Leaderboard

Binding time…I’ve never done binding so thought I’d bite the bullet and give it a go on this one…. Slowly bending the binding. This was a big learning curve. There is a fine line between heating it enough it bends and burning it! I had to order another length as i burnt it on the last bend! First side all done….need to wait for the new binding to arrive. Still couldn’t resist a mock up.

Yes indeed; this is an important point, which merits, perhaps, an explanation. Guitar (and other instrument...) cables have to carry very low-level signals, with very little current, and need protection from parasitic interference. To this end, they have very thin, flexible wire inside, enclosed in a metallic outer sheath, which keeps the unwanted noise out. Speaker cable, on the other hand, has to carry much higher voltage and current, and so much thicker wire and insulation goes into their structure. They are not, however, subject to picking up extra noise, and so do not have, nor need, the metallic sheathing of the instrument cable. What difference does it make..? An instrument cable used, wrongly, to cable an amp to a speaker is liable to heat up with the high currents that the amp puts out, as the thin wire, made for low signals, can't handle it, and is most likely to melt. If the inside wire melts, it will provoke a short-circuit between the inner wire and outer sheathing, which in turn will overload the amp. This could, if lucky, just shut down in protection mode, or, all too often, just bust the output of the amp, with ensuing 'magic smoke'. This is a Bad Thing, and can be expensive, or even dangerous. On the other hand, using, wrongly, a speaker cable to connect an instrument, will result in a lousy sound, with much buzzing, clicking and other extraneous noises. No physical harm, but a damaged reputation and a ruined concert. Each type of cable has its specific construction to cater for the use it is to be put to. These uses are not interchangeable, despite their having similar (jack...) plugs. Don't be fooled. Use instrument cable for instruments, and speaker cable for speakers.

thank you @Dad3353 for the in depth explanation, i tried to explain it myself but i was trying to get the comment in when i should have been working so i was a little rushed. My friend did indeed let the magic smoke out of the output transformer of his Laney 50w head and unfortunately replacement transformers were not easily available at the time so it was broken for parts rather than being repaired ( i actually have a few of the valves sitting in a box somewhere.) Matt