Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Kiichi on May 25, 2011, 09:17:49 PM
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Hey,
so I need a new cable to connect my amp to my cab, as the old one my dad gave me...well it sucks. Was ok in the beginning, but now I need more.
So what should I get? Do I need a dedicated speaker cable or will a good guitar cable do as well. I donīt know cause of the higher current and heard something about the thickness of the cable being important, but I am not sure.
Right now I am kinda between a Sommer Cable the spirit (not the xxl) with 1x 0,50qmm and a Sommer cable Club Series with 2x 0,34qmm.
I am guessing the spirit will be my preference and that I will do well with it (I love my XXL versions as instrument cables), but as I am not sure I thought Iīd ask quickly.
One thing though, as I have strange self made cab I need a rather thin jack to fit in the hole. Like the XXL Spirit does not fit, but normal jacks work.
Fast replies are appreciated as I plan to plant an order tomorrow evening or very early on friday.
Cheers
Kiichi
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DO NOT USE guitar cable.
also, don't waste your money on expense boutique speaker cable. I use Van Damme cable - its only around Ģ1.50 per metre and performs very well. Pair it up with some Neutrik jacks and you're done for around a tenner.
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I will second Van Damme cable it's great stuff i was really annoyed when my local maplins stopped selling it
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also, I now just get my cables made by a local company who sell them cheaper than I can buy the parts individually - Weardale Electronics... http://shop.ebay.co.uk/weardaleelectrics/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=
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i like to use some rope to link my amp and head... never had any problems at all
(http://www.stonkknots.co.uk/images/rope_manila_coiled.jpg)
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DO NOT USE guitar cable.
also, don't waste your money on expense boutique speaker cable. I use Van Damme cable - its only around Ģ1.50 per metre and performs very well. Pair it up with some Neutrik jacks and you're done for around a tenner.
That's interesting, I was just about to make an hybrid cable out of planet wave guitar cable with crimp connector at one end to link a amp head to a speaker (not in purpose built cabinet, hence the MacGyver stile cable). So, pardon my ignorance but why is it not a good idea?
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Ok, so HTH AMPS, you confirm that the radius is important since there is more current going through? (I know you did not actually say that, Iīm just assuming here.)
Maybe then, as I donīt want to solder or anything right now, a CORDIAL CTL 3 PP 2x2,5qmm?
That would be 2qmm more than any guitar cable I could find and it is a dedicated speaker cable.
I forgot to mention by the way, I will be ordering from the german thomann, so my choices are a bit smaller.
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http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_sssnake_pps1015.htm
speaker cable
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guitar cable (shielded single core) is not designed to handle the current required for speaker cables, so don't use them for speaker cables, simple.
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5M-SPEAKER-LEAD-VAN-DAMME-2-5mm-CABLE-REAN-JUMBO-JACKS-/180662924215?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item2a105973b7#ht_1756wt_1139
this link is for a 5m speaker lead, however I know the guy who runs this place will make any length and price accordingly (a metre is more than fine).
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I use Award-Session cleartone speaker cables myself:
http://www.award-session.com/cleartone_cables.html#high-current
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I use Award-Session cleartone speaker cables myself:
http://www.award-session.com/cleartone_cables.html#high-current
+1
And yes, use SPEAKER cable for connecting your amp to your SPEAKERS. Instrument cable is great for transmitting signal. It is not so good when you want to transmit power, and there is a very real chance of destroying your amp head if you use it. So don't.
:)
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The Cordial speaker cable will do. Guitar speaker cables tend to be really short anyway (usually you don't need more than 1-3m anyway).
Sommer cables are great btw. Performance like cables that cost two or three times as much. If you are ordering from Thomann, you might as well get some new instrument cables from them as well. Sommer cables are really hard to find in the UK, unfortunately.
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The Cordial speaker cable will do. Guitar speaker cables tend to be really short anyway (usually you don't need more than 1-3m anyway).
Sommer cables are great btw. Performance like cables that cost two or three times as much. If you are ordering from Thomann, you might as well get some new instrument cables from them as well. Sommer cables are really hard to find in the UK, unfortunately.
