Solid Cables Dynamic Arc Ultra Guitar Cable

Specifications

-Woven braid outer shielding
-Triple strain relief
-All metal satin nickle diecast shell
-4000 PSI tear resistant protective outer armor
-Triple carbon/braid shielding
-All contact surfaces atmospheric oxidation/contaminant cleaned and lubricated with aerospace grade surface cleaner
-Hand soldered using premium grade silver alloy solder
-Aerospace quality oxygen free ultra pure copper conductor.
-Available in Carbon Black or Dusk Cherry
-All mechanical components chemically welded together

Features

From solidcables.com:

Starting with a conductor of ultra pure copper, carbon bonded insulator and an extremely tight braided hig strand count weave for pure tone with beautiful harmonic detail, we added all metal connectors that are the highest purity material in the industry, cover the outside with milspec grade armor, then connect the ends with audio grade solder that is used on million dollar recording consoles. Lastly, we permanently isolate all conductors in an avionics grade adhesive lining to eliminate internal breakage, shorting or solder joint failure in high vibration environment.

Review

Weird about cables

Cables, cords, leads, wires, call them what you will (I won't even mention wireless) are not all created equal.  I remember my first ever guitar cable.  It was a heavy duty coiled cable - no obvious brand - on one end was a straight 1/4" plug and at the other, a right angle plug with 'Made in Japan' stamped in the metal back plate.t seemed very robust and physically heavy.  I used it with great pride because it looked like the cables I saw Pete Townshend or Jimi Hendrix using.  Also, this was in the late 80's and you couldn't find a coiled cable at a guitar shop to save your life.  I used it until it stopped working one day.  I threw it in a box and forgot about it.  I think the next cable I owned was a Whirlwind.  It seemed so sleek and streamlined with it's tapered plastic strain relief cover hiding the metal plug housing.  It was not the cool, old fashioned coiled cable, but it was functional.  It was also reliable.  I think I had that cable through high school into college.  I'm sure it was lost at a gig or mixed up with someone else's cables.  Who knows.  Chalk it up to the karmic cycle of cables.

At some point I started acquiring pedals which required more than one cable.  This is the point at which I don't really remember any cables in particular - other than the ones I knew to avoid.  Those were the little patch cables that were all plastic where the connectors could not be separated.  They were printed cables with solid core wire.  Very unreliable.  I don't know if they didn't sound as good.  Who's to say?  But I feel like it's a moot point if they're unreliable.

Cut to today.  I was given a Solid Cable Dynamic Arc cable for review about 8 months ago [sorry Paul!] for review.  At first, I was highly skeptical.  First of all, I should say, I don't buy into bogus cable marketing ploys like directional cables.  What do electrons care which direction they flow?  I call bullshit.  Even worse is 'seasoning' cables.  Don't even get me started.

This cable does not make unbelievable claims.  Here's are list of it's features: woven triple carbon braided shielding, all metal nickel die-cast jack which does not unscrew, interior of the cable is filled with aerospace-grade epoxy to keep components from shaking, outer armor can withstand up to 6000 PSI of pressure, aerospace quality oxygen free copper conductor, all contacts are cleaned using 'audiophile grade' metal preservative, hand soldered using silver-alloy solder, all mechanical components chemically welded together, three stage strain relief.

But what does all this mean?

Well, I'm glad I waited to write this review because I don't think I could have given an educated answer after using it for an afternoon - or even a week.  One develops weird relationships with benign gear items like cables.  I've been using it now for 8 months and I have to say... I like it.  Does it improve my tone?  I can't tell.  Is it reliable.  Yes, definitely.  Also, it's easily recognizable.  The red mesh covering is difficult to confuse with any other cable.

A friend of mine tests amps all day and uses the Solid Cables Dynamic Arc cable and he mentioned one thing I never would have noticed.  It's silent at super high gain.  Usually, any average cable will have a small amount of microphonic sound when shaken with an amp's gain turned to 11.  Not the Solid Cables Dynamic Arc.  Silent. Also, the cable has a memory for coiling itself and comes equipped with a handy velcro tie; easy to uncoil and coil up.

The Final Word

Is it worth the $138 retail list price?  I know I can't afford that price tag, but if someone knows that they'll never lose it at a gig, this cable would probably last a lifetime. As for the issue of improved sound quality, you'll have to judge for yourself.  I don't notice any significant difference my guitar tone.  I do notice that it's quite and reliable.  Both of which are worth a lot to me.  Worth $38?  Depends on your means, I guess.

I just found that old, broken, coiled Hendrix-style cable during a visit to my parents' house.  I brought it home and checked it out.  Yup, still broken.  After 10 minutes with some wire strippers and a soldering iron I managed to fix it.  It cost me nothing and brings me so much joy.

Weird about cables,

Phil