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Author Topic: Amp to cap cable: Which one?  (Read 6469 times)

Kiichi

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Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« on: May 25, 2011, 09:17:49 PM »
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
« Last Edit: May 26, 2011, 05:59:06 AM by Kiichi »
BKPs in use: 10th set / RY set / Holy Diver b, Emerald n / Crawler bridge, Slowhand mid MQ neck/ Manhattan n
On the sidelines: Stockholm b / Suppermassive n, Mule n, AM set, IT mid

HTH AMPS

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2011, 09:29:09 PM »
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.

Transcend

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2011, 09:36:31 PM »
I will second Van Damme cable it's great stuff i was really annoyed when my local maplins stopped selling it

HTH AMPS

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #3 on: May 25, 2011, 09:57:54 PM »
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=

Spitfire

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2011, 10:10:48 PM »
i like to use some rope to link my amp and head... never had any problems at all

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Jazz Rock

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #5 on: May 25, 2011, 10:56:14 PM »
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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Kiichi

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #6 on: May 26, 2011, 06:10:12 AM »
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.
BKPs in use: 10th set / RY set / Holy Diver b, Emerald n / Crawler bridge, Slowhand mid MQ neck/ Manhattan n
On the sidelines: Stockholm b / Suppermassive n, Mule n, AM set, IT mid

Spitfire

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #7 on: May 26, 2011, 09:21:39 AM »
Fender Telecaster
Jackson KV-4

Starfield SVA-1

HTH AMPS

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #8 on: May 26, 2011, 12:19:33 PM »
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.


HTH AMPS

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #9 on: May 26, 2011, 12:23:06 PM »
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).

Elliot

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #10 on: May 26, 2011, 12:54:14 PM »
I use Award-Session cleartone speaker cables myself:

http://www.award-session.com/cleartone_cables.html#high-current
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Roobubba

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #11 on: May 26, 2011, 01:00:21 PM »
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.

:)

Alex

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #12 on: May 26, 2011, 04:15:58 PM »
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.
Current BKPs: Miracle Man, Nailbomb, Juggernaut, VHII
Past BKPS: Holy Diver, Trilogy Suite, Sinner, Black Dog

Kiichi

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #13 on: May 26, 2011, 04:26:17 PM »
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!
BKPs in use: 10th set / RY set / Holy Diver b, Emerald n / Crawler bridge, Slowhand mid MQ neck/ Manhattan n
On the sidelines: Stockholm b / Suppermassive n, Mule n, AM set, IT mid

nfe

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Re: Amp to cap cable: Which one?
« Reply #14 on: May 26, 2011, 04:47:22 PM »