With so many instrument cables on the market today, it is hard to justify another offering unless it’s something special. The SnapJack, a cable that detaches in the event of excessive stress, certainly falls into that category.
The example I received was a dual straight end cord, with a separate package of two angled ends. The ends attach magnetically to the cord, leading to my first – and obvious – question, “How hard will I have to pull to break the connection?” Several of my companions tried to pull the plug ends off in a straight-line motion, to no avail. But once we tried breaking the connection at an angle, the secret was out. This magic trick is accomplished through the use of super-strong neodymium magnets and a little magnetic polarity voodoo, keeping the ends firmly in place unless pulled at an angle.
It’s unlikely that anyone will find this cable to be tonally inferior to other cables – it stood up to testing against a Monster Cable and a George L’s with exceptional results. Low frequencies were tight and highs were sparkly and clear. As another bonus, when the SnapJack’s connection is broken, it does not generate the loud, speakerdestroying hum of a normal cord. This opened up a range of possibilities; by placing the additional ends in several of my guitars, I was able to change guitars rapidly and quietly at gigs. This is also a great way to protect your guitars and amps from those with clumsy feet.
I’ve had one client complain about a SnapJack accidentally coming apart while on stage, but since I was previously doing a jack repair every month for him, and haven’t done one since the SnapJack’s introduction, I consider it a win [the folks at SnapJack say they have introduced a new locking system to prevent snapping during live performances]. This cord is a must-have for musicians who want to switch between instruments/amps quickly, or who are always tripping (on cables).
See our video of the Snap Jack from Musicmesse
here.
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