Is this upgrade REALLY worth your MONEY? | Friday Fretworks 

Chris Buck proves that he can play through tin cans and a string and put out a better sound than most musicians playing today.

There a few things you can do to make your cable last forever! 1. Never stand or step on your cable, and don't let other people do it. 2. run the cable threw your strap and 3. always coil it up neatly when not in use 4. never let them get knotted or tangled.. I've been playing in an oldies cover band since '02 we are using the very same speaker cables for the P.A. that came free with a PA head the guitarist bought in 1986. We use 35+ year old speaker cables every time we gig with no problems, show your cables respect and they will last forever! When i joined this band I went out and bought me a whole new set up including cables. I'm still using all those 21 year old cables to this day, in the same amount of time I have blown through 5 amps and 3 speaker cabs. I haven't had a problem with cables since I learned how to take care of them. Do the things I said above and your cables, even you cheap crap cables, will last forever.

Here's an option. You could order the bulk cable (Mogami 2524) and connectors (Neutriks) and solder them up yourself for about 1/2 the cost of the pre-made, store bought cables.

I ended up investing in a Mogami Cable after my old one failed on-stage during a set. The difference in tone is very, very small (so small that it is probably just placebo causing me to believe that is sounds better). What you are paying for with more expensive cables is the durability, and this investment I made was solely for peace of mind. Thankfully, the Mogami cable has proven to be incredibly stable and I am glad I bought it. However, I am sure there are many cables that are more affordable and can do the job just as well, as long as you take care of it, of course> Great video and playing as always, Chris!

congrats on the gig - I appreciate your take on the cable question , level headed and calm. Always a good place to be.

I really enjoy listening to your music Chris. It is inspiring, soulful, and joyful.

Chris- I know I’m super late to the party, but I just finished first listen through Cardinal Black record…all I can say is WOW! Your tone and tasty phrasing is PHENOMENAL! Love the ear candy as well as the monster playing and vocals. Keep it up!!

I have like 100 foot of Mogami cable and silent Neutrik ends that I solder myself to whatever length I need. Been doing it 17 years and never had one fail. Still using the first 18 foot cable I made

I can feel Chris Buck when he plays guitar, his play has so much soul, he plays with great levels of feel. Finding great young players like Chris is fun and really satisfying when watching and listening to those who dedicate themselves to their craft like Chris does.

Thanks for coming to Cork Chris. Had a blast at the gig.

Hey Chris thanks for the demo,. I've seen plenty of your videos showing the difference between a good strat and a really good one and this cable demo shows the same distinction between good and really good. Thanks Allan

It’s great that the Fender cable is so close to the Mogami. There may be a SLIGHT bit more air in the Mogami, but it doesn’t sound anywhere close to £53 better.

Saw u in Cork and noticed ur cables and was meant to ask you when I got up meet you, cos I didn't recognise them. Great video and was great to see you play PS. That's my video at the end. So very proud of myself for that 😂

I recall reading somewhere that the only thing that really matters in a cable is capacitence, otherwise it's just all about quality of the plugs and how the cable is done overall. I'm a long time DiMarzio cable user, I like their coloured tweed cables between guitar & pedals and pedals & amp. And they dare to tell capacitence & resistance on their websites.

The difference became more apparent the higher the gain got. I absolutely treasure my only Mogami cable. Great quality and the silent jack is perfect. The sound difference was obvious. Thank you for the comparison.

George L's retains the highs/clarity that most cables seem to lose. They are so easy to service yourself as well. 20+ years with same cable with only 2 trim jobs😉👍

A triumph Buckmaster, a triumph. Even my old ears noticed a significant improvement in overall sound quality with the more expensive brand. I still like my neutrik cable though.😂

Great gig in Dublin the other week. Thanks!

My imagination? An old man with Riveter's Career hearing loss? Childhood ear infections hearing loss as well. No Tinnitus. And yes, with no headphones, I think I do hear more in the Mogami fullness. Not so crispy, yet with no loss compared to the Fender. I do use very good cables my self and Fenders are only for backup in my stage kit bag. My spendy cables have never failed. I watched and listened a second time. Every observation in your summation mirrors my own experience. In the end I pay for comfort and assurance, freedom from worry in the quality of my creative pursuits. Thanks!! I need the best and you are an essential part of that.

