Only for a microphone with a jack output, which is rare and usually a toy. Studio and stage microphones use XLR, because it is balanced and carries phantom power — neither of which a guitar cable does.
The two things you lose
The balanced connection, which is what keeps a microphone-level signal clean over any distance. And phantom power, without which a condenser produces nothing at all.
When it appears to work
With a dynamic microphone on a short cable in a quiet room. It will function, and it will be noisier than the same microphone on XLR.
What to buy instead
An XLR cable. There is no situation in a home studio where a jack lead is the better choice for a microphone.
Check your own manual before you plug anything in. Voltage, polarity and current draw differ from model to model, and the manufacturer’s figures take precedence over anything written here. A supply of the wrong polarity can damage a pedal in seconds, phantom power is safe for most microphones but not for every one, and the required voltage is printed next to the socket or stated in the manual — not inferred from a connector that happens to fit.
The questions players ask
What about an XLR-to-jack adapter?
It passes audio and blocks phantom power, so a condenser stays silent. A dynamic microphone will work, unbalanced, and will pick up more hum.
So what cable do I need?
XLR male to XLR female, of a length that reaches without a coil to spare. It is among the cheapest items in this catalog.
Last reviewed 2026-08-19