Speaker cable question

[d2_racing]

Hi everyone, I bought a used Marshall Lead 12 and I'm almost done buying a Marshall Class 5 from a MLP member here.

I would like to know if you have some recommendations/suggestion about what to buy to plug a head to a 1x12 cab.

I'm thinking about buying a 3 foot cable.

I saw those on sweetwater and other places :

Mogami GOLD SPEAKER-03 TS-TS Speaker Cable - 3' | Sweetwater.com
The Siren Speaker Cable | Evidence Audio
Orange CA-JJ-STSP-OR-3 TS-TS Speaker Cable - 3' | Sweetwater.com

Thanks

I'm pretty sure that the cable stuff is like the Tone wood for guitars....

 

[SWeAT hOg]

Hi everyone, I bought a used Marshall Lead 12 and I'm almost done buying a Marshall Class 5 from a MLP member here.

I would like to know if you have some recommendations/suggestion about what to buy to plug a head to a 1x12 cab.

I'm thinking about buying a 3 foot cable.

I saw those on sweetwater and other places :

Mogami GOLD SPEAKER-03 TS-TS Speaker Cable - 3' | Sweetwater.com
The Siren Speaker Cable | Evidence Audio
Orange CA-JJ-STSP-OR-3 TS-TS Speaker Cable - 3' | Sweetwater.com

Thanks

I'm pretty sure that the cable stuff is like the Tone wood for guitars....

Sorry, but all of your choices are cork-sniffing in the extreme. Just buy a 16AWG speaker cable from Long and McQuade and be done with it. Never fall for the 'gold-tipped' BS.

 

[truckermde]

Sorry, but all of your choices are cork-sniffing in the extreme. Just buy a 16AWG speaker cable from Long and McQuade and be done with it. Never fall for the 'gold-tipped' BS.

what he said...

 

[Electric Funeral]

There's no way I'd ever pay anywhere close to $44 USD for a 3 foot speaker cable, let alone $85!

I've been told by numerous amp builder/techs that they just get bulk industrial grade wire between 14 and 10 gauge and some heavy duty 1/4" plugs and solder your own.

With guitar amps 16 AWG is really all that you need though. With the wattage we're dealing with in guitar amps, the differences between a 16, 14, 12, or 10 gauge cable would be negligible. Cork sniffery notwithstanding.

If it was like a 5000w PA and you were running cable lengths of like 50 feet, a 12 or 10 gauge makes a lot more sense. A lot of the things that make a difference in guitar cables have absolutely no benefits when applied to speaker cables, like gold plugs or extra shielding.

 

[Big John]

...I'm pretty sure that the cable stuff is like the Tone wood for guitars....

Nope. Don't buy into the hype.

Since you're into Sweetwater, here you go.

 

[Electric Funeral]

I'm pretty sure that the cable stuff is like the Tone wood for guitars....

Probably a lot more like spending $80 on a set of aged pickup rings.

 

[GitFiddle]

Nope. Don't buy into the hype.

Since you're into Sweetwater, here you go.

This ^^^

Speaker cord is no different than the copper wire plugging a table lamp into the wall. What good is gold-tipped connectors, when the jack to the speaker is not gold? (or the wiring inside the amp for that matter)

 

[Eigen]

I just twist up a semi heavy awg pair of wires, usually re-purposed from a power cord or something similar, and solder up to an L connector. Costs close to nothing and has a lower resistance...no need for shielded wire after the output transformer.

 

[KP11520]

Peavey 3 ft. 12 Gauge Speaker Cable 1/4" to 1/4"

More than you'll ever need!

 

[gtr-tek]

I just go to the hardware store and get several feet of either 16AWG or 14AWG round 2 conductor stranded cable. A couple of the big barreled Switchcraft plugs and away I go. More than adequate and will last. Fancy wire will be lost on your ears and eat your wallet.

 

[The Ballzz]

I always use flat zip wire which will never get mixed up with signal cables! See this thread:

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/squawk-box/326926-diy-cable-question.html#post6766866

Just My $.02,
Gene

 

[Otto tune]

Sorry, but all of your choices are cork-sniffing in the extreme. Never fall for the 'gold-tipped' BS.

I like gold connectors, not because of conductivity, but they don't corrode and get scratchy. They also solder like a dream, so even though someone else made the cable, you know they did a decent job too.
I just looked at the OP's selections. $40-$80? no thanks, search e-Bay for speaker cable and you'll find lots.
I've used Musician's Friend also 12 ga, gold tipped 3' = $11.

I bought PLOYNK from e-bay. Yes, it's a bit more expensive, but the strain relief just seems more sturdy. 3' = $16

Now for the important stuff.
First I thought I'd need two right angles, to allow the plugs to lay flat and have less chance of getting smacked.
However, in the real world, the input jack of the cabinet is likely recessed, and that makes the right angle hit the back of the cabinet and possibly lever itself out. The back of the head can also be crowded back there with A/C cords, other plugs, fuse holder, switches, and so a right angle might be tight there too. I'm going back to two straight TS.

Call me crazy but 12 ga. is my choice, although I argue that the tiny tangent where the plug meets the jack is the weak point anyway.

 

[SWeAT hOg]

I like gold connectors, not because of conductivity, but they don't corrode and get scratchy. They also solder like a dream, so even though someone else made the cable, you know they did a decent job too.

I bought PLOYNK (I think) from e-bay. Yes, it's a bit more expensive, but the strain relief just seems more sturdy.

Now for the important stuff.
First I thought I'd need two right angles, to allow the plugs to lay flat and have less chance of getting smacked.
However, in the real world, the input jack of the cabinet is likely recessed, and that make the right angle hit the back of the cabinet and possibly lever itself out. The back of the head can also be crowded back there with A/C cords, other plugs, fuse holder, switches, and so a right angle might be tight there too. I'm going back to two straight TS.

Call me crazy but 12 ga. is my choice, although I argue that the tiny tangent where the plug meets the jack is the weak point anyway.

I use 20 yr old cables from my DJ days....they are fine with no corrosion or 'scratchy' or cork. The gold tips are total BS.

 

[tzd]

Can't go wrong with this Planet Waves Classic Series Cables TS-TS Speaker Cable - 5' | Sweetwater.com

 

[hrfdez]

Damn northern, I am a cork sniffing SOB

I have the Orange, but I only use it on a small H&K Cab, and it looks purdy

So, the hell with you.......


Jk!

Love you brother...

 

[jimmer_5]

Someone is likely to call me crazy or suggest that I am hearing things, but I have noticed subtle differences between cables of different length/thickness. I am not talking enormous differences, but I heard it.

The first cable I bought was a 5 foot Fender California series 14AWG speaker cable. I stumbled on a sale and I paid $20 or less. When I went back to buy another, the price had doubled to $40. I then bought the cheapest 16AWG speaker cable that Guitar Center had and I wasn't impressed. To my ears, it didn't sound as good, and I returned it. I ended up buying several more of the Fender cables on eBay for better prices.

I am not suggesting you spend crazy money, and I think gold tips are BS. However, I do believe a short, slightly heavier gauge speaker cable is worth the money. I have stuck with the Fender "California" cables, and I love them. They're $40 at Musician's Friend, but I found a brand new one on eBay for $23. That's a steal in my opinion - here's a link:

Fender California Series Speaker Cable 5 ft 14 Gauge 099 0514 010 FSC145 | eBay

 

[LesPaula]

Guitar cables, and pedal board cables, YUP, buy the best ones you can afford. You can hear the difference.
Speaker cables, as long as they aren't flimsy, or have molded ends, are all pretty good. 14 g. is good.

 

[frankv]

Sorry, but all of your choices are cork-sniffing in the extreme. Just buy a 16AWG speaker cable from Long and McQuade and be done with it. Never fall for the 'gold-tipped' BS.

I told him this in a PM..I guess he didn't trust my opinion...OH well..

 

[Frankg11]

hey, I have even used the cheap 5 extension cord cable when I needed something now!
Cut the ends off, solder 1/4" jacks.
works for me.

Heck, you can even get the cords in neon colors!

That's what I still have connected to my loudspeakers and my 15000w peavey GPS amp.

 

[EndGame00]

I use Rapco Horizon cable.