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Cam · October 21st, 2009, 01:38 PM

What is your method on the speaker tabs?

FenderLover · October 21st, 2009, 01:45 PM

Solder!

k tone · October 21st, 2009, 02:20 PM

Clips!

AngryEL34s · October 21st, 2009, 03:05 PM

Solder. Every time. The last thing you want is a clip slipping and causing your power section to see no load. It takes 2 minutes and is a much more stable and secure method.

k tone · October 21st, 2009, 05:08 PM

I have no slippage on my clippage.

Seriously i have never had an issue and it is easier to experiment/ change speakers. I give an extra crimp to the clip with my strippers and have never had an issue.

With soldering I worry about overheating the terminal and having the small extension wire to the speaker come off. It happened to me before (not due to soldering) and it was a pain to get back on.

celeste · October 21st, 2009, 07:05 PM

I use clips, but doing a demo, I want to be able to change the drivers in a cab quickly and I do not want to loose the space having a cab for every driver I have.

jefrs · October 21st, 2009, 08:56 PM

You may have noticed that speakers vibrate and clips can work loose. After a few years the contacts corrode, which makes for some small extra resistance. Clips are only marginally quicker than the soldering iron. I solder.

Montana_Dawg · October 22nd, 2009, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefrs

You may have noticed that speakers vibrate and clips can work loose. After a few years the contacts corrode, which makes for some small extra resistance. Clips are only marginally quicker than the soldering iron. I solder.

Soldering causes brittle wires whose strands can break over time due to vibration and corrosion. Solder joints can become cold and crack due to changes in environment.

Clips are the best way to go, and the easiest to maintain. That is the key word, "maintain". A clip can be easliy realigned with a pair of needlenose and and cleaned with some steel wool. Soldered wires require a soldering iron, which requires power that is notalways readily available.

Both are viable, but the clip has the definite edge.

Papa Joe · October 22nd, 2009, 01:03 AM

CLIPS

olaftheholy · October 22nd, 2009, 11:25 AM

SOLDER

older Fender amps are soldered, and for good reason.

gatego · October 22nd, 2009, 11:34 AM

Do you want it a) fast or do you want it b) well done?
a) clip
b) solder

AngryEL34s · October 22nd, 2009, 01:56 PM

If you're looking to A/B some drivers to get a sense of what you like in a particular cab, sure, go for the clips. But once you've decided on what you want to use, solder it up!

A well-soldered connection isn't going to break.

toadman · October 22nd, 2009, 02:11 PM

never had a problem with clips!

Ricky D. · October 22nd, 2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngryEL34s

Solder. Every time. The last thing you want is a clip slipping and causing your power section to see no load. It takes 2 minutes and is a much more stable and secure method.

I'm with you on that. I have a small combo, and it's always possible to bump the speaker lead when you put stuff in the back.

Of course, if you are not confident in your soldering ability, best to stick to the clip method.

Quote:

Originally Posted by celeste

I use clips, but doing a demo, I want to be able to change the drivers in a cab quickly and I do not want to loose the space having a cab for every driver I have.

For a temporary installation, clips are plenty good enough.

DavidP · October 22nd, 2009, 02:43 PM

(on an AC30) that was enough to solder my speaker lead connections!

BlueJim · October 22nd, 2009, 03:50 PM

I soldered the one speaker I have hooked up. Never thought about clips since none were included in the kit.

jefrs · October 22nd, 2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montana_Dawg

Soldering causes brittle wires whose strands can break over time due to vibration and corrosion. Solder joints can become cold and crack due to changes in environment.

Clips are the best way to go, and the easiest to maintain. That is the key word, "maintain". A clip can be easliy realigned with a pair of needlenose and and cleaned with some steel wool. Soldered wires require a soldering iron, which requires power that is notalways readily available.

Both are viable, but the clip has the definite edge.

Solder flows by capillary action ('wetting') onto the metals to be joined, there is some surface chemical reaction (the 'tinning') forming an excellent electrical bond. It can be used to join many dissimilar metals or materials: copper, gold, silver, iron, steel, aluminium, glass. Wires correctly soldered do not become brittle nor do the contacts oxidise, and they last for many, many years (otherwise all our amps would have to be re-soldered on a regular basis). A poor solder joint may oxidise and become 'dry' i.e. the wires become un-wetted. If a wire breaks from a mechanical means then it was probably too thin in the first place.

I have had numerous problems with those wretched spade clips, mainly on the car, wires pull out of the crimp, the slot opens up and becomes loose, the plating oxidises and the electrical contact fails. I've had amps make disaster threatening loud crackling 'blown speaker' noises, traced to a loose one on the speaker. Yes a soldering iron requires power, presumably the same stuff you plug the amp into.

oneleftnut · October 22nd, 2009, 04:22 PM

Duct Tape! I Kid! I Kid!

redstringuitar · October 22nd, 2009, 04:37 PM

Most designs can be improved on, question is, how strong/conductive does a connection have to be to be strong/conductive enough?
Solder is probably better, I use clips...I don't solder the mains lead either.

