Tube Amp Archive

Hi everyone. I've been looking for info and as a guy who's never built a speaker cab or done much techy stuff at all, it's super complicated.

Whenever I search, I find videos or articles that seem to skip right over the very basics. Instead of learning what kind of 1/4 jack I need to connect to a 12" speaker, I find all this complicated stuff about connecting 4 10s in parallel or stacked or whatever. And all the DIY guitar cab pics and vids I've found seem to magically skip over the one part I don't understand: connecting the jack to the speaker.

I'm hoping some of you folks might be able to help me with the basics. (Bear in mind: I'm a converted drummer, so I still think in terms of hitting stuff with sticks - this is all very complex so as basic and simple as you can make it the better!)

So here's what I'm going to do:

1. On the back of the enclosure I'm making, I'm going to put a jack port like this for a 1/4" connection: http://www.usspeaker.com/sh-D0944-1.htm

2. Then I will hook this sucker onto it for the actual connection from the amp to the cab: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Modern-Vintage- ... _544wt_938

3. I can't seem to find the type of wiring I should use independently. Should I do this? http://www.mojotone.com/amp-parts/Wirin ... BtwzhZxiSo

Or would this work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-Speaker-T ... _282wt_938 (I don't think I need 2 inputs but I don't know)


(If anyone can share a link to the exact type of wire I would need, that would be super)

4. Then I just solder it from the jack to the speaker right? (I am OK with soldering - just get my map gas and have at it, just like my copper waterlines, right? Just kidding)... But this part I think I can manage from the vids I've seen.

5. Do I use a speaker cable from amp to cab like I would running from a PA system power amp to speakers, or will a guitar cable work?


So any answers you folks could provide would be greatly appreciated.

I did do lots of internet searching and tried to search on this forum but again everything I found was way beyond what I'm trying to figure out. Explain what I need to do as though you're talking to a small child, or a drummer. Even if you can link to a thread already in this forum covering this, that would be helpful too - whatever.

Extra details: I'm building the cab for my pro junior (15 watt tubes 8ohms). 12" speaker (not sure what I'm getting yet, but something nice that will warm up that Junior a little and take out the bite -- a Weber alnico or something).

So here's the new guy asking for help. Thanks in advance.

Use any decent two-conductor speaker cable or even zip-cord for appliances, 16 gauge or heavier. Actually, inside the cabinet, it doesn't matter if it's zip cord or just two separate pieces of stranded wire. Connect the 1/4" jack TIP to speaker's positive terminal, and GROUND to speaker's negative terminal.

Use a speaker cable, not a guitar or instrument cable, to connect your amp to the speaker cab.

Hey thanks a lot - your description answered my questions. I am confident enough to try. Now I'm checking out different options for cheap enclosure and I'll start building this thing. If it works I'll resurrect this thread to show pics. (Might be in 5 years by the time I get it to work...)

Thanks a lot!

A useful pdf (spade terminals) I made from a poster's information that I found good.

Thanks M Fowler.

I think I have enough to go on here. (But any other info is helpful too). Meanwhile I'll comb around this forum to learn what I can - thanks guys!