Patch cables are the short cables that link your pedals together. They look like a minor detail, but they affect how tidy your board is, how much space it needs, and, in some setups, how your guitar sounds.
How long should they be?
Short is the rule. Measure the gap between the jacks on two pedals, add a little slack, and choose the shortest cable that makes the connection without bending sharply. Typical patch cable lengths run from about 3 to 12 inches (8 to 30 cm). Longer cables work fine but make the board messier, and they add to the total cable length in your signal path. See how long a guitar cable can be for why that matters.
Plug styles
- Right-angle plugs. These point the cable sideways, so they fit pedals with jacks on the side that are close together. Most patch cables use them.
- Low-profile (pancake) plugs. A very flat right-angle design that lets pedals sit almost touching. Useful on crowded boards.
- Straight plugs. Better when jacks are on the front or back of a pedal, or when a pedal sits across from the next one.
Mix them as your layout needs. A board usually ends up with a combination of right-angle and straight plugs, and a few cables in different lengths.
Ready-made or solderless kits?
Pre-made patch cables are convenient and consistent. Solderless kits let you cut cable to the exact length and attach the plugs with a screw or clamp, so you only buy what you need. Kits can be reliable, but the connection depends on a good assembly, so take your time and test each cable before you tape it down. Soldered cables you build yourself last longest, but they need practice.
Does a patch cable change the sound?
A true-bypass pedal that is turned off connects the cable on its input directly to the cable on its output, so all your patch cables become part of the signal path. The more pedals and the longer the cables, the more capacitance and the more treble loss with passive pickups. Short cables and good low-capacitance cable keep this small, and a buffer, in a pedal or on its own, fixes it if you have a large board.
Layout tips
- Plan the signal order first, then the cable routing.
- Keep power supply cables apart from signal cables. If they must cross, cross them at right angles to reduce noise.
- Do not bend patch cables sharply right at the plug. Leave a small curve of slack.
- Secure cables with ties or velcro so they do not tug on the jacks.
- Label any TRS cables used for expression pedals or switchers, because they look just like the others. See XLR vs TRS vs TS.
Build quality still matters
The same points from what makes a good guitar cable apply here. Check the plug build, the shield and the strain relief. A single weak patch cable is a common cause of crackle on a pedalboard.