dex45
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by dex45 on Feb 5, 2022 7:05:22 GMT -7
What gauge power cable should I be using for my Z amps? Shielded? I have from 14 to 18 currently. I'm thinking 18 gauge isn't a great idea. Thanks in advance for your help....Eric
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Post by KeithA on Feb 5, 2022 7:43:17 GMT -7
What gauge power cable should I be using for my Z amps? Shielded? I have from 14 to 18 currently. I'm thinking 18 gauge isn't a great idea. Thanks in advance for your help....Eric They'll all work but the 18 is likely a little low on the specs as certified. Just go with the 16awg as that's what ships with the amp from the shop.
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dex45
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by dex45 on Feb 5, 2022 8:43:01 GMT -7
Thanks for the info!
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Post by perryr on Feb 5, 2022 11:35:58 GMT -7
Ken Fischer (Trainwreck) wrote articles for Vintage Guitar magazine back in the 90's. Ken sent me full sized copies (11x17) of all his VG articles, Autographed even! Anyway, I'm looking at one of them now and he has a piece on speaker cables. For his JMI AC30 2x12 cab he said he used "20 feet of 18 gauge vacuum cleaner power cord. I get the most chime and jangle with that wire. If I use 3 feet of 16 gauge lamp wire I get a tighter sound with more high end, but less chime and warmth." and goes on to say "lamp wire is cheap and works well but there's also many pre-made wires that also work well. Again let your ears be the judge".
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rudeboy
Full Member
Rudecaster into a Z...heaven.
Posts: 123
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Post by rudeboy on Feb 6, 2022 19:00:40 GMT -7
Did yours not come with one?
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Post by zpilot on Feb 7, 2022 4:56:36 GMT -7
Ken Fischer (Trainwreck) wrote articles for Vintage Guitar magazine back in the 90's. Ken sent me full sized copies (11x17) of all his VG articles, Autographed even! Anyway, I'm looking at one of them now and he has a piece on speaker cables. For his JMI AC30 2x12 cab he said he used "20 feet of 18 gauge vacuum cleaner power cord. I get the most chime and jangle with that wire. If I use 3 feet of 16 gauge lamp wire I get a tighter sound with more high end, but less chime and warmth." and goes on to say "lamp wire is cheap and works well but there's also many pre-made wires that also work well. Again let your ears be the judge". This response is referencing speaker cables. If those are kept short (3 to 4 feet) I don't hear any difference for guitar as long as it is at least 18 gauge. I suppose I prefer to use 16 gauge but that is just because I can. I always use as short as possible. However, the original question was about POWER cables. Again, for short runs 18 gauge is fine. Anything over 8 feet I like 16 gauge. No shielding necessary. Just don't let your signal cables run parallel to power cables for a long distance.
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Post by adam on Feb 7, 2022 16:36:39 GMT -7
I think I read something with Eric Jonson once about he prefers small speaker wire with the Marshalls. Couldn't find a reference to it though.
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Post by pcns on Feb 7, 2022 20:30:55 GMT -7
is this about speaker cables or power supply cables?
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Post by perryr on Feb 7, 2022 23:12:17 GMT -7
Ken Fischer (Trainwreck) wrote articles for Vintage Guitar magazine back in the 90's. Ken sent me full sized copies (11x17) of all his VG articles, Autographed even! Anyway, I'm looking at one of them now and he has a piece on speaker cables. For his JMI AC30 2x12 cab he said he used "20 feet of 18 gauge vacuum cleaner power cord. I get the most chime and jangle with that wire. If I use 3 feet of 16 gauge lamp wire I get a tighter sound with more high end, but less chime and warmth." and goes on to say "lamp wire is cheap and works well but there's also many pre-made wires that also work well. Again let your ears be the judge". This response is referencing speaker cables. If those are kept short (3 to 4 feet) I don't hear any difference for guitar as long as it is at least 18 gauge. I suppose I prefer to use 16 gauge but that is just because I can. I always use as short as possible. However, the original question was about POWER cables. Again, for short runs 18 gauge is fine. Anything over 8 feet I like 16 gauge. No shielding necessary. Just don't let your signal cables run parallel to power cables for a long distance. Oh dang, good catch, I was thinking speaker cables! As aleady mentioned, that 12’ 16awg IEC power cable that Z ships with his amps is a nice power cable, I can’t think of any reason id try anything else.
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