Cable for a new amp setup

MrSaturdayNight · #1 07-18-2011, 01:42 PM

I just upgraded my amp setup....

went from an old fender sidekick 65 to an ampeg SVT 410HLF cab with a GK MB2 500 head.

My question is this... I read that i should be using a speakon cable to go from the head to the cab because a regular guitar cable can get quite hot with all that current.

I use an expensive monster cable to go from my bass to my sidekick now and don't want to lose that quality. Should I buy a monster style speakon ? or isn't there as much a difference.

I hear a big difference in clarity between the monster cable I bought and the crappy fender one that came with it..

Thanks!

will33 · #2 07-18-2011, 01:59 PM

Speaker cable is not "guitar cord", know the difference. 14 or 16 guage is fine for the 3ft. from amp to cab. Quality connectors like Neutrik or Switchcraft are a good investment but don't buy into any other magic snakeoil, you could make one out of a piece of extension cord if you wanted, same thing.

Selta · #3 07-18-2011, 02:03 PM

I use speakons only. The connection is much more secure, and you don't short jacks when inserting/unplugging.

JimmyM · #4 07-18-2011, 02:19 PM

With amps under 500w, speakons aren't necessary. However, if you have them, might as well use them.

But don't buy into the BS. Monster cables are no better than any other quality cables that cost much less, and in many cases, they're actually worse (google "instrument cable capacitance"). I buy whatever's on sale that looks like it'll hold up to road use.

RickenBoogie · #5 07-18-2011, 03:53 PM

+1 just get a good quality short Speakon cable and be done.

wcriley · #6 07-18-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

+1 just make a good quality short Speakon cable and be done.

^ Fixed it. ^

All you need is a piece of extension/power cord, two $4 connectors, a screw driver and a pocket knife.

MrSaturdayNight · #7 07-18-2011, 07:46 PM

I know there's a tonal difference between the monster cable I'm using now and the cable my jazz bass came with.... I can really hear it. I'm not saying it might not be over hyped but the tone seems so much more "alive" with my monster then the stock cable my bass came with.

I do know that instrument cables and speaker cables are different. Being that this is a 500W head and cab I figured it was in the range of possibly needing speakons.....

I think I'm just going to pick a speakon up. I won't have that much into it.

I also only paid about $20 each for my monster cables (a 6 ft and a 21 ft).

I don't mean anything by my comments other then I feel the monster cables are worth their cost when it comes to an analog signal. Many of you are leaps ahead of my ability and knowledge levels so I mean nothing negative by my comments.

Mingo Sanders · #8 07-18-2011, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wcriley

All you need is a piece of extension/power cord, two $4 connectors, a screw driver and a pocket knife.

But what pocket knife is good for

(wait for it)

(wait for it)

metal?

Mosher · #9 07-18-2011, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Speaker cable is not "guitar cord", know the difference.

The cable that came with your bass is probably a patch cable, not a speaker cable. Yes, the connectors are exactly the same, and absolutely yes, you can hear a tonal difference and it gets hot. It was designed for significantly less power to flow through it.

The "cheap" cable ideas others have proposed involve power cabling, which, unlike your patch cable, is designed for the power flow that is required from your amp to your cab.

cybersnyder · #10 07-18-2011, 07:54 PM

Speakon cables are very easy to make. Except I made one and it failed so now I buy them and rule out the cybersnyder factor.

JimmyM · #11 07-18-2011, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSaturdayNight

I know there's a tonal difference between the monster cable I'm using now and the cable my jazz bass came with.... I can really hear it. I'm not saying it might not be over hyped but the tone seems so much more "alive" with my monster then the stock cable my bass came with.

I do know that instrument cables and speaker cables are different. Being that this is a 500W head and cab I figured it was in the range of possibly needing speakons.....

I think I'm just going to pick a speakon up. I won't have that much into it.

I also only paid about $20 each for my monster cables (a 6 ft and a 21 ft).

I don't mean anything by my comments other then I feel the monster cables are worth their cost when it comes to an analog signal. Many of you are leaps ahead of my ability and knowledge levels so I mean nothing negative by my comments.

Monster instrument cables DO sound different from most, but it's because they have extra added capicitance, which results in a rolling off of the highest highs, which some can indeed interpret as a "better" sound. But you can do the same for much cheaper. $20 ain't a bad price at all, but I've seen them go for much higher.

fdeck · #12 07-18-2011, 09:18 PM

Advantages of Speakons include:

1. No danger of mixing speaker and other cabling -- in the dark, by accident when you're in a hurry, or if somebody else is "helping" you.

2. No danger that any of the contacts will touch anything that might cause a short circuit. Note that both speaker terminals are "hot" on some of the newer bass heads, so you can't count on the shell of a 1/4" speaker cable to be grounded.

3. No chance of shorting your amp if the plug gets pulled halfway out of your speaker.

There is an effect of cable capacitance on passive basses. Speaker cabling is governed by different factors. If the cable has a sufficiently low resistance (based on gauge and length), then it should have no audible effect.

Bass_Pounder · #13 07-19-2011, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSaturdayNight

I know there's a tonal difference between the monster cable I'm using now and the cable my jazz bass came with.... I can really hear it.

Of course the Monster sounds better then the cable that came with your bass.

Those "case candy" cables are cheap throw-aways that are barely fit to even use with a practice amp. Heck, just about anything will work/sound better.

MrSaturdayNight · #14 07-27-2011, 07:57 PM

I do know that for anything digital the monster cables are not worth the money.

A $60 monster HDMI cable will not provide a better picture then my $6 cable from newegg... it's digital and either the signal gets there or it doesn't.

Now for analog signals the beast is of a different nature. I do know that my stock cable was crap, I could tell right away. And for $20 the monsters have been holding up like the day I bought them.

On to the speakon... I was down at my guitar tech's trying to deal with my GK MB2 500 "issue" and he told me basically that I want to be using an unshielded speaker cable instead of a shielded instrument cable. He sold me a 3 foot speaker cable for $10 and gave me a 1/4 to speakon adapter.

So I'm not to beat up over the $10.

Oh well.. back to jammin!

**bassman_al** · #15 07-27-2011, 08:26 PM

I just made a set of speakon amp-to-cab speaker cables. They are very easy to make. No soldering required and Neutrik has a fantastic design. I am no pro tech by any stretch. Cheap speakons will fail. I learned by experience. Get Neutrik. Each connector is $5 on Parts Express.