"Snake Head," as we like to call them, is a cable with heat and abrasion-resistant sleeving stopping short at the end connecting to the instrument. This technique leaves a portion of raw cable touching the instrument, perfect for wrapping around guitar straps. Our Snake Head Instrument Cables come in 10', 15', and 20' lengths. Each cable can have a straight, right angle or a mix of Neutrik Nickel plugs (Neutrik Golds are also available) - be sure to select the proper plug style connecting to the instrument. Colors include red, black, sage, dirty tweed, blue, copper, and mean green.
Snake Heads are ideal to connect your instrument to a pedalboard or directly to the amp. Suppose you're looking for a cable connecting the pedalboard to the amp. In that case, we recommend our Standard Instrument Cable - where the weaving fully covers the cable from plug end to plug end.
Please review the Specs tab for detailed specifications, including wire gauge and cable capacitance. Our Standard Instrument cables are milled to custom specs here in the United States.
A Snake Head is a cable that has the outer weaving stop short on the instrument side of the cable. This is a cosmetic feature, especially nice if you have vintage or sensitive finishes and you're concerned about the weaving causing wear on the instrument if you run the cable between the strap and instrument body.
No, our cables are not directional. If you're purchasing a Snake Head, the Snake Head portion should be on the instrument side, but that only is cosmetic. The cable will work fine if plugged in any direction.
The Snake Head is only needed if you're concerned about finish wear if you have vintage or sensitive finishes like thin nitro, etc. If you don't care (or even want the wear) a Standard is great for the primary instrument cable. If this cable is going from pedalboard to amp, then it should be a Standard to ensure maximum protection of the cable.
A silent plug is not necessarily an "upgrade". Typically, a silent plug is for acoustic players who do not have the ability to mute their signal and would unplug their instrument. If you're an electric player with a Tuner or Volume pedal, then you don't really need a silent plug. Silent plugs are great, but they do provide another potential point of failure - so I always recommend, if you don't need the feature, purchase a standard plug.
Some of our customers swear by gold contacts. Some of our customers can't hear a difference. Gold does provide a better contact surface, but the signal improvement may be hard to notice. Some of our customers (including myself) just like the cosmetic look of the black shells with gold contacts. If you're in a humid climate and deal with corrosion, gold might be better for you as well.
When people read that, the first assumption is that the copper is somehow 'air tight'. Nope. OFBC is part of the smelting process where the oxygen molecules are smelted out or removed to a point where it's below .001%. This makes a very pure copper allowing for great conductivity.
We have a variety of wire mills that we work with. All of the wire mills we work with our in the United States. We take extreme pride that our cable is milled in the United States and hand assembled here in Missoula, Montana.
The weave is a poly-weave, meaning it's a plastic polymer-based weave. We use a variety of brands, but primarily TechFlex. It's designed to be heat and abrasion resistant. It is not a cloth/fabric weave, which tends to fray and stain easily.
Nol T. - I've used cables from the industry standard manufacturer for years. Over time those cables would get noisy, they would break down, or there would be quality control issues. I would have to replace these cables constantly. The last thing that any... Read More
Brian B. - Hank and crew were amazing to work with. The thing I really needed was a new pedalboard loom, so I filled out the build form and submitted it. A few hours later, Hank called me personally to go over a few details. He wanted to make sure of the... Read More
Nathan C. - Great cables! Very well built, great tone and look awesome! Read More
Charles W. - It was a pleasure doing business with these folks. Great service, seamless website and ordering. Personable service which is rare these days. And the product is better than I expected. I also appreciated the videos on their product concerning the... Read More
Chris K. - Really nice cable. I'll likely get a few more. Well made. Very impressed by the customer service thus far, and the packaging. Thanks for the sticker and cool cable bag. Read More
Mike G. - Love Rattlesnake cables , Hank is Awesome! Purchased XLR and guitar cables. The craftsmanship and quality is the best!!! Read More
Jeff K. - I kept seeing ads for this company popping up and after checking out the site, I decided to order some cables and try them out. The quality of the cables and their products is high quality and reliable. The junction box with isolated inputs is the... Read More
Greg M. - I see a lot of ads on my feed for musical equipment, cables, mics, etc. But I was particularly interested in a US based homegrown company. I decided to give it a try and boy was I impressed. The cable is absolutely amazing. It's going to last forever... Read More
...Can't say enough wonderful things about Rattlesnake Cables!!... — Dustin B
How Do We Ship?
All cables and other products will be safely packaged in a sturdy cardboard box. Single shirts are mailed in polymailers. We take pride in our quick shipping and quality packing! Read our philosophy!
I've used cables from the industry standard manufacturer for years. Over time those cables would get noisy, they would break down, or there would be quality control issues. I would have to replace these cables constantly. The last thing that any musician needs is to replace cables or have cables fail during a show or in the middle of a session. Rattlesnake cables are tough! The build quality is second to none. The connections are rock solid, the materials are high quality, and they sound good. A cable can be an often overlooked component to your sound, and Rattlesnake Cables make me sound good. High quality, hand-built, aesthetically pleasing cables; what more could you ask for? Rattlesnake Cables are the only way to go.
Thoughts about our Service:
Customer service has been great. Lots of communication and fast shipping. It doesn't get any better than that.
Hank and crew were amazing to work with. The thing I really needed was a new pedalboard loom, so I filled out the build form and submitted it. A few hours later, Hank called me personally to go over a few details. He wanted to make sure of the connector choices I had, and the breakout lengths. When we straightened everything out, he started the build. Later in the day, I had a thought pop in my head about changing one of the connectors from right angle to straight, and even though they already had them soldered on, he went ahead and changed it. And all this was on a Sunday! I grabbed a few other cables and merch stuff, and all of it was super high quality. Really love that the cable is milled in the US, and handmade to your order in Montana. If you want a quality US made product, from a hard working, small, family owned business with clear, quick and concise communication, you found it. If that's not enough, don't forget the lifetime warranty! Kudos to Hank and crew and keep on rocking!
It was a pleasure doing business with these folks. Great service, seamless website and ordering. Personable service which is rare these days. And the product is better than I expected. I also appreciated the videos on their product concerning the Rickenbacker set up.
Really nice cable. I'll likely get a few more. Well made. Very impressed by the customer service thus far, and the packaging. Thanks for the sticker and cool cable bag.
Thoughts about our Service:
The web site ordering is very nice, simple to use and quick. Some more bright colors would be cool.
What was purchased:
a 'snake head' which is a nice idea. I don't usually wrap cables since moving to wireless ya. The purple color is elegant.
What Mike G. Said...
Testimonial:
Love Rattlesnake cables , Hank is Awesome! Purchased XLR and guitar cables. The craftsmanship and quality is the best!!!
I kept seeing ads for this company popping up and after checking out the site, I decided to order some cables and try them out. The quality of the cables and their products is high quality and reliable. The junction box with isolated inputs is the perfect side to go under a pedalboard to keep your cables neat and tidy. I've gigged with these items and haven't had any failures during or after our shows. I highly recommend you try out their products and see for yourself how awesome they are.
Thoughts about our Service:
My customer service experience with Rattlesnake is the best I've ever encountered. Very responsive if you have any questions or concerns regarding your order or about their products.
I see a lot of ads on my feed for musical equipment, cables, mics, etc. But I was particularly interested in a US based homegrown company. I decided to give it a try and boy was I impressed. The cable is absolutely amazing. It's going to last forever and the sound is audible compared to my other cables. I highly recommend rattlesnake cables for anyone who wants excellent gear.
Thoughts about our Service:
Customer service was amazing. Got a personal video from the owner and a handwritten note on a company letterhead notepad. Plenty of follow up as well. I could probably say that if I had any problems with the cable, they would be fixed immediately.
What was purchased:
I purchased an 18 foot rattlesnake cable[/product with right angle to straight with gold ends.
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Are you looking for something custom? A set of specific-length patch cables? Or a longer or shorter instrument cable? Maybe you're looking for a limited weave we offered in the past but is no longer available. Shoot us a Custom Build Request, and we'll see what we can do to help!
We will absolutely take care of you if you run into any issues with your cable. We do our best to prevent issues and understand life on stages and on the road can be hard on the cables. We've been there, and we'll definitely treat you right if you have any issues.
U.S. Milled Custom Cable
We take great pride that our custom instrument, XLR, and speaker cables are milled in the United States. All of our milled cables are built to our specifications here in the states and then soldered by hand in Missoula, Montana, by our great team!
We Are Musicians
We are musicians. What does that mean? We know what it feels like when gear fails on stage. We hate that feeling, and we think about that with every build. As musicians, we also know how hard the road can be on gear and focus on making it stand the abuse.
Family-Owned Business
Rattlesnake Cable Company started with a simple idea by me - Hank. It quickly encapsulated my entire family, from my kids to my wife, Amy. Now, Amy and I are 100% committed to the success of the business and love that it has grown into a fantastic team moving forward.
Customer Service
We take customer service very seriously around here. We really appreciate ALL of our customers, and we want every aspect of your buying experience to be a great one. We ensure the buying experience, communication throughout the process, and final delivery of the product are perfect!
Quick Shipping
We understand after placing an order, the excitement starts - and we want to make sure you get your order quickly. From day one, we've pushed to get orders out as quickly as possible. Usually, orders are shipped the next day!
Augustine Mele
1/19/2021
These cables hold up, sound great, stand out so you can easily identify them and the covering makes set up and break down easy!
Michael Misukonis
2/19/2024
Rattlesnake cables are the real deal! Super high quality, durable and aesthetically delightful. Customer service is amazing too. Not only do you get an update when your cable is being built, but Hank sends a personal video clip to say thank you! The packaging is the cherry on top. I will only be... Read
Eric Hobart
5/26/2022
Great doing business with Hank at Rattlesnake. He took the time to answer all my questions. Sharing what guitars you use, etc. is really helpful. I personally like the human touch in matters of this nature. Artists are a kooky bunch, nice to be appreciated as a person and customer. I bought 2 15ft,... Read
Augustine Mele
1/19/2021
These cables hold up, sound great, stand out so you can easily identify them and the covering makes set up and break down easy!
Michael Misukonis
2/19/2024
Rattlesnake cables are the real deal! Super high quality, durable and aesthetically delightful. Customer service is amazing too. Not only do you get an update when your cable is being built, but Hank sends a personal video clip to say thank you! The packaging is the cherry on top. I will only be using these cables from now on!
Eric Hobart
5/26/2022
Great doing business with Hank at Rattlesnake. He took the time to answer all my questions. Sharing what guitars you use, etc. is really helpful. I personally like the human touch in matters of this nature. Artists are a kooky bunch, nice to be appreciated as a person and customer. I bought 2 15ft, guitar cables, and 5 flex patch cables with non pancake plugs. Yes, I will do business again with them, I like supporting a small company that believes in making the best product they can, and hip enough to know that folks really like that personal touch. Good Luck to the whole team! Eric Hobart, Bend,Oregon
Check out some videos talking about Rattlesnake Cables - unboxing, demos, etc.
Please note - the above photo is an example of a specific product. Some products will need to be configured for lengths, colors, etc. Some images display groups or multiple items. All items available for purchase are individual pieces unless otherwise stated as 'pack' or 'packages.'
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