Jonesamp · October 27th, 2009, 11:58 AM

I once posed this question to Ted Webber of Webber VST and he recommended soldering the connections. I always solder the speaker wires.

It would seem to me a good approach is that if you intend to try different speakers to use clips until you're happy and then solder the final choice.

Steve

Ben Harmless · October 27th, 2009, 12:33 PM

I'll just go ahead and point out that there are thousands upon thousands of Marshall 4x12 cabs that have lived in trailers and been gigged hard for decades - and use clips.

The amount of vibration that is required to bend a clip and cause it to fail over time could just as easily cause a solder joint to fail. Those spade connectors, when properly used, are very tough to disconnect, and I've had them come loose from the wire when trying to remove them from speaker terminals.

Wayne Alexander · October 27th, 2009, 12:57 PM

In a combo cab where you're putting footswitch wires, power cables etc in and out all the time, soldering is a must, but that's not enough - also zip ties to hold the speaker leads in position so if the speaker cable gets bumped or yanked it won't stress or pull on the solder connections. In a closed back cab clips are less of an issue but can still come loose, I use the same philosophy, partly because in my experience everything that can come disconnected will eventually do so, at the most inconvenient time, with the maximum possible damage caused.

jefcon1 · October 27th, 2009, 02:17 PM

My speakers don't need wires, they already KNOW what to do. j/k

I usually clip if there are clips, and solder if there aren't. Actually I just did some speaker swapping and I went to Walmart and bought terminal clips just in case I need/want to change again. Radio Shack did not have terminal clips. I wish I could say that was surprising, but I'm becoming all to accustomed to walking out of Radio Shack in disappointment.

Jelle · October 27th, 2009, 05:41 PM

I crimp and then solder the wires to the clips and make sure the clips are secured very tight on the terminals: I need them to come off when I really want to without breaking out the soldering kit, but stay tight because I stuff cables in the back. This way the terminals will break off the speaker sooner than the clips will slip.

gionnio · October 28th, 2009, 03:14 AM

Solder.

Why add a second connection to each lead?

DH82c · October 28th, 2009, 10:14 AM

Chewing gum and tinfoil

Dr.Ow! · October 28th, 2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DH82c

Chewing gum and tinfoil

Yeah one of best around does-it-all fix materials. But like everything else Gum just ain't what it used to be

But duct tape can still be good as long as you source it from your local hvac builder. But even that is under assualt now out here in Cal. siggghhh. Texas seems to be the only place to still h.i.s.t.- I assume the gum is still good over yonder in Tex.

EclecTech · October 28th, 2009, 10:05 PM

Temporary = clip.
Best electrical connection = proper solder joint, affords more contact area than the mechanical clips for higher current connections.
I was taught that solder is not an adhesive, so if it broke you did not strain relieve it (i.e. follow lead dress) properly for the operating conditions.

$.02
Jack

October 21st, 2009, 01:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cam Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Alberta Canada Posts: 1,327 20 Photos	Solder the speaker wire or use clips? What is your method on the speaker tabs? __________________ Relic Schmelic! Play the darn thing! Wipe it down after and put it in it's case!

October 21st, 2009, 08:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
jefrs Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Newbury, England Age: 54 Posts: 2,136	You may have noticed that speakers vibrate and clips can work loose. After a few years the contacts corrode, which makes for some small extra resistance. Clips are only marginally quicker than the soldering iron. I solder. __________________ There's two kinds of people, those that hear the music and those that don't.

October 22nd, 2009, 01:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
Papa Joe Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pontiac Mi. Age: 80 Posts: 869	CLIPS __________________ Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body,but rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up,totally worn out,and loudly proclaiming:"WOW,what a ride!"

October 22nd, 2009, 11:34 AM	#11 (permalink)
gatego TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Germany, Duesseldorf Age: 45 Posts: 55	Do you want it a) fast or do you want it b) well done? a) clip b) solder __________________ It’s 1973, almost dinnertime. I’m having ‘oops

October 22nd, 2009, 02:11 PM	#13 (permalink)
toadman Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: andoverandoverandover,ct Age: 46 Posts: 1,527	never had a problem with clips! __________________ toadman the plank spanker www.slugnickel.com www.zydecohogs.com "The ultimate result of protecting man from folly is to fill the world with fools" Herbert Spencer

October 21st, 2009, 01:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
FenderLover TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 65	Solder!

October 21st, 2009, 02:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
k tone Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 125 2 Photos	Clips!

October 21st, 2009, 03:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
AngryEL34s Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Age: 29 Posts: 180	Solder. Every time. The last thing you want is a clip slipping and causing your power section to see no load. It takes 2 minutes and is a much more stable and secure method.

