1/4" Instrument cable Vs 1/4" Speaker Cable

guitarmanrrg

Is there a difference? I've always used my guitar cable to hook up my cabinet before. I was reading through some old post and someone mentioned to be sure to use a 1/4" speaker cable NOT a instrument cable.
Is this correct? What is the difference?
Thanks.

owwdatune · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:06 am Post subject:

if i remember correctly...
Instrument cables are shielded and are not meant to carry significant current.
Speaker cables have NO shielding. They are a side by side pair of conductors made for handling large current.
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guitarmanrrg · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:47 am Post subject:

That means that the correct current is not getting to the speaker by using an instrument cable...correct?

Where is a good place to buy a Speaker cable?

Thank you for the reply.

guitarmanrrg · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:15 am Post subject:

I did a Google search and all kinds of gauges come up.
What is the correct or best gauge?

Any idea how much of signal is lost using a guitar cable?

Thanks.

Herb · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:20 am Post subject:

A guitar cable will give the speakers what they need in the way of current; the problem with them is the fine positive wire in the center. If you are playing on stage and that wire breaks, your amp is suddenly powering a dead circuit; and it will burn up the transformer quickly. For speaker cable, you can buy it at Radio shack and put plugs on the end of it yourself or even use brown zip cord from the local hardware store like is used on lamps in your living room - that's what Leo Fender used for years! Wink

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guitarmanrrg · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:55 am Post subject:

Structo · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:50 am Post subject:

You will want to use 16 gauge cord or bigger.
The smaller the gauge number the bigger the wire is.
If you look at a cross section of a guitar cable you will see that the center conductor is tiny. Probably 28 gauge or smaller.

Speaker cable does not need to be shielded.

Also shielded cable has a capacitance rating that is not good for speaker wiring.

Like others said, you don't need to go out and buy expensive speaker cables.
But there are some inexpensive ones at music stores in 16 or 14 gauge that will work fine.
Lamp zip cord is fine as long as it is 16 ga or bigger.

guitarmanrrg · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:50 am Post subject: