|
Post by mchoi32 on Oct 13, 2008 16:50:09 GMT -7
Head <-------(How long?)-------> Cab
Specifically EZG-50, 4x10 cab?
Is 4 feet too much?
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 13, 2008 17:19:40 GMT -7
As long as you have 16 AWG or heavier, 4 feet is just fine. I have 6 footers so I can use them in a variety of situations.
|
|
|
Post by mchoi32 on Oct 13, 2008 17:42:36 GMT -7
What does AWG mean, trying to google...
Also what brand of cable are you guys using?
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 13, 2008 17:44:53 GMT -7
If you go to the hardware store and buy wire, it will be 12 AWG, 14 AWG, 16 AWG, etc. The smaller the number, the fatter the wire. AWG is an industry standard way of designating the wire thickness.
|
|
|
Post by mchoi32 on Oct 13, 2008 17:53:29 GMT -7
i was just going to order a speaker cable brand from lavacables. I'll make sure it is 16 AWG though THANKS!
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 13, 2008 20:21:23 GMT -7
i was just going to order a speaker cable brand from lavacables. I'll make sure it is 16 AWG though THANKS! Yeah, 16 AWG minimum, but they might offer 14 which would be "better" depending on who you talk to.
|
|
|
Post by T-R☼CK ♫ on Oct 13, 2008 20:26:48 GMT -7
Get a couple of 4 footers from Todd (PCNS). They are cheap for the quality, bulletproof, and the connectors are HUGE...I will not use anything else. BTW...he'll even put your name on them for free...
|
|
|
Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Oct 14, 2008 4:15:45 GMT -7
AWG stands for American Wire Gauge, as benttop said it's the industry standard way of measuring wire thickness. I've read Ken Fischer's thoughts on the subject and they were kind of surprising. His favorite speaker cable was one made from old 18 gauge lamp cord (which is smaller than 16 gauge)! He said that it rounded off the highs in a pleasing way and he liked the way it sounded when his amps were distorting. I've put a lot of time (and money) into trying different speakers cables. I've come to the conclusion that no one speaker cable is the "magic bullet" or "holy grail". Just like instrument cables, some cables compliment certain amps and guitars in certain situations and some do not. Having said that, do I have a favorite? Oh yeah. I'm a big fan of Phil Jones Bass JJ-4's. www.philjonesbass.com/Cables.htmMyles turned me on to Phil Jones when Phil first started building bass gear. The cables have four wires in parallel for an ultra-low resistance (equivalent to 9 gauge wire!). This *theoretically* makes much more of a difference on bass guitar signals and power levels than guitar, but I can hear a definite improvement with guitar. The connectors and cable are so large that when you first see them you have to laugh. The guys at Z-Fest were calling it the "anaconda" and "python". I think they all liked it. It's the secret ingredient in my tone! And yeah, they're four feet long. That is a good size for reaching from your head to your cabinets without being long enough to start seeing losses from resistance.
|
|
|
Post by mchoi32 on Oct 14, 2008 5:00:34 GMT -7
judging by the pictures, I can already tell how much girth that those cables have! Very interesting that you use bass cables for guitar.
Shoot me a PM if you know the best place to order one online. I'd like to try one out if it isn't too pricy.
Thanks for a great post Phil.
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 14, 2008 5:45:20 GMT -7
Heh... Those monsters do look like a big ole snake. I left out that I'm currently using 12 AWG speaker cables, and yeah, I do hear a difference from larger wire. I bet those PJ's are real spendy though...
|
|
|
Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Oct 14, 2008 5:51:28 GMT -7
|
|
|
Post by Curt on Oct 14, 2008 9:53:51 GMT -7
Perry Ropers 'tone secret' was 100' of 'zip" cord as a speaker cable, 14 Ga. if I recall. Honestly, I cant hear the difference, hook 'em up & turn 'em up. If you can hear the difference in a live situation ...well....I'll argue with you there. To reiterate, spin your Dr Z combo around and look at what they leave the factory with. Phil, ya beat me to the name behind the AWG acronym And yes Phil, I STILL have cable envy from that night in your room in Cleveland!
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 14, 2008 10:16:48 GMT -7
Yeah, what you can hear on a gig is way different from what you can hear on a recording. Hey Curt, don't forget that the length is all important in determining the impedance of a speaker cable. Those itty bitty foot-long 16 AWG wires in the back of your combo don't develop much resistance, but if you add a half a dozen feet (as I do) it definitely can change things. How much of that you can actually hear though - that's up for grabs. All that said, I'm more of the "get a decent one and plug it in" type of guy like you.
|
|
|
Post by Curt on Oct 14, 2008 10:29:16 GMT -7
Yeah, what you can hear on a gig is way different from what you can hear on a recording. Hey Curt, don't forget that the length is all important in determining the impedance of a speaker cable. Those itty bitty foot-long 16 AWG wires in the back of your combo don't develop much resistance, but if you add a half a dozen feet (as I do) it definitely can change things. How much of that you can actually hear though - that's up for grabs. All that said, I'm more of the "get a decent one and plug it in" type of guy like you. 2 Length = resistance Resistance = change Unnerstood. But, change for the better or worse??? Audible change? WTF knows I'm thinking about starting a personal revolution, back to the simple, 'Nuthin' Fancy' gear approach, not that I've strayed that far anyway. But honestly, RXJr or '64 Deluxe, the MIM Tele and a $39 Bad Monkey will get it done....oh, and 'Zip cord' I can sell about $20k in amps and guitars and only my banker ....and wife, would know the difference.
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 14, 2008 10:58:45 GMT -7
But, change for the better or worse??? Only the shadow knows for sure....
|
|
|
Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Oct 14, 2008 13:32:32 GMT -7
If you can hear the difference in a live situation ...well....I'll argue with you there. You're 100% right Curt. Most of the time you're not going to hear the difference live. It'd have to be one really crappy cable vs. a really "revealing" one to hear the difference. ;D The bigger cables do (most of the time) seem to make a difference in "damping factor"- the lows seem bigger and tighter on some amps, and it just sounds more open. The EZG-50/4x10 rig definitely sounds better with the PJB cable, as does the Stingray/2X12 w/Blues rig.
|
|
strat-les
New Member
"Don't play as well as you think you can.....Play better"
Posts: 32
|
Post by strat-les on Oct 17, 2008 6:41:30 GMT -7
I bought a 'scratch and dent' ZBest 212 cab directly from the Doc a couple of years ago. When I picked it up, Brent handed me a new 4 ft. speaker cable that was probably the biggest diameter cable that I had ever seen ! Brent said that the Doc wanted to be sure that I had a 'good' speaker cable for my new cab. If it's recommended by the Doc............
|
|