Great episode Chris. Can you do a comparison between wireless systems and against cables? There should be definite differences! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 👍

Bro someone needs to give you a cable endorsement, your a well enough known artist .

Outstanding playing and great band

Hi Chris - I started buying lengths of cable off a roll a couple of years ago out of necessity, but also interest in the question. I went with Sommer cable and Amphenol jacks. Broke out the soldering iron and made 4 cables (2x6m and 2x4m) for 56 quid. They've done over 30 sweaty, beer drenched gigs since and still sound better than anything I've ever had. Sturdy as, comparatviely cheap, and the difference in sound is clearly audible. No breaks, never let me down, better signal than I've ever had. The secret appears to be the quality of the inner core and the shielding. I wouldn't buy Mogami personally, but totally attest to the idea that cables makes a huge difference, and that we (guitar players in general) don't pay nearly enough attention to them.

Interesting comparison - actually in all the examples I preferred the sound of the Fender cable.

Great vid Chris. Love your playing!! And, really appreciate you surrounding the strat on the couch with the throw pillows. 🤗 Ps. congrats on the Frampton call up! Very 😎! 0% surprised as I predict some notable acts will be opening for you someday.

I have always used the higher end cable. I use Monster and Mogami primarily. You are 100% correct my friend, there is a noticeable difference. I love your style. Keep it real. Peace!

You're so fuckin honest, a big hug from Nürnberg, Bavaria! Btw, you are the best 🎸🎸🎸🎸

As a music electronics designer, a factor often forgotten is that with the volume control all the way up and the tone control all the way up you have the external cable capacitance directly in parallel with the pickup coil inductance which creates a resonant frequency between the 2. Higher impedance pots increase the resonance. The rolling the tone all the way down add that capacitance plus series resistance in parallel with the resonant circuit. So the actual result you get depends on all of the above: pickup inductance, cable capacitance, pot resistance and tone control capacitance. So pretty complex interactions and the same cable can behave differently with different guitars because of that. Having talked about the technical side, I full agree with Roger that Chris Buck sounds great through anything. Really enjoyed this one.

I’ll say this, I was listening to the video while doing dishes, so not not paying much attention to the video. Each time I heard a sound that I said, “Oh yeah, that’s it”, it was the Mogami.

I/we have tried so many cables. From trash to 2k a meter. In a solo recording you might get the 1% but no chance you hear a difference in a band. Good for you though, Mogami is Badass. You deserve it!

I've been a whirlwind user for most of my 42 playing years, I've had others including mogami but keep coming back to whirlwind, hey we're all different 😊

Great subject mate , loved it. Also because professionally I've always been taught Mogami is the goat. Well not just for the sound , that something plus is those cables from the less expensive to the most are virtually armored from signal disturbs and external noise and boast a great deal of a rapport length/inductance. as you Chris said price is high but actually if you can buy - say a relatively inexpensive 2319 - a meter and two reliable jacks of your choice , solder them DIY you'll be surprised how much you can save. Hope I could help not breaking the bank!

Thanx Chris very timely information as I was just wanting a similar upgrade, and always a mystery as to where to start...

The best part about Mogami cables is the shielding which is second-to-none. They are extremely quiet, low-noise cables. There are a lot of cables on the market with much lower capacitance than what those Mogamis.

The effect of the capacitance in the cable depends (critically) on the source impedance - the guitar is a high impedance source - but the pedal board tends to be buffered - so if you can only afford one seventy quid cable - use it from the guitar to the board. P.S. the Neutrik locking jack sockets are brilliant.

Yep. Mogami. Thanks!

As someone who experienced some absurdly expensive cables(analyzer, vovox, vemuram), it does make a difference with your average cables, as long as you plug straight into your amp or have very few pedals, once you stack your pedals, the impedance and buffers will reduce the difference. Plus, high end cables are usually ones that are HiFi, which is not always a good thing for guitar tone, and you wouldn’t hear it in the mix anyway. A decent cable built with quality parts is the way to go for most of players. Btw, the speaker cable is way more worthy to invest in.

