Spectraflex cables?

[Agileguy_101]

I just ordered two of these, as my band is starting to gig and I'm tired of issues I've had with lesser cables (Monster, the Planet Waves ones with the kill switch on the input). I've heard that these are extremely durable, but I've also heard of some people having issues with them. What do you guys think? They better be good, because I paid $75 for two cables. :grumble:

 

[JeffB]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

I used them.for awhile. Then I went to Monster Gold. My monster died after acouple years and I bought another spectraflex. Hated what it did to my tone..harsh high frequencies and less lows. Thought maybe I was just hearing things. After a month or so of frustration with my tone, I Bought another Monster gold, a/b'ed them for a couple days and it was no hype, the Monster was far better, at least with my rig.

I prefer the spectras for durability, and the flexibility, but I won't go back.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

I've got Spectraflex cables that are near 20 years old and no problems whatsoever. I love them. Too bad GC doesn't carry them anymore. They are definitely durable.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

I was given a 20-foot Spectraflex as a gift a couple of years ago and it still looks mint. It's been through various band practices and gigs around the city in different venues, different weather, and it even came with me to Spain and back last year. Definitely built tough so long as you don't take any sharp edges to the cable.

As far as tone goes I haven't A/B'd it with any other cable - I was using a Planet Waves Gold cable until it died. All I know for sure is I didn't notice any drastic change, and my rig still sounds great.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

I swear by them. I have some that are almost 20 years old. Plus the colored braiding makes it easy to tell 'em apart.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

Spectraflex are the best cables I have used. Monsters sound pretty muddy in comparison. I buy Planet Waves cables now only because they are about 1/4 of the price and still sound pretty good.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

Don't like 'em.

If you are looking for great cables that are indestructible and also sound great, check out Divine Noise.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

What didn't you like about Spectraflex? I'm assuming the capacitance.

I thought about Divine noise, but no way can I spend $120 on two cables. $75 was a stretch as it is.

Spectraflex are the best cables I have used. Monsters sound pretty muddy in comparison. I buy Planet Waves cables now only because they are about 1/4 of the price and still sound pretty good.

Either you're getting PW cables extremely cheap or you're paying way too much for Spectraflex. I got a 21 foot cable and an 18 foot cable for less than 65 before tax and shipping.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

a 10 ft and 18 ft run about $70 shipped from SF

A 10 and 18 ft run about $19 from PW

27% the cost

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

Wow, that is​ cheap.

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

I'm kinda indifferent to them. I love the durability, but when I switched to a spectraflex cable from one of the Monster Rock cables it seemed like the highs and mid range bite was gone. Initially I thought it wasn't taking any frequencies away it was just letting more bass and lower mid range shine through. It was the perfect cable for me when I had EMTY blackouts in my guitar because the EMTY bridge pickup had such aggressive upper mid range and highs that it worked for what I wanted it to sound like. But I kept feeling like there was lost frequencies when I A B'd the monster and the spectraflex that I ended up buying another monster. That might have been a mistake.

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

I'd like to try Mogami cables, but their freaking expensive.

*edit* It seems the price has recently dropped.

And, if you build your own, you can get 50 feet of mogami cable for $2 at MF, plus neutrik jacks on amazon for $5 each.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

What didn't you like about Spectraflex? I'm assuming the capacitance.

That is correct.

I thought about Divine noise, but no way can I spend $120 on two cables. $75 was a stretch as it is.

I hear ya on that one. For me, I know I am investing in the convenience to NOT have to go through what I have been going through with Monster and Lava cables; ie, constant shorting and cables breaking down.

I have 3 Divine Noise cables, 2 straight and a 50/50. I really do love them, but they are extremely heavy.

 

[esandes]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

i like the monster cables. much less noise than my other one.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

So I got these earlier this week. Verdict - they do attenuate a bit of treble, but I attribute that to the fact that between the two cables, it's 39' of cabling my signal is going through. Plus, it's nothing I can't change with a bump up of the treble knob.

These cables are extremely sturdy, which is why I wanted them. They also seem to be quite flexible considering how rugged they are. I give them an A for now, but we'll see how they hold up in a year or five.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

Thanks for the follow up.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

Good cables are always worth it. For large production stuff, the Mogami Platinum stuff is great. Monster's stuff is dark and overpriced. I suppose it's all based off of what you're looking for, but anything that sacrifices clarity is a big disappointment for me. I can always turn the treble down on my amp, but I can't clear away an invisible blanket, so I typically gravitate towards low capacitance designs.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

I'd like to try Mogami cables, but their freaking expensive.

*edit* It seems the price has recently dropped.

And, if you build your own, you can get 50 feet of mogami cable for $2 at MF, plus neutrik jacks on amazon for $5 each.

My favorite cable is a home made one built from about 20ft of Mogami 2524 with Neutrik jacks.

 

[Grindspine]

Re: Spectraflex cables?

I cannot comment on Spectraflex, but it looks like Agileguy already placed the order.

I can say that Horizon cables were terrible in my experience. I had problems with noise and loose solder connections with those. I still use a few just for tip-to-ground switching after resoldering all of the connections, but will not pass audio through them. That way the noise and durability problems are bypassed.

Monster p500 Rock cables are more durable than Horizon, but sound almost harsh in the upper mids to me.

I have had only one experience with Mogami cables and was unimpressed by the overall sound to price ratio.

For several years now I have stuck with Monster p500 Jazz cables. They are a bit thicker and heavier than the Horizon, Monster p500, or Mogami cables I have used in the past. The thick shielding has improved my S/N ratio, but the cables are still flexible enough to use. There is a touch of capacitance, just enough to mellow the top end where the P500 Rock cables seemed harsh.

 

[jmh151]

Spectraflex cables?

I used Monster Rock cables for years, still have them and like them. After building a new pedalboard with George L stuff, I tried a Mogami cable into my pedalboard, and noticed a lot more brightness and clarity compared to the Monster, as if I'm using a BBE Sonic Maximizer. I'm readjusting my eq settings to get my bottom end back, but the Mogami sounded like it was louder or providing a stronger signal.

I read, and I kind of agree, that expensive cables matter only if you're going a very long distance directly into your amp. If you're plugging into any pedal that has a buffer, it doesn't matter what cables you have between that buffer and your amp. At least that's what the guy that created Pedalsnake claims, and after using his cable from my pedalboard to my amp, with a Mogami from guitar to pedalboard, I fully agree. Based on this principle, I don't know if active pickup users should see and difference, unless their cable is poorly shielded to create noise