jackers Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Hey all, I know that instrument cables should not be used as speaker cables due to the likelihood of overloading the output power of the amp, but I recently got a new cab, and wanted to briefly test it but didn't have a speaker cable. I used an instrument cable for 5 mins, and wanted to know whether this could have done any serious damage to the amp, or whether 5 mins of an instrument cable is ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomBassmonkey Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 The risk of using an instrument cable as a speaker lead is they're thinner and not as durable. Leads heat up when you push current through them and you risk melting the lead and once the head is trying to push power into a circuit that is broken, it can blow the head (mainly on valve amps). If you'd blown the amp, you'd know about it so don't worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackers Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 Cheers man that's what I wanted to hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackers Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 could it have damaged the cab at all? (sorry I worry too much haha) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomBassmonkey Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 (edited) Shouldn't have done. Even if the lead did go, it'd just cut the signal to the cab rather than surging. I should've said, I'm not an expert on this really, I've always played it safe with speakons, but that's what I've heard. If you're using a SS amp (that shouldn't be damaged if the lead goes because they can usually handle any resistance above (or below numerically ), please don't take my word for it and plug in again using an instrument lead. Edited January 17, 2012 by ThomBassmonkey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackers Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 ok, cool. don't worry, I won't be, I just wanted to test the cab. I'm getting a speakon delivered tomorrow so I shall be able to check if everything is ok then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackers Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 also, would the instrument cable cause a lower output volume? because my rig seems very quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinehead Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 [quote name='jackers' timestamp='1326836534' post='1502710'] also, would the instrument cable cause a lower output volume? because my rig seems very quiet. [/quote] Possibly yes, because an instrument cable has a higher impedance than a speaker cable and could limit the output of the amp. Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 [quote name='ThomBassmonkey' timestamp='1326833512' post='1502646'] Shouldn't have done. Even if the lead did go, it'd just cut the signal to the cab rather than surging. I should've said, I'm not an expert on this really, I've always played it safe with speakons, but that's what I've heard. If you're using a SS amp (that shouldn't be damaged if the lead goes because they can usually handle any resistance above (or below numerically ), please don't take my word for it and plug in again using an instrument lead. [/quote] In actuality it's more likely that an SS would be damaged by the failure of an instrument lead used this way. It's unlikely to fail by immediately melting the wire causing it to go open circuit unless you're hitting with a [i]very[/i] high wattage. A more likely scenario is that the insulation will melt first with the attendant risk of shorting the shield and signal wires. Death to an SS amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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