• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

making my own speaker wires?

T

TimmyGT

May 19, 2008
120
0
42
#1
So I was shopping the other day and one of the sales people at the store I was at told me that I shouldn't be using just any 1/4" cable to run from my amps to my speakers and that I should have "special" speaker cable for that!

what I wanted to know is if I run up to radio shack and pick up the male 1/4" and just used some of my nice size gaged speaker wire I already have here can I just make my own "special" speaker cable?

keep in mind that I am not trying to pay $30+ for something I can make for $5 so just buying the speaker cable is not an option because I would just keep using my cables that I already have (which don't say if they are for interments or speakers).
 
#2
Proper "speaker cable" is always two individually wrapped parallel wires (like a lamp cord or the zip cord you see at the stereo store) while many people mistakenly use "instrument cable" which is one wrapped internal wire surrounded by the other wire which acts as a shield. The two types of cable are not supposed to be interchangeable.

It isn't necessary to spend money on fancy speaker cable. The cheap stuff works just fine (as long as it's the proper gauge for the current it's expected to carry).
 
#5
well I have some 12' gage in my garage that I use for running 1,000 watt+ subs so I was going to just use that and put my own tips on it! that way I am getting the exact length I need and I don't have to use the "unknown" cables from the 80's! and yes, it is 2 individually wrapped parallel wires.
 
#8
TimmyGT said:
well I have some 12' gage in my garage that I use for running 1,000 watt+ subs so I was going to just use that and put my own tips on it! that way I am getting the exact length I need and I don't have to use the "unknown" cables from the 80's! and yes, it is 2 individually wrapped parallel wires.
Click to expand...

Those will work fine. I use 12g zip cord for some of my short speaker cables.

:D

Joe.
 
#10
TimmyGT said:
sweet, I just wanted to make sure I was on the right track before I started to just make these things.

one more question, does anyone make their own interment cables?
Click to expand...

One word of advice, keep the polarity on your cables straight.

If you look at your cable, one wire will be a different color, or will have printing on it and the other wont, or something to help you tell one wire from the other.

For instance take silver and gold speaker wire. The color doesn't really matter but make sure you solder the gold wire to the tip and the silver to the sleeve on both ends. Don't put the gold on the tip on one end and then on the sleeve on the other end.

And instrument cables are shielded. Speaker cable is not. You cannot use an instrument cable for your speakers.

:D

Joe.

EDIT: Instrument cables are pretty cheap so I don't make my own. However you can if you want. Just make sure to use shielded wire. The 1/4" connectors are the same as speaker wire.
 
#12
ok, I was thinking about my cable that runs from my mixer to my amp! am I going to want to use instrument or speaker cables or what? also what about from my combo unit to my mixer, what type of cable is wanted?

thanks for all the fast feedback everyone! the information is a lot more useful then what the sales guy was giving me!
 
#13
TimmyGT said:
ok, I was thinking about my cable that runs from my mixer to my amp! am I going to want to use instrument or speaker cables or what? also what about from my combo unit to my mixer, what type of cable is wanted?

thanks for all the fast feedback everyone! the information is a lot more useful then what the sales guy was giving me!
Click to expand...

Instrument cables carry signal.

Speaker cables carry power.

Yes, both are electricity.

Any time you are going from an amp to an passive speaker use a speaker cable. You are applying power to a speaker.

Any time you are going from a preamp to a power amp you are applying signal. Use an instrument cable.

Going from your combo DI out or preamp out to a mixer you want to use an instrument cable.

That's the gist of it.

:D

Joe.
 
#14
TimmyGT said:
what I wanted to know is if I run up to radio shack and pick up the male 1/4" and just used some of my nice size gaged speaker wire I already have here can I just make my own "special" speaker cable?
Click to expand...

Just my $0.02 here. I am not aware of any high-quality plugs sold at Radio Shack. They have to be good plugs. There is definitely an objective problem with cheap plugs, namely that the sleeve and the threaded part are not machined from a single piece of metal, allowing a gap to form at that crucial junction when the weight of the cable tugs at the plug.

I just noticed that Neutrik has a plug specifically for speakers, and it is not too expensive:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The same outfit sells speaker wire by the foot:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

There is nothing magic about this wire, but it exists and is readily available.
 
#16
TimmyGT said:
ok, I was thinking about my cable that runs from my mixer to my amp! am I going to want to use instrument or speaker cables or what? also what about from my combo unit to my mixer, what type of cable is wanted?

thanks for all the fast feedback everyone! the information is a lot more useful then what the sales guy was giving me!
Click to expand...
Instrument to amp = instrument cable
mixer to amp = instrument cable
pre-amp to amp = instrument cable
amp to speakers = speaker cables
 
#17
ok, that's what I thought but wanted to make sure because I never even knew. I just kinda did what worked out and was never really shown the right way to do it.

I have maybe about 200 feet of 12 gage speaker wire from work as a pro car audio tech because every amp I installed came with 30 feet of wire when I only needed 5 feet so it adds up quick. maybe I'll see how much the plugs are at guitar center if I get them from my friend that works there.

thanks everyone for the information, very useful!
 
#20
TimmyGT said:
ok, that's what I thought but wanted to make sure because I never even knew. I just kinda did what worked out and was never really shown the right way to do it.

I have maybe about 200 feet of 12 gage speaker wire from work as a pro car audio tech because every amp I installed came with 30 feet of wire when I only needed 5 feet so it adds up quick. maybe I'll see how much the plugs are at guitar center if I get them from my friend that works there.

thanks everyone for the information, very useful!
Click to expand...

Ah, I had forgotten about guitar center. They have this plug at their website:

Invalid Link Removed

It is an industry standard. For instrument use, they also have the well respected Switchcraft 280 and 226 plugs.

Note in edit: The 184L plug has screw terminals, but they should be soldered.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back