Hi Chris, this is Buddy Mack from Canada. I intentionally stopped at 9:43 before hearing your thoughts. In my 300.00 headphones the Mogami have a Hi fidelity to them, I can easily distinguish the two of them, the Mogami’s are top tier. I use the Fender for two reasons. One readily available, and lifetime warranty over the counter exchange. I have an interesting under known SRV fact. Today, we always talk about impedance robbing tone and the length of the cable. If you look at good photos of SRV from early 1989-death, his tech got him using 12-gauge mono speaker cables. Being a huge SRV buff back in the day, those cables are heavy, but the best tone I ever had. Have a great weekend, brother.

Your tone is addictive

At home, I was surprised how much of a difference a cable (or no cable) makes. I have always used 3-5m Yorkville patch cords and made the switch to an inexpensive wireless set up in my living room. A/B testing showed the budget wireless rig to be clearer, brighter, and louder than my quality cords; enjoying the freedom of movement too.

I switched to Mogami cables for guitar and microphone years ago, and I think I felt a difference as much as I heard a difference. If playing guitar for 63 years has taught me anything, it's trust your ears and the feel that inspires you.

Sitting at a desk in front of monitors a laptop, mixer and a Headrush, I've never needed a long cable (just a good cable.) Been using the same 6 ft. George L for as long as I can remember.

Great to see you again. Interesting topic, I would say they are more durable. I love the tone of your Yamaha.

⚓️ Thanks Chris 🎸 no matter how these comparisons are done < A > B < whatever the gear : the limitations of the system 🤠 Internet Satellite Bluetooth Wi-Fi string of devices too many variables to get anything like a consistent result from receiver to receiver 😎

Thanks Chris all we are missing is a clip of you jamming with Stevie Ray ❤

When I a/b tested monster cables with my former cables, I was blown away and it became clear I was on to something and did some more research. I ended up using SummerCable and soldering on Neutrik Plugs myself. You can have great sound without breaking the bank.

Mogami takes it with the clean sounds (significantly better frequency response across the board). Even with the higher gain, the mogami cable seemed to capture individual string tone better than the Fender. In all cases, the Fender cable seemed somehow more dull, and almost compressed compared to the mogami.

For me, cables are all about Durability + Noise Rejection. I make loads of cables every week, I have found Amphenol Pro-Series ends + Van-Damme cable (Abby Road etc...) = very good. Many bands I work for have done some large tours (national + international) and they have proven to be very resilient cables

A guitar and cable has the ingredients of a tone control ie. the pickup coil (inductance) the pots and cable resistance and capacitance. Changing guitar or pickups may alter the outcome. I use a good cable with solid connectors and a buffer pedal with 1st loop to pedals to front of amp and 2nd loop going to time based pedals and it works for me. The buffer I use requires 12 volt but delivers good head room. It is a never ending discussion leading to true bypass pedals etc. go by your ears.

by the time Chris' guitar is recorded, compressed by youtube, and get sent to my wireless bose headphone, I really can't tell much difference. Now I can sleep in peace knowing my cheapo cable is not the problem with my tones haha

i assembled my own mogami cables after having the fender ones and i really love mogami also have more high end in your clip

great shirt!

They both sound good. Maybe the Mogami are a little smoother but both are decent to my ears. Great gig in Cork too 🤘

When doing these kinds of test you should consider using a looper. That what the inflection in which you play is the exact every time you repeat the the lick or phrase. Just a suggestion. I’m a huge fan of yours and your channel. Simply amazing! You that is.

There are a lot of good cables out there. I used to use Mogami but found that I prefer George L cables. However, I don't like solderless connections so I solder all of mine to high quality plugs. Cables do indeed sound different but it's all subtle nuance which overall matters very little.

I was at the gig in Dublin? Poor old lead singer was under pressure. Chh the Chris sounding amazing as usual, we will leave you off for the slpunk comment! Shout out to some neck guitars in Dublin, Eoin will always sort to out.

Oh yeah Chris! The Mogami was definitely better brighter and fuller sounding.

