Evidence Audio Melody Instrument Cable

Price – $99

Available at BassNW and other fine retailers

Made by Evidence Audio

The TwoGearGeeks tested the 20 foot, straight to straight Melody cable through a variety of bass and guitar rigs.  We tested it against Bob’s Monster Cable and Josh’s cheap-o no name cable.  Bob followed Evidence Audio’s advice and did well over 10 hours of “break-in” on the cable before the test.

The Good Stuff:

The first thing you notice about this cable is how sturdy it is.  In fact, it is so sturdy that it is difficult to get it to lay flat and unravel some times!  Much of the “heft” in the cable must come from the solid copper core and four-layer exterior.  With this kind of build quality and a lifetime warranty, you can rest assured that this cable means business.

As for tone, I never thought I would say this, but there is a marked difference in tone between ordinary cables and the Melody.  For bass, I am partial to my 20 foot Monster that has been serving me without fail since 1998.  That’s right folks, my main cable is 11 years old.  It has a really solid low end presence and a great “dark” tone that works well to calm down modern amps.  Compared to the Monster Cable, the Melody is a much more defined and articulated sound in the bass (the tones, not the instrument), which is great for recording.  The highs and mids are quite present but with a warmth that I honestly wasn’t expecting.  Personally, I don’t imagine that it will be worth the hassle to use the Melody live for bass at most rock or blues shows in bar venues — by the time anyone hears your signal, any benefit of this cable likely is gone (after factoring the sound guy, the quality of the PA, the quantity of adult beverages consumed, etc.).  Plus, why risk having some yahoo spill beer all over your $100 cable??  I could see using it at a jazz gig, though.

For guitar, Josh and I agreed that the Melody really shined.  We ran it through a vintage Fender Deluxe and it brought out the bass and smoothed out the treble compared to the other cables.  It just plain sounded GREAT and kicked the proverbial butts of the other cables.  Country licks on a Telecaster and the Melody are a match made in heaven — no harsh overtones and plenty of presence in the bass and mids.  For guitar, I could personally see the benefit of using this cable live at any venue.  The tonal difference was just so much better that it’d be a shame to leave this in a studio.

The Bad Stuff:

The only downside to this cable is the high price.  But, the Melody is a great example of “you get what you pay for.”   A lot of people overlook their cables or just cheap out, and this is a serious oversight.  Anyone concerned about their tone should evaluate why they are running an amazing instrument into an amazing amp with a poop cord.  That’s just dumb, people.

Overall:

Overall, this is a wonderful cable for guitar and bass.  For bass, the clarity is perfect for jazz gigs and studio sessions.   For guitar, this is a must-have for any scenario.