A shielded cable surrounds the signal conductor with a conductive layer to reduce the effect of external noise. It is commonly used to connect a guitar or bass to an amp or an audio interface.
The basic idea
Instrument cables generally use TS phone connectors, and making a cable too long can affect the high end and the noise level.
What to check when using one
Broken conductors and poor contact cause noise, so check regularly for a wobbly plug or dropouts.
In Japan this kind of cable is commonly called a “shield,” which is a different meaning from the electromagnetic shielding inside an instrument itself.
