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Speaker Cable a Must!

#62
edro said:
Never damaged a cab or amp with oversize speaker cable... I do take care of my cables.

I can see if water hose cable and cheap connectors....

I don't see short 14 as an issue or even 12 with quality connectors... A 3' run is not going to weigh much...
Click to expand...

Except with a 3 ft run, larger ga. is completely unnecessary. Although 14 is not that heavy IMO. 16 would do for performance.

.
 
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#64
That is true.
I understand runs/amps/size.... 16 would do, and then some....
I would prefer a size larger for in my mind it would be a bit more durable (with quality components)

I have always leaned toward a touch more than I need... One & Done cables, etc...

To each his own.

I play every day through one of the ancient first O2-free clear (now amber) guitar cables with the braid shield from hell... Was relatively expensive in the very early 80's (?). No issues and has more full time live gig hours than Carter has liver pills on it.... It's now 2018... Old cable, older than some folks up in here...still excellent... Have another in one of my trunks somewhere that ran from stomp to my Marshall. Still have two of the expensive fat brown guitar cables with the heavy brass ends and the tiny button from about the same time... No issues at all... No repairs on any... ever....

One & Done does does cost more up front. But, if you never have to replace/repair..........

Whatever floats your boat....
 
#65
edro said:
That is true.
I understand runs/amps/size.... 16 would do, and then some....
I would prefer a size larger for in my mind it would be a bit more durable (with quality components)

I have always leaned toward a touch more than I need... One & Done cables, etc...

To each his own.

I play every day through one of the ancient first O2-free clear (now amber) guitar cables with the braid shield from hell... Was relatively expensive in the very early 80's (?). No issues and has more full time live gig hours than Carter has liver pills on it.... It's now 2018... Old cable, older than some folks up in here...still excellent... Have another in one of my trunks somewhere that ran from stomp to my Marshall. Still have two of the expensive fat brown guitar cables with the heavy brass ends and the tiny button from about the same time... No issues at all... No repairs on any... ever....

One & Done does does cost more up front. But, if you never have to replace/repair..........

Whatever floats your boat....
Click to expand...
I wish I still had my old cables. All the cables now have magical and ethereal properties and I don't trust any of them to perform as advertised. Basically now the differentiator is whichever is more costly must be more better
 
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#66
BassmanPaul said:
I did NOT say that an instrument cable is good for use as a speaker cable. I talked about the 1/4" Phone connector itself that are still used too many times on speaker cables. No instrument signal cable should ever be used for connecting a speaker cabinet to the amplifier!
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Hey @BassmanPaul ... agreed. Oddly the latest cabs and amps I've been flipping/playing have been 1/4" cables. I've made an attempt (until I land back on Speakon) to buy Fender instrument cables because they're so obviously instrument cables. For speaker cables I've bought heavier gauge cables with heavy insulation and rubber wrapping and each end has a bright blue piece of tape wound around the bottoms by the plugs. Even in the dark the two different cables feel different, and taking a moment to look they look different.
 
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#71
Back in 2001 I bought my actual bass amp (Hartke HA3500 and 2 Hartke Cabs) and I still use he same speaker cables which came with the cabs when I unboxed them. Regular 1/4" conectors. I've never had an issue. I always handle them with care..
 
#73
evadbazz said:
I was using a basic 6ft instrument cable. Not sure exactly the gauge. Nothing wrong with the cord. My exact setup is the Eden EC28 combo 180 watts in the Eden 200 watt D115t cab. 4 ohm to 8 ohm. Just wasn't getting the power at all.
Click to expand...

You're putting several amps through a cable only capable of handling a much smaller signal, surprised it worked for any extended period. Getting a proper speaker cable was definitely a good move!
 
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#75
ficelles said:
No but vintage watts were 10 times louder than modern ones and had special electrons in them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it was the coupling with the groovetrinos that did it. Feynman discovered them when playing bongos one day.

P.S. I have a box of NOS groovetrinos here, if there's someone gullible enough to buy an empty box, I mean "wishes to easily go to 11"
 
#76
evadbazz said:
I was using a basic 6ft instrument cable. Not sure exactly the gauge. Nothing wrong with the cord. My exact setup is the Eden EC28 combo 180 watts in the Eden 200 watt D115t cab. 4 ohm to 8 ohm. Just wasn't getting the power at all.
Click to expand...
:rollno:no bueno
a strong lesson learned while in the Marine Corps...
always, always, ALWAYS think before you act. Get all the information available from all the resources available within the allotted time before making a move. Depending on the scenario will determine how much time you have to do this. Hooking up audio and instrument equipment is not time sensitive.
 
#77
Sometimes I'm convinced that ours is a dying hobby (or profession, for those of you who get paid), that no one is buying musical gear but Blues Lawyers and Church bands.

Then a thread like this comes along and reminds me that, nope, there will ALWAYS be beginners, making beginner mistakes.
 
#78
St_G said:
Sometimes I'm convinced that ours is a dying hobby (or profession, for those of you who get paid), that no one is buying musical gear but Blues Lawyers and Church bands.

Then a thread like this comes along and reminds me that, nope, there will ALWAYS be beginners, making beginner mistakes.
Click to expand...

Lol and there are PLENTY of beginners who don't post on a message boards admitting mistakes
 
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#79
honeyiscool said:
I guess I just can't understand why a 12ga cable is considered more roadworthy and durable than an 18ga cable if both are assembled correctly. Anything that can damage an 18ga cable can damage a 12ga cable.
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There are 18 gauge cables that are just as robust, but assuming the connectors can handle the added weight and stiffness of 12 gauge cable, the 12 gauge cable MAY be a little more mechanically robust. It may also cause problems if the connectors can not handle the cable (including the barrel on a 1/4" plug).
 
#80
sigterm said:
I wish I still had my old cables. All the cables now have magical and ethereal properties and I don't trust any of them to perform as advertised. Basically now the differentiator is whichever is more costly must be more better
Click to expand...


Somehow AC became directional too so cables also became directional. I must have missed that announcement...

I guess plugging the cable in backwards might create a black hole....
 
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