I was taught that, whenever long stretches of cable are needed, the best option is to have the shortest 1/4" jack cable possible going into a direct box, and then use XLR cable, as those are balanced and don't pick up as much noise. I don't know if this applies here, or if it would be cheaper, but I didn't see anyone else mention this

Make sure the cable jacks and inputs are clean. They can quickly get grimy and or oxidized and cause trouble, no matter the brand. A can of contact cleaner is always a good thing to have around. P.S. The most important cable is the speaker one. If it fails, it can kill your amp, which is why it's so important. Buy a good one and look after it.

I buy bulk Mogami cable and make my own. I can tell you not only that cables DEFINITELY sound different from brand to brand (test a Lyric HG compared to a cheap cable, almost anyone can hear it), but the last dozen or so I made you can hear a difference between the darkest and the brightest samples in the lot. This despite multimeter testing showing perfect solder joints and no measurable difference in capacitance. But the sound difference in the high end was absolutely unmistakable. At least with my Tele and my amp (a bright Dr Z take on a pre-top boost AC30). Now, in a mix in a big room, i doubt it would matter. But at home in a quiet test environment, you can actually sort individual cables from brightest to darkest-- EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE MADE FROM THE SAME ROLL OF MOGAMI CABLE. And to boot, they are going into an amp with an EF86 pentode front end with higher input impedance, which should make the tone less sensitive to minor changes in cable capacitance. I think perhaps it was actually the Neutrik plugs I used. I switched to Amphenol plugs and the cables (again from the same bulk roll of Mogami gold) sound much more consistent, even though you can still hear a subtle difference between the brightest and darkest in a batch. I'd never believe it if I hadn't experienced it myself so convincingly.

The more expensive cables sounded better from here. Appreciate you commenting on the feel. As we know that can really change the playing, sound and the player and listener experience. Thanks.

I remember in the seventies buying a cable that was really fat ,when it failed I went to repair it and found very little copper and lots of plastic !

On my TV I can hear a clear difference. The fender sounds more muffled. The Mogami gives more clarity. If I recorded, I would go mogami.

Once I went Mogami + Neutrik, never looked back. Mostly the connectors just feel more substantial and higher quality. Be careful with those Silent connectors though. The silencing mechanism may have a short life. I’ve heard stories of them crapping out after a year or so. Also Amazon has them at affordable prices under "Worlds Best Cables".

Quite a bit of difference! I make my own and wanted to try Evidence Audio Lyric HG and made myself 2. About a year later I left my cables at home and had to borrow two. It felt like my guitar would only go to 8! Love the solid cables.

I always use UK made Award Session ClearTone instrument, speaker and patch cables. Lifetime guarantee, silent and colour coded jack options, any length you want, reasonably priced. What more could you want 😊

Before I even watch the video, it’s all in the hands guys. Little things like fancy cables are for your enjoyment, they may add a little extra push of audio quality but 90% Is in your hands

My advice would always be buy the best you can afford, and look after them. Somewhere in the mid 2000s I decided it was time for new cables - was running some pedal into the amp and a few in the fx loop so needed 4 twenty foot cables; the best Guitarguitar had at the time were Shadowsky, so I bought 4 (nice bloke in the shop chucked in a 5th for me 'cos he was nice) at around £26 a pop, and I still have them. I did upgrade the jack plugs to neutric a few years later, but that was probably unnecessary, and I still have them - one was chopped into two 10ft cables for gigs where space was an issue. While it seemed a bit of a stretch at the time, I'm delighted by the sheer value for money almost 20 years later.

I remember thinking my tone control pot on my guitar was not working right (no sweep), I tried another cable and my tone control knob was working great and sounded great (lots of sweep in tone); after years of playing I now see how valuable a good cable is, which makes sense, it is a vital link between you guitar and your amp (and something hardly anyone thinks about).

I've got a handful of different brand cables, and each sounds different - brighter, warmer, thinner, less compressed, etc. But ultimately, durability and reliability won. I've used a DiMarzio EP1710SSGM for ages, and run over it probably a couple hundred times with my Computer Chair. Always works and sounds good.

As others have said: Capacitance. The more cable you have the greater the capacitance & the greater roll off of signal, especially in the high end. Look at your pedal board too, see if you have buffered pedals or not. If there is no buffer in the pedalboard signal chain, then the amount of cable within the pedalboard will also add the cable length capacitance from the guitar. THEN add the cable length back to amp. If you are a player who insists upon True Bypass pedals only within your pedalboard, that has to be considered. You have to consider IF you need to buffer your signal somewhere and that's a whole different rabbit hole to fall into. You very quickly start getting into basic electrical physics..... Capacitance, Resistance, Ohms, Input & Output ohms of pedals... the list is endless. You could do your head in if you didn't just yell STOP at some point. Mogami cables are good, well made. If you appreciate what they provide in audio then they are for you. But a well made cable with the similar specs to a Mogami cable will get very very close to them. And that name on a cable ('Mogami') makes them attractive to audio thieves, something to consider when on the road, setting up and pulling down stages each night. Personally, I'd try to travel with different lengths of input & output cable lengths and use the shortest set per show... The longer sets I would just buy Mogami, but the shorter sets I'd use similar gauge wire & plug sets to the Mogamis and either build them myself or have someone solder them for me.

One great option is buying some bulk Mogami cable and Neutrik connectors. If you can (and are willing to) solder, you can have amazing, reliable cables for a fraction of the cost.

Very subtle but I can definitely hear the difference, I think the Mogami cables help the guitar sound more clear and free, the Fender sounds a bit compressed. Again, very subtle but noticeable to me. Is it worth the price difference, for me yes! I have Mogami Silver cables for my guitars, yes they are pricey but well worth it if you are an audiophile like me :) Thanks Chris, for your work and this review! God Bless!

Began replacing my cheap-ish cabling with Caulfield Cables (he's not making them of course, but sourcing good stuff and assembling them with the connectors and colors of your choice) and haven't regretted it one bit. Whenever I have a little extra scratch I replace one. Even the speaker cable for my head/cab. It does sound better, and will clearly last longer.

I found a recommendation for Mogami with the exact part number (2524) in a Rivera amp manual from 1982. Since part number is still valid, the product must have some non-hype-reason to still exist. Another main addition IMO is that the Mogami is very indifferent to moving them around or stepping on them. Use them for 20+ years. they are very durable. If you buy them without the Neutriks and do the soldering yourself, the price diff is not so high anymore.

Huge difference! Mogami sounds MUCH crisper, while the Fender sounds muted, like you rolled off the treble. Guitar sounds great btw!

Excellent post, thank you! My 2 cents' worth: the critical areas are solder joints and the quality of the plug ass'y. HEre it is worth pointing out that missing strain relief where the cable exits the plug barrel can be a source of a later breakdown. Good quality oxygen-free cable sheaths also greatly improves cable durability, to the point that it won't be uncommon to have 20+y.o. cables still functioning wonderfully. Tonewise? On a loud stage will the weekend guittslinger really be able to tell the difference? And once the signal has been captured by the badly placed and un-damped SM57 (hello, stage resonance and vibrations!) and mangled by the FOH guy squishing the signal through banks of Behringer prosumer compressors, gates and EQs, good luck with the cable tone cork-sniffing exercise!

Interesting item! Confronted by big stages using a pedalboard and effect loop I agree there are easily 20 m or more length of cables. Mogami sounds definitely brighter with more clarity and top end. Saving money I recommend to solder high end cables by your own. Sommer Cable The Spirit XXL in combination with self tightening Neutrik NP 2 X-B and NP 2 RX-B jacks means highest quality for a reasonable price.

I've used cable by Award Session which you can buy at any custom length with Neutrik noiseless jacks . A UK company .

I preferred the sound of the Fender cable. Arguably, it was at points a bit tinny, but that could have been corrected by rolling off the treble. You can't fix what you lose with the cable, but you can get rid of what the cable did't lose if you want. I would have liked to see the capacitance measurement. Go for short cables if you are on a budget. The cable matters only up to the first buffer pedal, like many rightly pointed out before me.

I often don't notice much difference in a lot of comparison videos. However there was a clear difference between these cables and the Mogami had more clarity, top end sounded brighter with better note definition. The first Fender Deluxe cable I ever bought will probably be the last Fender cable I buy. The exterior braiding started coming apart very quickly. At the moment I'm using WBC Worlds Best Cables Van Damme Pro Grade Classic XKE Instrument Cable with Eminence connectors. They are relatively low capacitance, robust and noise free! Not cheap, but a bit less expensive than Mogami.

