So, you’ve just bought some new gear and need extra cables? Or maybe you need to replace the worn out cables lying around your studio or room?
Sure, you can get the same black cables you always get, or I can tell you about Pig Hog cables and why you shouldn’t have to be stuck with boring, flimsy cables.
Pig Hog Cables - Overview
Pig Hog started in 2011 and they specialize in instrument and microphone cables. Their primary focus is highly durable 1/4 inch TRS and XLR cables.
Pig Hog cables are made with extra thick and strong cable shielding to ensure the cables remain undamaged and to minimize signal interference. Marketed as ‘road-worthy’ cables, Pig Hog cables are ideal for live performances and extended touring.
They also make various cable solutions such as adaptors, connectors, RCA cables, MIDI cables and even power supplies.
Durability and Design
Perhaps the main selling point of Pig Hog cables is their durability. Their cables are made with a thick, woven jacket that helps protect the cable from damage due to bending or having things like amps put on them or people stepping on them.
The jacket also has less of a risk of tearing, which can leave the cable exposed and susceptible to damage and signal interference from dust.
The jacket is also made extra thick to prevent interference from other signal sources like wireless mics and in-ear monitors.
The cable connectors are also shrink wrapped to protect them against dust and dirt that can cause audio problems.
Moreover, the TRS jacks are gold-plated to have better conductivity that helps keep the audio signal constant. They are quite compact and gives you a tighter, more secure connection, so, you won’t have to worry about the cables being pulled out easily.
They come in both straight, angled and a mix of both connections. I prefer angled connections, especially at the guitars side. Straight connections tend to break more easily and I feel like they help keep the cable out of the way.
Another thing I like about Pig Hog cables, although this doesn’t affect their quality, is the fact that they come in a variety of colors and even different patterns.
The standard black cables can get a bit boring, so it’s nice to be able to get cables with some actual color.
They stand out a bit more and I even found that they can help you manage your signal chain.
You can have one color for your guitar, different colors for each amp if you’re using multiple, and even have different colored patch cables for the pedals on your pedalboard.
Pig Hog vs Other Cables
So, how do Pig Hogs stack up against more ‘standard’ cables?
In terms of sound quality, I would say they are pretty much the same as other similarly priced cables like the ones from D’Addario or Ernie Ball.
I haven’t experienced any pops or other sound anomalies with Pig Hogs, but I have once or twice noticed small things with other brands.
Although, I would have to see how they fare after a few years of use to really know how they stack up.
They real difference is in their build quality. Even compared to other braided cables, the Pig Hogs just feel much more durable.
Twists and bends also don’t stick around in the cables and they straighten out quite quickly. Other cables don’t straighten out as quickly or evenly, and usually need a bit of help to straighten out completely.
Pig Hogs also don’t seem to have that natural twist other cables have when rolling them up. Meaning it’s easier to roll them up correctly to avoid twists that can cause damage.
Other Offerings
As I mentioned earlier, apart from the standard instrument and mic cables, Pig Hog also offers a variety of other cables from RCA to speaker to lighting cables, and even power supplies, cable bags and guitar stands.
It’s nice and convenient with such a huge range of products to choose from, meaning you’ll probably be able to pick up everything straight from Pig Hog, rather than having to buy everything piecemeal from different places.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for durable, good looking instrument cables at a reasonable price, Pig Hog cables are a great choice.
So, throw out those old, worn out cables, and grab yourself some colorful, tour built ones.
