Ting Ho Dung Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 I understand these aren't interchangeable. Not sure why because the little I know about electronics tells me it's a plug and a wire.
ArnieZ Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 Speaker cables aren't shielded. Instrument cable has a braided shield around an inner core. Speaker cables are just two wires like lamp cord. Technically heavier wire should be better, but the run is so short may not really make a difference unless you have a high powered head. ArnieZ
scottcald Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 What Arnie said, also good, pro speaker cables will be 12 gauge. Stuff you get at a music store for smaller speakers may be 14 or occasionally 16 gauge. Guitar stuff is generally in the 22 vicinity. That's the internal wires individually.
Disturber Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 You talk in to one end of the cable. If sound comes out the other end, then it's a speaker cable.
Victor (Fret Friend) Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 12 AWG is the norm for speaker cable. It's much lighter (20AWG / 22AWG) for guitar cable...
Ting Ho Dung Posted February 8, 2016 Author Posted February 8, 2016 I appreciate the education but if you have two of the same length right out of the package, same color, maybe the same make maybe not, how do you tell which is which?
Victor (Fret Friend) Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 13 minutes ago, Ting Ho Dung said: I appreciate the education but if you have two of the same length right out of the package, same color, maybe the same make maybe not, how do you tell which is which? Well, if it's not heavy enough for your amp / cab, it may blow your amp... http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2010/07/19/cables-101-instrument-vs-speaker-cables/
Ting Ho Dung Posted February 8, 2016 Author Posted February 8, 2016 4 minutes ago, Vic Croll (Concrete Sox) said: Well, if it's not heavy enough for your amp / cab, it may blow your amp... http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2010/07/19/cables-101-instrument-vs-speaker-cables/ Correct. So how do I keep them from getting mixed up? Say I just purchased 12 cables. Type is unknown. How do I pick out the guitar cables from the speaker cables?
Victor (Fret Friend) Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 Just now, Ting Ho Dung said: Correct. So how do I keep them from getting mixed up? Say I just purchased 12 cables. Type is unknown. How do I pick out the guitar cables from the speaker cables? You'll know as soon as you plug it in but I wouldn't do that! You should be able to tell the difference by handling it! Did you even read the information on the link I posted before? It's all there man. I can't piss for you :P
Ting Ho Dung Posted February 8, 2016 Author Posted February 8, 2016 17 minutes ago, Vic Croll (Concrete Sox) said: You'll know as soon as you plug it in but I wouldn't do that! You should be able to tell the difference by handling it! Did you even read the information on the link I posted before? It's all there man. I can't piss for you Yes, I read it. The cable I have in question is thinner than my guitar cables which leads me to believe it's not shielded. But, what if I got another cable that was a thicker wire? (I don't remember if lower numbers are thicker or not.) Couldn't it be just as thick as a guitar cable. And when you are talking about oxygen free and things like that it gets confusing. The article is basically showing you why you shouldn't get them mixed up. It seems it is pretty easy to get them mixed up if they are all black and can't be taken apart. I only have 2 speaker cables at the moment so no big deal. But I was going to get a few more and a few shorter guitar cables. That could lead to confusion especially in a dark room or imagine setting up a stage with multiple cabs and amps. I don't see how I can tell them apart. Do you guys mark them straight out of the package? Is that the best way?
Victor (Fret Friend) Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 I have never, in my 50 years on this planet got an instrument cable mixed up with a speaker cable but maybe I've just been lucky. You'll know a speaker cable when you unscrew the plug as it will have thicker cable and no shielding. If I was you, I would definitely mark my cables as soon as I remove them from the packaging yes. My current speaker cables are bright orange and I have no orange instrument cables whatsoever... http://www2.fender.com/experience/tech-talk/instrument-cables-speaker-cables-arent-interchangeable/
Steve Haynie Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 Look at the braided shielding being soldered on guitar cables. Speaker cables are two wires.
Ting Ho Dung Posted February 8, 2016 Author Posted February 8, 2016 I just pulled the ends apart on 2 monster cables. Everything is hidden behind some plastic piece. Can't see any wires at all. Luckily Monster has labeled their cables. One is a speaker wire and the other an instrument wire. But I have one or two here that don't have labels and the ends are solid so you can't take them apart. My Livewire cables are even more secretive hiding their connections behind shrink wrap. Luckily it's labeled as well. But I still have a sealed mystery cable or two.
hamerhead Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 How hard could it be for them to label the damn casing so you can tell at a glance. I have a bunch of short cables that I can never tell whether they're patch cables or head-to-cabinet cables. And there's no good way of knowing without taking them apart, IF you can take them apart. Stupid cable people.
Ting Ho Dung Posted February 8, 2016 Author Posted February 8, 2016 33 minutes ago, Steve Haynie said: Look at the braided shielding being soldered on guitar cables. Speaker cables are two wires. Thanks Steve, that helps quite a bit. Now I know what to look for.
Studio Custom Posted February 9, 2016 Posted February 9, 2016 I wrap blue electrical tape around the plugs of my speaker cables to mark them.
atomicwash Posted February 9, 2016 Posted February 9, 2016 This was a very informative post. I knew the answer, but it was definitely a good refresher with pictures and all (and enlightening with all the personality). I love this place. Thank you.
Thundersteel Posted February 9, 2016 Posted February 9, 2016 Quote (I don't remember if lower numbers are thicker or not.) Lower numbers = thicker wire = more current carrying capability. For example, AWG (American Wire Gauge) 12 is thicker than AWG 20.
tbonesullivan Posted February 9, 2016 Posted February 9, 2016 most 1/4 amplifier speaker cables I have seen around are around 14-15 gauge. High current speakon cables are usually 12 gauge. Generally it'll be marked on the insulation what type of cable it is.
tomteriffic Posted February 9, 2016 Posted February 9, 2016 1 hour ago, tbonesullivan said: Generally it'll be marked on the insulation what type of cable it is. This. Oftentimes the jacket will also have a gauge marked on it (see above for information on gauges). That can be a clue. One "if all else fails and the dipshits completely covered the connector so I can't get the fucker apart" solution that is safe and effective is this: Plug a guitar into an amp with it. If it hums, buzzes and generally sounds awful, it's not shielded and is a speaker cable.
Armitage Posted February 9, 2016 Posted February 9, 2016 Exactly, plug it in as a guitar cable, if it's noisy, it's a speaker cable.
geoff_hartwell Posted February 9, 2016 Posted February 9, 2016 6 hours ago, Thundersteel said: Lower numbers = thicker wire = more current carrying capability. For example, AWG (American Wire Gauge) 12 is thicker than AWG 20. Haha like piercing gauges. Don't get that one wrong!
gorch Posted February 9, 2016 Posted February 9, 2016 23 hours ago, ArnieZ said: Speaker cables aren't shielded. Instrument cable has a braided shield around an inner core. Can easily be spotted radioing the cable. Other than that speaker cables like higher wire gauges. It doesn't matter if speaker cables were shielded too.
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Ting Ho Dung
I understand these aren't interchangeable. Not sure why because the little I know about electronics tells me it's a plug and a wire.
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