October 21st, 2009, 05:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
k tone Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 125 2 Photos	I have no slippage on my clippage. Seriously i have never had an issue and it is easier to experiment/ change speakers. I give an extra crimp to the clip with my strippers and have never had an issue. With soldering I worry about overheating the terminal and having the small extension wire to the speaker come off. It happened to me before (not due to soldering) and it was a pain to get back on.

October 21st, 2009, 07:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
celeste Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Maryland Age: 48 Posts: 600 21 Photos	I use clips, but doing a demo, I want to be able to change the drivers in a cab quickly and I do not want to loose the space having a cab for every driver I have.

October 22nd, 2009, 01:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
AngryEL34s Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Age: 29 Posts: 180	If you're looking to A/B some drivers to get a sense of what you like in a particular cab, sure, go for the clips. But once you've decided on what you want to use, solder it up! A well-soldered connection isn't going to break.

October 22nd, 2009, 02:43 PM	#15 (permalink)
DavidP Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 697	After having a clip come loose once... (on an AC30) that was enough to solder my speaker lead connections! __________________ barely in tune and teetering on the brink of oblivion...

October 22nd, 2009, 03:50 PM	#16 (permalink)
BlueJim Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey, US Age: 46 Posts: 477	I soldered the one speaker I have hooked up. Never thought about clips since none were included in the kit.

October 22nd, 2009, 04:22 PM	#18 (permalink)
oneleftnut TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lake Harmony Posts: 66	Duct Tape! I Kid! I Kid!

October 22nd, 2009, 04:37 PM	#19 (permalink)
redstringuitar Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Wales Age: 46 Posts: 1,036	Most designs can be improved on, question is, how strong/conductive does a connection have to be to be strong/conductive enough? Solder is probably better, I use clips...I don't solder the mains lead either. __________________ The world is full of busy people, might be a better place if some of 'em spent more time on their arses...

October 27th, 2009, 11:58 AM	#20 (permalink)
Jonesamp NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ashburn, VA Posts: 4	Ted Webber says solder I once posed this question to Ted Webber of Webber VST and he recommended soldering the connections. I always solder the speaker wires. It would seem to me a good approach is that if you intend to try different speakers to use clips until you're happy and then solder the final choice. Steve

October 27th, 2009, 12:33 PM	#21 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 4,344 13 Photos	I'll just go ahead and point out that there are thousands upon thousands of Marshall 4x12 cabs that have lived in trailers and been gigged hard for decades - and use clips. The amount of vibration that is required to bend a clip and cause it to fail over time could just as easily cause a solder joint to fail. Those spade connectors, when properly used, are very tough to disconnect, and I've had them come loose from the wire when trying to remove them from speaker terminals. __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson "...Because we all expect the truth, we must be the best of fools." - Stiff Little Fingers

October 27th, 2009, 12:57 PM	#22 (permalink)
Wayne Alexander Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 1,351	In a combo cab where you're putting footswitch wires, power cables etc in and out all the time, soldering is a must, but that's not enough - also zip ties to hold the speaker leads in position so if the speaker cable gets bumped or yanked it won't stress or pull on the solder connections. In a closed back cab clips are less of an issue but can still come loose, I use the same philosophy, partly because in my experience everything that can come disconnected will eventually do so, at the most inconvenient time, with the maximum possible damage caused.

October 27th, 2009, 02:17 PM	#23 (permalink)
jefcon1 TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wake Forest, NC Age: 42 Posts: 51	My speakers don't need wires, they already KNOW what to do. j/k I usually clip if there are clips, and solder if there aren't. Actually I just did some speaker swapping and I went to Walmart and bought terminal clips just in case I need/want to change again. Radio Shack did not have terminal clips. I wish I could say that was surprising, but I'm becoming all to accustomed to walking out of Radio Shack in disappointment.

October 27th, 2009, 05:41 PM	#24 (permalink)
Jelle Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Netherlands Posts: 178	I crimp and then solder the wires to the clips and make sure the clips are secured very tight on the terminals: I need them to come off when I really want to without breaking out the soldering kit, but stay tight because I stuff cables in the back. This way the terminals will break off the speaker sooner than the clips will slip.

October 28th, 2009, 03:14 AM	#25 (permalink)
gionnio Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Baja Rockridge Posts: 111	Solder. Why add a second connection to each lead?

October 28th, 2009, 10:14 AM	#26 (permalink)
DH82c Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Montreal Age: 39 Posts: 478	Chewing gum and tinfoil __________________ DISCLAIMER: Just because I said it doesnt mean you should do it. As always, wear your rubbers, probe with one hand, and make sure you have discharged everything.

October 28th, 2009, 10:05 PM	#28 (permalink)
EclecTech NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cedar Rapids IA Posts: 1	Temporary = clip. Best electrical connection = proper solder joint, affords more contact area than the mechanical clips for higher current connections. I was taught that solder is not an adhesive, so if it broke you did not strain relieve it (i.e. follow lead dress) properly for the operating conditions. $.02 Jack

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