Instrument vs Speaker Cables: What's The Difference?

Instrument and Speaker cables may look the same, but they couldn't be more different. They are devices specifically designed for different purposes and getting the two mixed up can be dangerous for your equipment.

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[dochatteras]

Alternate title: How to make a new guitarist immediately paranoid!

[alexhiggin]

This video should be shown to Guitar Center employees globally.

[josephclay]

Colin, thank you for putting out useful and straight to the point content. CSGuitars is one of the only channels where I don't have to watch 15 minuts of useless filler to get an educated anwser. keepin' it loud!

[palynodie]

Haha good call. My HT40 was saved by the store guy who sold me my loadbox. I was ready to pay when he asked not so innocently "you have a speaker cable right? -a what now? -ok no you don't." And he explained. I was absolutely ready to plug that thing with an intrument cable. I like it when store people activate their noob detector to actually prevent bad things to happen (instead of trying to sell them the whole gadget department).

[Godshole]

I once grabbed a long lead from someone's bag at the side of the stage so I could move around a bit on stage at the gig we were about to do. Went on stage, plugged in my guitar and proceeded to howl and feedback my way through the entire set, much to the joy of the punks thrashing about in front of me.
After, the PA guy took me to one side and 'had a word'. Me, unable now to hear anything, got him to show me what he was so upset about. I had used a 30 foot unshielded, 2 core speaker cable for my guitar to amp cable. I probably could have played that whole gig without touching the strings by just running about on The next day I blew a chunk of my student grant on a set of KLOTZ cables which I still have nearly 40 years on and they still work :)

[YeIsew]

"Instrument cables can damage your speakers and amplifer"
*Checks 5150iii.... Shuts down computer instantly to Guitar Center*
god bless u CSG

[andygamerkh]

for many years, ive been using instrument cables for everything, guitars, amps, cabs. time to hit the shop for speaker cables. great explanation video and keep it short. thanks

[guitartones]

Exactly what I was looking for. I got a speaker cable and I was worried because it is not shielded. But now I feel better knowing that shielding in speaker cable is unnecessary. Thanks a lot!

[davidhollowelljr]

Videos like this are why I'm subbed to this channel. It's the little things, man.

[NyxiaVae]

I love this channel because its like only channel that you can find science and music within the same topic on the same video! I love it!!

[GavinHuss]

Sounds so simple, but believe it or not I was once in a guitar shop looking to buy a speaker cable, I explained that it was to connect my head to my cab. The shop manager tried to sell me an instrument cable, claiming it was the same thing. I explained that it wasn't, and asked what did they give someone who bought a marshall stack (There was one right next to where we were having the conversation). He said "One of these" holding up an instrument cable. Always be on watch.

[Mentyr]

That explains the costant hum!!! The more you know...

[TheAxeEver]

Information that may seem basic to us old guys, but extremely important to go over for those new to the game. Cool video! Now for a quick story. One time at a gig, I had left my speaker cables for my two 4x12 cabs at home. With nowhere open to buy new speaker cables, I made my own. The club we were playing had some old lamps in their storage in the back room. I cut the electrical cords off, stripped the ends and used some clamp on 1/4 inch connectors I had in my trusty repair kit and made two 4 ft. Cables!! I used them for a few shows and it sounded great actually!

[diablilloperdio]

Better go buy some new cables this weekend! Thanks for knowledge.

[salvadordollyparton]

love your channel, i learn something new every video. keep it up, nobody else i've found actually gets into WHY and HOW things work differently.

[dritt-drittpaniagua]

thanks Colin... big two-finger salute to you. your explanation and time to explain it was just fantastic. it's almost common sense the difference between instrument and speaker cable but you broke it all down and took the time to do it... thanks again!

[ninjabluewings]

Simple, cold hard facts & explanation with no technical jargon that only causes confusion to some, especially me lol, FIRST CLASS!!! I rate this BEST EXPLANATION VIDEO!! with no fancy rubbish

[astewart]

Thank you. I just got my first head/cab set-up, and thanks to this I will avoid using instrument cable to connect the head and cab. Cheers!

[garyburginjr]

You've come a long way man. Be proud!

[WillEhrendreich]

How do I tell the difference without opening them up then? Like, if there is little to no outside indicators, labels, that kind of thing.