Silly Speaker Wire Question...

[Nostalgic Distortion]

I recently had to switch to parallel wiring in my 2X12 to accommodate some new speakers...
View attachment 72706

As you can see I was able to use the existing wire for the most part but I did have to run a piece of speaker wire between the two negative terminals & the only wire I had on hand was barely passable. The cabinet sounds great and I don't really think I need to change much but ideally I'd like something a bit thicker...

Anyway, it got me thinking, can you just twist the two ends of a piece of speaker wire, use it as one solid piece, and solder the entire cabinet up like that? If so would it have any negative impact on the sound or functionality of the cabinet or would it just be like using thicker wire???

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Silly Speaker Wire Question...

Not sure about the second part of your question, but I'm glad I'm not the only one with a creamback/v30 setup. Do you have the G12M-65 or the G12H-75?


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[Demanic]

Re: Silly Speaker Wire Question...

I have an old Carvin 4x12 that was wired like that when I bought it. I took it and switched it back. 14ga wire is more than sufficient. I don't see much advantage to doubling the strands.

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[Darg1911]

Re: Silly Speaker Wire Question...

Doubling up is equivalent to about 3 gauges larger (lower number). So two 18 gauge wires is about equivalent to a single 15 gauge.

I don't solder to the speaker terminals in the box, I use spade terminals soldered (not crimped) to the wires. I usually use what's generally called hook-up or primary wire (like that sold at auto parts stores). I like it because the jacket is fairly thin but tough and the wire is light. It's also easy to find and not expensive. I run 12 gauge from amp to cabinet and 16 gauge internally. Not like I'm anywhere near an expert, just what I personally do.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Silly Speaker Wire Question...

Not sure about the second part of your question, but I'm glad I'm not the only one with a creamback/v30 setup. Do you have the G12M-65 or the G12H-75?


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It's a UK made 65W Creamback.... IMHO the pairing up of a V-30 & Creamback is the Holy Grail of all 2X12 speaker combinations!!!

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Silly Speaker Wire Question...

Ah sweet, Bogner uses that in the Helios 2x12 cabs. I have a 75w creamback with v30 in my 2x12OC. The creambacks sound really good.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Silly Speaker Wire Question...

Doubling up is equivalent to about 3 gauges larger (lower number). So two 18 gauge wires is about equivalent to a single 15 gauge.

I don't solder to the speaker terminals in the box, I use spade terminals soldered (not crimped) to the wires. I usually use what's generally called hook-up or primary wire (like that sold at auto parts stores). I like it because the jacket is fairly thin but tough and the wire is light. It's also easy to find and not expensive. I run 12 gauge from amp to cabinet and 16 gauge internally. Not like I'm anywhere near an expert, just what I personally do.

I think the speaker wire that I've got is 16ga but I'm not 100% positive? I know it's thicker than what was used to wire up my old 68 Fender 2X12 & that thing is still going strong! In any case I'm sure it's sufficient for my needs...

Like I said before, the question came mostly out of curiosity. If I were to re-wire the cabinet top to bottom, I'd just get better wire beforehand and do it right! If & when this happens I will be soldering all the connections together within the cabinet (better for live use & recording IMHO) so I need to be 100% positive that those speakers are exactly what I want in it forever? I know they can just be unsoldered but it's a PIA & can hurt the resale value of the speaker's, not that I'm planning on selling them but you never know? For now I'm just going to keep it the way it is, she seems to work & sound very good with almost all of my head's & at 8ohms I can run almost all of them through it! Although my Panama LOCO sounds a little bit dark coming out of it...

The LOCO sounds a lot like a old Fender Blackface for the most part but it has this kinda darkish backbone to it? It's kinda like the Missing Link between a Blackface Fender or something comparable & a Orange Dark Terror if that makes any sense at all???

Through the pictured 2X12 it's high end sufferers a bit, but when run it through my Greenback loaded 1X12 the thing is pure magic!!! I've found that running it out of a G12T-100 adds a bit of high end too but it lacks the midrange & early break up of the Greenback...


Anyway, thanks for the answers guys, much appreciated!!!

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Silly Speaker Wire Question...

Ah sweet, Bogner uses that in the Helios 2x12 cabs. I have a 75w creamback with v30 in my 2x12OC. The creambacks sound really good.

This pairing of the V-30 & the Creamback makes an extremely sweet sounding & very versatile cabinet... It's sounds great for them very clear Fender-ish tones or Bluesy break up! On the other hand it shines even brighter when you kick it in the balls and throw a heap of gain it's way!!!

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Silly Speaker Wire Question...

Yep, always a more fool proof connection by soldering the terminals. But I won't do it. I'm not touring and the cabs aren't going to get bounced around to further increase the chances of a connector coming loose. And, I've never had a spade connector work loose from a speaker even when I was playing out. Just more convenient and it's still a solid connection as long as they are good and snug.