Low capacitance guitar cables

[NaturalBornBoy]

How important is it to you guys, that you guitar cables be low capacitance? I'm talking < 30pf/ft.

Does it even matter if your board already has dedicated, standalone buffers?

 

[lespaul6]

Yes it matters to me as I don't use pedals/buffers. I use either Gepco X band 23pf/ft or my carver cables 16pf/ft.. I like to keep my highs and clarity and these cables do that. You should experiment with some different cap cables to see what you like, that's what I did. for instance: Gepco XBand (23 pF/ft) Mogami 2524 (39 pF/ft) and a Canare GS6 (49 pF/ft). You can pick these up for about 40 bucks a piece for 15ft, and you will know whether you like low or high cap cables for your situation.

If you have a buffer the only cable that matters is the one from your guitar to the buffer NOTHING after the buffer will make any difference, you will be hearing the cap of the first cable.

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

If you have a buffer the only cable that matters is the one from your guitar to the buffer NOTHING after the buffer will make any difference, you will be hearing the cap of the first cable.

So you're saying that every cable post buffer doesn't affect my tone in any way whatsoever?

So I could use the cheapest, nastiest cables I can find, post buffer and it wouldn't matter at all?

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

Post buffer it shouldn't effect your tone, but cheap cables can still be susceptible to noise.

I personally have found with some amps I prefer a cable with high capacitance. I have one good low cap cable, and one good higher cap cable. It is a pretty big difference between the two. The high cap cable can take the edge off of an overly bright amp.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

i prefer to let all the highs reach the amp and trim off there so all the harmonics are still created.

As low as i can find.

 

[some dude]

i prefer to let all the highs reach the amp and trim off there so all the harmonics are still created.

As low as i can find.

I'm the exact opposite. I run the amp moderately bright and bleed treble before it hits the amp.

I used to do it by running long (30-40 foot) cables, but more recently I've dropped my cable length to 20 and roll the tone pots down. I think the cable I'm using now is around 28p/ft. I've used darker in the past, but these are what I like right now.

 

[SHOOTOUT!]

With passive pickups all cable pre-buffer affects the tone due to the capacitance operating on the harmonic circuit that is created due to the high output impedance inductive pickup. Bottom line is you get a resonant frequency shift and roll off above that that goes lower in frequency as the capacitance goes higher.

Although people tend to think of low cap as being just 'brighter' due to more high end getting through, they can also avoid a pickup resonant peak going down into a harsh frequency zone.

After a buffer capacitance doesn't matter but shielding for interference and microphonics still matters.

Cheap cables tend to be noisy and use iffy connectors. Few cables have worthwhile strain relief.

Here's a run down of guitar cable capacitances... Sommer LLX is the lowest:

Guitar Cable Capacitance Chart

Cheers.

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

I went with the Sommer Spirit XXL. I've read nothing but good things from users and I tend to prefer cables around that capacitance rating.

 

[lespaul6]

cool... congrats. Where the hell did you find them?

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

cool... congrats. Where the hell did you find them?

I ordered direct from Thomann. And Sommer and Thomann both being German companies, the prices are very good.

A 20 footer Spirit XXL with Neutrik ends, one being the Silent plug, comes up to roughly US$64. And that's with shipping via DHL included.

 

[lespaul6]

Ok... cool. That is good to know

 

[thenine]

cool... congrats. Where the hell did you find them?

I ordered direct from Thomann. And Sommer and Thomann both being German companies, the prices are very good.

A 20 footer Spirit XXL with Neutrik ends, one being the Silent plug, comes up to roughly US$64. And that's with shipping via DHL included.

Which part number did u order? I'm interested.

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

cool... congrats. Where the hell did you find them?

I ordered direct from Thomann. And Sommer and Thomann both being German companies, the prices are very good.

A 20 footer Spirit XXL with Neutrik ends, one being the Silent plug, comes up to roughly US$64. And that's with shipping via DHL included.

Which part number did u order? I'm interested.

These are the two I ordered.

https://www.thomann.de/intl/sommer_cable ... silent.htm

https://www.thomann.de/intl/sommer_cable ... _60_as.htm

 

[lespaul6]

So that's 18ft.. that's what I use. I'm thinking about picking up the silent plug.

 

[thenine]

cool... congrats. Where the hell did you find them?

I ordered direct from Thomann. And Sommer and Thomann both being German companies, the prices are very good.

A 20 footer Spirit XXL with Neutrik ends, one being the Silent plug, comes up to roughly US$64. And that's with shipping via DHL included.

Which part number did u order? I'm interested.

These are the two I ordered.

https://www.thomann.de/intl/sommer_cable ... silent.htm

https://www.thomann.de/intl/sommer_cable ... _60_as.htm

Thanks very much. So one has the silent plug and the other does not?

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

cool... congrats. Where the hell did you find them?

I ordered direct from Thomann. And Sommer and Thomann both being German companies, the prices are very good.

A 20 footer Spirit XXL with Neutrik ends, one being the Silent plug, comes up to roughly US$64. And that's with shipping via DHL included.

Which part number did u order? I'm interested.

These are the two I ordered.

https://www.thomann.de/intl/sommer_cable ... silent.htm

https://www.thomann.de/intl/sommer_cable ... _60_as.htm

Thanks very much. So one has the silent plug and the other does not?

Yes. The one with the two straight connectors, one end is the silent plug. That will be from my guitar to board.

The other with one straight and one right-angle will be from board to amp.

 

[petejt]

What matters to me about cables, is if they curl up or not.

I hate it when they curl up! I had a bloody Lava Soar cable curl up on me so much that the plug on the end snapped off!
They must be possessed or something.

 

[the4thlast1]

So far my favorite is canare cable but whats strange is that even though they are high capacitance they have a bright and clear sound.

 

[CaseyCor]

Everyone knows a coily cable is the best cable.

/end thread