Cab Wiring?

[ashesofphoenix]

I've never wired a cab myself and I was wondering what type of cable/wire to use and where do you get it? I went to guitar center (like an idiot) and they said to just bring it to their tech and he would do it for a crap ton of money so I think I'd rather do it. I have the wiring diagrams I just need the wire

 

[JakeAC5253]

Do NOT trust guitar center with this kind of thing. Anything between 14 guage and 10 guage wire will do. Some brands use stranded wire, others like Mesa use solid core wire. If the speaker cab wiring is thinner than the speaker cable from the head to the cab then you will get splashback voltages, which will lessen the perceived power and the head doesn't want to see them. Speaker wiring larger than speaker cable wiring and you get no problem.

 

[Buckeyedog]

Go to Radio Shack. You can get hook up wire, like 16 or 14 guage I think. Just ask them there, they should be able to help.

 

[ashesofphoenix]

so Im using 14 guage from my head to my cab now, so I can go buy 14 guage speaker wire from radio shack and It'll be ok? This is going in a diezel and I've never had anything this expensive before and really don't wanna cause a problem lol

 

[Ayrton]

Radio Shack, Home Depot, Lowes, etc...

Just crab some 16g wire (red and black if you care) and solder it up.

 

[Buckeyedog]

Radio Shack, Home Depot, Lowes, etc...

Just crab some 16g wire (red and black if you care) and solder it up.

Agree. The red and black is nice for the positive and negative. Good luck.

 

[LP Freak]

Radio Shack, Home Depot, Lowes, etc...

Just crab some 16g wire (red and black if you care) and solder it up.

Agree. The red and black is nice for the positive and negative. Good luck.

After your're done don't forget to buy a $50 Monster speaker cable to plug in your head.

 

[mboogman]

Get some 12ga THHN from lowes. You would probably want to use the largest guage you would ever use in your speaker cable. I dare you to find anything larger than a 12ga speaker cable at any music store.

 

[ashesofphoenix]

Get some 12ga THHN from lowes. You would probably want to use the largest guage you would ever use in your speaker cable. I dare you to find anything larger than a 12ga speaker cable at any music store.

Challenge Acctepted

awesome thanks so much for the input everyone... never done this before and wanna make sure it's right the first time

 

[bsp01]

So when you guys wire a cab are you doing all soldered connections? I like the little quick change connectors for the speaker connection, but can never find them anywhere and would probably not get them rigged to the wire very well.

 

[Ayrton]

Spade connectors?

You can get them at Home Depot or Radio Shack

 

[mboogman]

So when you guys wire a cab are you doing all soldered connections? I like the little quick change connectors for the speaker connection, but can never find them anywhere and would probably not get them rigged to the wire very well.

Yes, spade connectors like shown above. The only reliable way to use these, though, is to have a ratcheting crimp tool, which on the cheap side will run you $30 or so. I don't trust the manual style tools you find at radio shack in the little kits they sell.

 

[Ayrton]

I do not normally use spades on a cab, but when I do use them, I crimp, solder, heatshrink.

 

[Anonymous]

I do not normally use spades on a cab, but when I do use them, I crimp, solder, heatshrink.

this

i've had the spades come off and not realized it....fried a head this way. not good.

soldering is the only option..you'll thank yourself later.