If you measure shunt capacitance and series resistance of each cable that would explain any sonic difference and be nicely quantifiable. Durability is a different issue. You sound great and I love the playing. Keep it up!

I’ve been using handmade Italian Reference Cables for years and have never had a problem with cabling since, and they also have a lifetime(!) guarantee;)

Such a great song. Like an 80s foreigner anthem NOW!

Cable is the guitar circuit put outside, so it does matter. imho VanDamm cables (the one Jeff Beck was always using) is worth trying, just perfect

for years now I have used Cleartone cables by Award Session. They are made in the UK with Neutrik connectors and Van Damm cable, never had one fail yet. They are only about 10% dearer than Planet waves and such like and they will make them any length you like. I do have a couple of Planet Waves 20 ft cables and I have had them about 10 years with moderate use. You aren`t paying for the tone, it`s durability and reliability you are paying for.

For myself, I tend to shell out on cables more than I should simply because I’m paranoid about them crapping out on me live (only happened once, and i CANNOT face it happing again!!)

I always play the Fender cables, usually with the vintage cloth cover.. but thats just for the looks

I've been making my own cables for years, using good plugs (Neutrik) and Klotz cable. It means I can make them to any length I require - necessary as I use them all over the place for my guitars, basses and keyboards, as well as in the studio. I did have the chance to use a really expensive, hi-end guitarcable from a friend, but honestly I could not hear any tonal difference. The main advantage, seems to me, is that the better cables are just more durable, which is definitely what you look for when you're on the road - it's a nightmare having to deal with faulty cables while the audience starts sniggering. I certainly recommend making your own.

I switched to mogami years ago and now I have almost forgotten that guitar cables were once disposable commodities

Mogami’s are great but there are so many great cable brands out there. If you are running more than 10 ft plus a board all those connections you absolutely need a buffer to preserve that signal as much as possible any ways. Ive got. Evidence and lava and Mogami’s , all great but i still love my fender purple Hendrix coil cables too. Ultimately you achieve your tone based on what you have and that’s all that matters. Practice, feel, playing dynamics are more important than the cables , nobody is gonna A/B them playing a gig and call you out. Chris Buck can make anything sound amazing . Work on your craft and use what you have as per JHS-Bad Monkey video proves. The fancy cables and pedals are just the sprinkles you add to the dessert they don’t change the substance of it. Great video Chris keep it up!

Best-Tronics CA-0446 Low Impedance Oxygen Free Instrument cable (tested superior to Mogami 2524 and Canare GS-6) - made in the USA

Always used canare cables for whatever lengths I needed and always on the mic’s- now I like evedence audio directional and some planet waves stuff now

My favourite sounding cable is Vovox, but the difference was more noticeable plugged straight into an amp, which I don't do often enough.

Wired my pedalboard with Mogami. My guitar cables are ancient Monster Cable cords I made myself 35 years ago, with a class of Monster cable that's no longer even made. Pain to do: you have to dip the wires into a solder pot to burn off the Litz compound prior to soldering. And they're slightly microphonic too. But NOTHING I've ever tried can touch them! Not just more high end, but tight low end, with no flab. Also, and I heard this on your comparison too - transients just seem tighter and ever-so-slightly less slurred. All of these subtle differences add up to a real, palpable difference in playing live and recording.

Cable commentary aside, I like what looks like a child's piano in the living room next to the telly. Will the younger Buck be a pianist and shun guitar? BTW : cool shoes Chris. Rock on!

I use Klotz Titanium 6 metres. I was working in a pro guitar shop when these first arrived on the market. We all thought it was snake-oil. So expensive! They couldn't possibly sound better than other hi-end cables. We were shocked to hear the additional high-end clarity that the lead provided. They are as 'dear as poison' but I treat them very well and they've lasted about 10 years so far. All of my other gear is top-end so why scrimp on the cables. No regrets.

Worth watching for the police synchronicity t-shirt ❤

I buy bulk hi -end cable such as Canare (there are others) and invest in the best quality plugs such as Neutriks which I solder together. I use a good boost from a company of your choice.

Great review. Probably not much different than we'd expect. I was wondering if you'd do a review on wireless systems?