Do I use a instrument or speaker cable to connect my rack tuner to my amp? I'm going from tuner out on my amp to the tuner in on the tuner.
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boring cable question
- Thread starter clearspot
- Start date
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
Instrument cable (or, more appropriately, a "patch" cable - same thing. Patch cables usually mean shorter and higher gauge, and it can also be cheaper in this case, since you don't have to worry about sound quality).
A speaker cable is for carrying a signal + power (like from a power amp to a cabinet).
A speaker cable is for carrying a signal + power (like from a power amp to a cabinet).
I have these older 1' long 1/4" cables that I forget how I ended up with but I use 2 of em to run from my amp effects send/return to my racked BBE maximizer. And I just got a EBS WahOne wah/volume pedal that I run 2 long instrument cables with. Is this appropriate? How can I check to tell what the older 1' long cables are made for? Or is there not a way to check under the chrome jacks to see how they're wired? Thanks, did not mean to hi-jack, maybe we'll get answers for both of us.
The difference between speaker cable and instrument cable is that speaker cables are not shielded; the two conductors are identical, running in parallel. In an instrument (or unbalanced line level) cable one conductor is the shield, and it completely surrounds the central positive conductor.
While it's not overtly obvious when you open up the jack, you can often tell whether the cable is shielded by looking at how the wire coming off the sleeve terminal goes into the jacket: If it's a braided or foil material that looks like it's enveloping the other condutor, it's a shield. If the two conductors look identical an disappear side by side into the jacket, it's probably a speaker cable.
While it's not overtly obvious when you open up the jack, you can often tell whether the cable is shielded by looking at how the wire coming off the sleeve terminal goes into the jacket: If it's a braided or foil material that looks like it's enveloping the other condutor, it's a shield. If the two conductors look identical an disappear side by side into the jacket, it's probably a speaker cable.
Unscrew the plug's shoulder shroud, look at the wires. Do they look thin like a signal cable, or heavy like an extension cord cable?
I've never heard of 1-foot speaker cables, cuz that's just too damned short to be of any practical use between an amp and a cab. So I'm more than convinced these are just signal-level patch cables. You're using your cables as they should be, don't worry. But at least unscrew one plug and check the thickness of the wires inside to assure yourself.
and actually I feel all my speaker cables, 3footers, 2-1/4" and 2-speakons, are too long. I use 2 of each depending on what amp I am running but trying to get away from 1/4" since I got my GBE750, speakons only. But I often take my plastic zip ties to gigs to tie off the speaker cables so they dangle in th air behind the cabs, keeps em from dragging on the floor if I have to slide my cab over some or just so they dont get hung up under cab as I am moving my rig into place. Guess Im just anal that way, dont like my speaker cables or power cord laying on some nasty stage floors Ive gigged on.
I could be abit OCD too cause I towel down all my basses/cables/cords after gigs, to keep em from gettin too grungy. Then again Ive got several cables that are 6-7 years old and still look new.
I could be abit OCD too cause I towel down all my basses/cables/cords after gigs, to keep em from gettin too grungy. Then again Ive got several cables that are 6-7 years old and still look new.
