Head and Cab cable.

[san_339]

Hi.

I've always thinked that I could connect the head to the cab with a normal jack instrument cable... but today I've been told that I can't!!!

Is that true?

Do I have to join the head and the cab with a speakon cable, and with a (minnimun) 2.5 mm diametter???

Is there a really improvemente in the sound?

Thanks for your time.

 

[bhass]

Is that true?

Yes.

 

[PDavyduck]

maybe not a minimum diameter but you DEFINITELY NEED a proper speaker cable.

speaker cables and instrument cables are constructed differently.

think of an instrument cable as a single conductor with a ground.

and a speaker cable as a dual conductor cable.

you could end up damaging your amp with an instrument cable plugged in going to your cabinet.

 

[JxBass]

Most amp and cabinet manufacturers will explicitly tell you in their documentation to ALWAYS use a speaker cable.

 

[Jaco who?]

Incredibly over-comprehensive thread on this very subject from a few days ago:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=588763 Posts 11 and 15, if you want to cut to the chase.

 

[David Jayne]

Instrument cables have teenie-weenie wires inside (center conductor), and because of this, they have been known to melt when used to drive a cab. The usual result of this is a short-circuit; very bad for a solid state amp.

 

[cheamo]

Yeah, you don't have to use a speakon cable, but you can't use regular instrument ones either or you could damage some stuff. You need heavier gauge wire for your speaker cable I think, and it's better if it's not as long usually.

 

[san_339]

And is the jack connector forbidden or something like that, and I need to use the speakon connection?

 

[David Jayne]

No, you don't have to use the speakons if you don't want to. They're just a bit more rugged and reliable, but regular 1/4" jacks work fine too.

 

[DBTOYS]

Cables make the tone don't skimp
+ like they said if you use a guitar cable
it can not send the whole signal

 

[dj150888]

Cables make the tone don't skimp

No they don't, I make my tone. Please don't bring the ol' snake oil into the question.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

Cables make the tone don't skimp
+ like they said if you use a guitar cable
it can not send the whole signal

The problem with an instrument cable is the wire gauge is too light to handle a lot of current, so if it's called on to do so it can overheat and fail. With cables of average length it won't affect tone. That can occur when a cable with excessively high capacitance is connected to a high impedance circuit, like passive pickups into an amp. With the low impedance circuit of an amp output into a speaker you'd need over a 100 foot cable for high capacitance to be audible.

 

[dj150888]

The problem with an instrument cable is the wire gauge is too light to handle a lot of current, so if it's called on to do so it can overheat and fail. With cables of average length it won't affect tone. That can occur when a cable with excessively high capacitance is connected to a high impedance circuit, like passive pickups into an amp. With the low impedance circuit of an amp output into a speaker you'd need over a 100 foot cable for high capacitance to be audible.

Thanks for explaining my sentiments better than I could.