Yeah, just ordered a Cordial 3m Speaker Cable. As long as the jacks fit I think Iīll be more than fine. Itīs not that my Tiny Terror can put too much stress on the cable anyways, I mean itīs no 120W Marshall cranked to the max.
I also ordered a third Sommer Cable Instrument cable, a longer The Spirit XXL. Those things are just...wow...to me at least. My main cables, only my patch cables are ProSnake, SSSnake and cordials. While I was at it I also got another SSSnake patch and a 50 bucks western guitar for the campfire.
Thanks for the advice guys!
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I use Award-Session cleartone speaker cables myself:
http://www.award-session.com/cleartone_cables.html#high-current
+1
And +1 again. Cheap and great.
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I must admit I only recently learned that speaker cable was different from guitar cable (never owned anything other than a combo until a couple of years ago).
I got a George L's kit on eBay, it wasn't expensive.
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Another Cleartone fan here.
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In a pinch use a length of mains cable and put decent plugs on the end way better than guitar leads and till you get the speaker cable of choice will work effortlessly.
I have been using huge Monster speaker cable from a HiFi shop -( Richer Sounds) with some huge oversize switchcraft jacks
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This site also explained some things pretty good: http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/tone-tips-speaker-cables-use-t/
Most interresting the part about the symetrical and asymetrical nature of the two cables...
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The Cordial speaker cable will do. Guitar speaker cables tend to be really short anyway (usually you don't need more than 1-3m anyway).
Sommer cables are great btw. Performance like cables that cost two or three times as much. If you are ordering from Thomann, you might as well get some new instrument cables from them as well. Sommer cables are really hard to find in the UK, unfortunately.
Yeah, just ordered a Cordial 3m Speaker Cable. As long as the jacks fit I think Iīll be more than fine. Itīs not that my Tiny Terror can put too much stress on the cable anyways, I mean itīs no 120W Marshall cranked to the max.
I also ordered a third Sommer Cable Instrument cable, a longer The Spirit XXL. Those things are just...wow...to me at least. My main cables, only my patch cables are ProSnake, SSSnake and cordials. While I was at it I also got another SSSnake patch and a 50 bucks western guitar for the campfire.
Thanks for the advice guys!
I also use the Spirit! Great cable, amazing value. I think it is mostly because Sommer isn't a company that is marketed too much for guitarists, more for other sound purposes. Less voodoo with huge price tags.
I suppose you are not going to use the western for lighting the campfire? If you do, take some pictures, though! :D
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Oh no, now I've seen the cleartone stuff and that ebay store, I'm wavering in my resolution to buy a load of bits and build my own cables. Willingness to learn new skills conflicting with laziness/desire to have things NOW.
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Weīll have to see if the western will end up in or in front of the campfire...as long as it sounds kinda ok itīll be fine, I just need a western for open d tuning. Donīt wanne do that to my Satriani Signature, I need that one in standard.
Should be here tomorrow morning, weīll see then.^^
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http://shop.ebay.co.uk/weardaleelectrics/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=
+1 for this guy made up a lead for me to replace my amp to footswitch cable excellent quality.
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One other thing while I have a thread: My dad wants me to try out one of his old cabs. Itīs a 1x 12" and since we did not know the resistance I messured it and it says 7 Ohm. Now My TT needs 8Ohm. I suppose it wonīt be a problem using this cap, but as far as I know lower than needed values can be problematic (damaging the amp) and I would like to know if you know how big the tolerance is.
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If you measured the impedance with a multimeter you won't get a 'correct' reading. ie bang on 8ohms.
The speaker has an Impedance, not a Resistance as such. If you use a multimeter to measure a speaker you will always get a slightly lower resistance reading than the rated impedance of the speaker. So you should be safe running your amp on 8ohm's into it.
EDIT: That was terribly explained... google Resistance vs Impedance
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If you measured the impedance with a multimeter you won't get a 'correct' reading. ie bang on 8ohms.
The speaker has an Impedance, not a Resistance as such. If you use a multimeter to measure a speaker you will always get a slightly lower resistance reading than the rated impedance of the speaker. So you should be safe running your amp on 8ohm's into it.
EDIT: That was terribly explained... google Resistance vs Impedance
I get what you want to say, my dad said something similar.
As long as the bottomline that it will not damage my amp is correct...;)