding sweet and your pedalboard looking fly.
The connectors have traditional pancake style heads, so you can squeeze all your pedals up nice and tight. The core and shielding are made from oxygen-free copper and there’s a conductive PVC shield to cut the risk of noise.
You’ll find two cables in the pack, but once again it’s a shame these cables aren’t available in a variety of colors or, better still, woven patterns. Now, that would look cool.
Best patch cables: Buying advice
Buying the best patch cables for you
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