Playing the guitar is fun. But what if you have no guitar cable with a large audience to entertain? What will you do in such conditions? Will you cancel your show? In such conditions, most people think that can I use microphone cable for the guitar. Is it even possible?
Well, if your microphone cable comes with a ¼ jack and a three-pin connector with a round jack, you can use it for your guitar. But, if your microphone pin has no ¼ jack, things will be hard as you will not be able to connect it to the guitar.
However, if you want to know more about connecting a microphone cable to your guitar, follow this article. Below, we will explain some of the most important things about guitar and microphone cables.
Contents
How To Connect Microphone Cable To Your Guitar?
Well, connecting a microphone cable to your guitar is not a hard nut to crack. What you need to do is prepare all of your instruments, including the mixer, pedals, amp, and speakers. After it, take out your guitar and then get a microphone cable with a ¼ jack.
Connect the side carrying the jack to the guitar and make sure it is connected firmly. In most cases, the jack is loosely attached, and this creates a lot of issues while performing. So, make sure that the jack is firmly connected to the guitar.
Once you are done doing it, you need to connect the other side of the cable to either your pedals or to the amp directly and go for a sound check. This is how you can easily connect your microphone cable to the guitar.
Can You Use Microphone Cable For Audio?
Certainly, you can use a microphone cable for audio. Microphone cables are one of the best types of cables that you can connect to your speakers for noiseless and balanced sound. So, there is no doubt that you can use a microphone cable for audio.
However, if you want a balanced connection between the audio source and the speaker, you need to ensure one thing. It is necessary for a speaker to be active or powered correctly when you connect it through the XLR.
Along with it, it must be small enough to handle the voltage of amplified signals. If not so, you will not get the desired results.
Can You Use Any Cable For A Guitar Amp?
Most people think that you can use any cable that seems like an amp cable, and this is where the issues start. Though almost all of the cable ranging from amp to speakers and to mixers is the same, they are not meant to be used randomly.
An amplifier cable is meant to carry amplified signals to the speakers, and this is what not any cable will bear with ease. An amp uses 6.3mm ¼ cables to connect to your guitar.
So, you will have to get the exact same cable if you do not want to ruin the sound you are going to produce. All in all, it will not be possible to use any cable for a guitar amp.
Is An Audio Cable The Same As Guitar Cable?
Not at all; there is no reason that an audio cable and the guitar cables are the same. Both of the cables are designed differently and have different functionalities. So, it would be foolish to believe that a guitar cable and an audio cable are the same.
However, if you are by any means using a guitar cable in place of an audio cable, things will certainly go south for you.
First of all, you will have to deal with annoying sounds and disturbing interference.
Secondly, if you keep on using a speaker or audio cable in place of a guitar cable, you will end up ruining your instruments. And this is the worst any guitarist can think of.
Can You Use Speaker Cable For Guitar?
You might be thinking that why cannot we use a speaker cable for a guitar when they look exactly the same? Well, to be honest, we also had this question for a long time, and we also tried using them interchangeably, but it didn’t work.
Though both of the cables look the same, you are not supposed to interchange them. Doing this will offer bad sound and may also devastate your cable, and in the worst case, you will end up ruining your guitar or the speaker.
The reason behind it is that the instrument of the guitar cable is shielded, and on the other hand, the speaker cable is unshielded and also uses huge gauge wires.
This is something that will never happen for a guitar cable. So, it is recommended that you must use a speaker cable for the guitar and vice versa.
What Is an XLR Microphone Cable?
Over long distances, XLR cables are used to deliver balanced microphones and line-level signals. XLR cables, or what you may also call microphone cables, are one of the most durable and some of the most used types of cables.
They usually come up with a three-pin jack surrounded by a circular connector. An XLR cable is used in audio applications that range from live shows to live recordings and to a professional songs or audio recordings in studios.
XLR cables are simply some of the highly trusted types of cables that you find in the market. The wires of these cables are amazing, and the connectors do not go out of order easily.
Is a Microphone Cable The Same As XLR Cable?
No, a normal XLR cable and a microphone cable are by no means the same. Although they look the same, their functions and workability are entirely different. Now, if you want to know how they are different, then here are some facts for you.
First of all, a microphone cable has different connections than an XLR cable. A normal microphone cable comes up with a three-pin jack surrounded by a round connector, and on the other side of the cable, there is a ¼ jack. But, the XLR cables normally contain no ¼ jack.
Along with it, a normal XLR cable is designed to carry low voltage and low impedance audio signals over two cores and a shield. While on the other hand, a microphone cable or the speaker version will use two very heavy cores.
What Cable Should I Use For Guitar?
No matter what kind of guitar you’ve got, you will have to use a cable with 6.3mm ¼ inputs and an output jack. The jack size and the category on both sides must be the same, and it must connect to your guitar properly.
Other than that, no cable will work properly with your guitar. The reason why we use only such cables is that they are shielded mono cables. So, if you want your guitar to sound good and want to add a few extra years to the life of your guitar, choose these cables.
Using any cables other than these will affect the sound quality of the guitar, and in the long run, these cables will damage your guitar.
Does XLR Cables Carry Power?
Certainly, XLR cables carry power. However, they are not meant to carry high voltage. These cables only carry that much power which is enough for easy workability of the cables. On average, an XLR can carry between 2 to 10 amps.
However, if you are thinking of passing 120 volts through XLR cables, it will be a huge blunder.
These cables are not meant to carry high voltage current, and if done so, they will get damaged and will ruin your instruments too. Once, someone tried to pass a high-voltage current through an XLR cable.
First, the cable overheated, then it started melting, and after some time, fire erupted, damaging all of the instruments connected through the cable.
So, do not try to pass high voltage current through the XLR cable.
How Many Amps Can XLR Cable Handle?
An XLR cable is one of the most in-demand cables that you will find in the market. And when it comes to amps carrying, an XLR cable works the best for any loudspeaker you have.
An average XLR cable can easily carry 15 amps, and this is what most speakers demand.
So, if you’re thinking of using an XLR cable for your speaker, go for it. These are some of the most durable and reliable cables that you can use to produce music.
Conclusion
If you were wondering whether I can use a microphone cable for the guitar or not, this article must have been beneficial for you. With this article on board, you know well whether you can or cannot connect your guitar using a microphone cable.
Above, we have answered all of your microphone cable and guitar-related questions to the best of our ability. Along with it, we’ve also elaborated on some of the most relevant facts about microphone cables.
However, if you need additional information, let us know. We will be there to help you out.
