What Is Low Capacitance, and Why Does It Matter in Guitar Cables?

When it comes to tone, musicians, and guitarists specifically, spend plenty of time debating pickups, pedals, and amps. But one oft-neglected component can actually have a measurable effect on your sound: the cable (specifically, its capacitance).

If you've ever felt like your sound was missing brightness or definition, especially when using longer cable runs, the culprit might not be your pedals or your pickups. It might be your cable’s capacitance.

Capacitance Explained

Capacitance is an electrical property that describes how much charge a cable can store between its internal conductors. In practical terms for guitar players, higher capacitance can create a small but noticeable reduction in high-frequency content. The result is often described as a slight dulling or softening of your tone.

Capacitance is sometimes confused with resistance or shielding, but it’s a different kind of signal loss. While resistance deals with how much energy is lost as heat and shielding helps block outside interference, capacitance is more like a filter that shaves off some of your high end as the signal travels. You can think of it as a kind of cross-talk between the conductors inside the cable, subtle, but enough to matter when tone clarity is the goal. Unlike hum or buzz, you won't hear capacitance directly. You'll just notice the difference when it’s high.

This effect becomes more apparent when you're using:

• Longer cables (especially over 15 feet)
• Passive pickups, which do not buffer the signal like active electronics do
• Complex pedalboard chains, where small losses compound across the signal path

While not inherently bad, this tonal shift can become a problem if you're chasing maximum clarity, presence, and articulation.

What Makes a Cable "Low Capacitance"?

Cables with low capacitance are designed to minimize this high-frequency loss. They typically use higher-grade insulation, tighter construction tolerances, and shielding that allows the signal to travel cleanly without as much reactive buildup between conductors.

The capacitance of a cable is usually measured in picofarads per meter (pF/m). While exact thresholds can vary depending on who you ask, many players consider anything below 100 pF/m to be low capacitance, and anything above 150 pF/m to be more prone to coloration.

Keep in mind that a cable with excellent shielding or gold-plated connectors is not necessarily low in capacitance. It’s a specific characteristic, and it matters most when tone preservation is a priority.

Why Choose Low Capacitance Cables

Guitarists who switch to low capacitance cables often report the following changes:

• Brighter highs, especially noticeable on clean tones or single-coil pickups
• Tighter low end, particularly useful for high-gain or rhythm work
• Improved response and touch sensitivity, which is valuable for expressive playing styles
• More consistent tone, especially when switching between short and long cables

These differences are not always dramatic, but they can be meaningful, especially when recorded or amplified through revealing gear.

Who Benefits Most from Low Capacitance?

Low capacitance cables are a good match for:

• Recording musicians who want clean, uncolored tone from source to track
• Gigging players who use long cables or wireless rigs where tone loss can be amplified
• Tone-conscious players who notice subtle shifts in EQ and dynamics
• Anyone using vintage-style passive pickups, which are more affected by cable capacitance

Even if you aren’t chasing the last 5 percent of tone, a good low capacitance cable can help ensure that what leaves your guitar actually reaches your amp the way you intended.

Final Thoughts

Capacitance is not the only factor in choosing a cable, but it’s one of the few with measurable, audible consequences. If you’ve invested in great gear, it makes sense to use a cable that doesn’t hold it back. A low capacitance cable won’t add anything extra to your tone, but will be the best at preserving what you already have.