Term for speaker wire "clips" that interface with speaker contact tabs?

[bipedal2]

Looking for some terminology clarification: I've decided to dust off my mid-70's silverface Fender Champ and give it a tune up, starting with replacing the speaker and the tubes.

Rather than the two signal wires connecting to the speaker's tabs via friction-fit crimped metal clips (which are more properly known as ____?), I see that the wires in my Champ are soldered directly to the speaker's cabs.

Skill-wise, I'm comfortable with soldering and can easily solder the wires directly to the new speaker's connection tabs when I replace the speaker, but I'm just wondering if those crimped metal clips have a special name, and if it's worth tracking down some of those clips and adding them to the wires rather than direct solder connections to the speaker tabs.

I don't anticipate swapping out speakers regularly on this little beast. Barring defects in the new speaker, it's going to stay put.

[JSett]

"Spade Connectors" here in the UK

[Shadoweclipse13]

"Spade connectors"/"spade terminals" here in the US too, at least in the maintenance groups I've worked with.

As for the work, yes, soldered connections are more solid, but I think a properly crimped spade terminal is more than adequate. Soldered connections for a speaker is overkill, in my opinion.

[JSett]

for what it's worth, I've always put a small amount of solder on the spade terminals after crimping for extra 'belt and braces' strength/reliability. Likely overkill but it makes me feel more secure about things. It wicks quite nicely and gives a real solid connection.

[Shadoweclipse13]

for what it's worth, I've always put a small amount of solder on the spade terminals after crimping for extra 'belt and braces' strength/reliability. Likely overkill but it makes me feel more secure about things. It wicks quite nicely and gives a real solid connection.

You add solder to the wire and spade terminal, or between the male and female spade terminals? I could see adding a bit of solder to the wire and terminal, but I like the idea of quick-changing a speaker if it ever blew. Although, I don't often change speakers either...

[JSett]

for what it's worth, I've always put a small amount of solder on the spade terminals after crimping for extra 'belt and braces' strength/reliability. Likely overkill but it makes me feel more secure about things. It wicks quite nicely and gives a real solid connection.

You add solder to the wire and spade terminal, or between the male and female spade terminals? I could see adding a bit of solder to the wire and terminal, but I like the idea of quick-changing a speaker if it ever blew. Although, I don't often change speakers either...

Yeah, to the wire and spade terminal then just slip them onto the speaker as usual, sorry I didn't make that particularly clear. I don't change speakers much either but I never trusted the crimps all that much (for no reason other than general paranoia) so the solder acts as a strain-relief of sorts for pulling them off.

[Shadoweclipse13]

for what it's worth, I've always put a small amount of solder on the spade terminals after crimping for extra 'belt and braces' strength/reliability. Likely overkill but it makes me feel more secure about things. It wicks quite nicely and gives a real solid connection.

You add solder to the wire and spade terminal, or between the male and female spade terminals? I could see adding a bit of solder to the wire and terminal, but I like the idea of quick-changing a speaker if it ever blew. Although, I don't often change speakers either...

Yeah, to the wire and spade terminal then just slip them onto the speaker as usual, sorry I didn't make that particularly clear. I don't change speakers much either but I never trusted the crimps all that much (for no reason other than general paranoia) so the solder acts as a strain-relief of sorts for pulling them off.

I'm glad I asked. I actually figured you meant crimping a terminal to the wire and then soldering the terminal to the speaker terminal. I was thinking "that's gonna be solid as hell, but a bitch to remove if you need to change the speaker" I've worked around spade terminals a lot, and if they are crimped right, it isn't usually an issue, but a little solder between the wire and the terminal definitely won't hurt either!

[andy_tchp]

for what it's worth, I've always put a small amount of solder on the spade terminals after crimping for extra 'belt and braces' strength/reliability. Likely overkill but it makes me feel more secure about things. It wicks quite nicely and gives a real solid connection.

You add solder to the wire and spade terminal, or between the male and female spade terminals? I could see adding a bit of solder to the wire and terminal, but I like the idea of quick-changing a speaker if it ever blew. Although, I don't often change speakers either...

Yeah, to the wire and spade terminal then just slip them onto the speaker as usual, sorry I didn't make that particularly clear. I don't change speakers much either but I never trusted the crimps all that much (for no reason other than general paranoia) so the solder acts as a strain-relief of sorts for pulling them off.

I've actually been warned (by folks far more experienced than me) against doing this; rather than acting as a strain relief the solder wicking up the wire can create a brittle point where the wire strands flex against the now rigidly 'fixed' soldered section (causing breakages), instead of all strands being able to freely move as per normal. Probably not a huge issue when the speaker leads are at a perfect length, but they'll still move a little bit as the amp/cabinet is shifted around.

Basically either one or the other is fine (assuming a properly crimped connector), but not both.

[JSett]

I've actually been warned (by folks far more experienced than me) against doing this; rather than acting as a strain relief the solder wicking up the wire can create a brittle point where the wire strands flex against the now rigidly 'fixed' soldered section (causing breakages), instead of all strands being able to freely move as per normal. Probably not a huge issue when the speaker leads are at a perfect length, but they'll still move a little bit as the amp/cabinet is shifted around.

Basically either one or the other is fine (assuming a properly crimped connector), but not both.

That's a logical point, in fairness, never thought of it that way. I just started doing it years ago and never had anyone correct me. I've not had issues like you mention but I can see how that might happen (although, if crimped tightly then the wires shouldn't be moving anyway within the terminal). I have seen frayed wires on old connections, unsoldered ones, in cabs before but mostly where it's been sat somewhere a little damp or whatever and there has been corrosion on them.

Makes sense though.

[bipedal2]

OP here: thanks all for helping on this one: spade connectors / terminals. Exactly what I needed.

[hexes]

I've actually been warned (by folks far more experienced than me) against doing this; rather than acting as a strain relief the solder wicking up the wire can create a brittle point where the wire strands flex against the now rigidly 'fixed' soldered section (causing breakages), instead of all strands being able to freely move as per normal. Probably not a huge issue when the speaker leads are at a perfect length, but they'll still move a little bit as the amp/cabinet is shifted around.

Basically either one or the other is fine (assuming a properly crimped connector), but not both.

That's a logical point, in fairness, never thought of it that way. I just started doing it years ago and never had anyone correct me. I've not had issues like you mention but I can see how that might happen (although, if crimped tightly then the wires shouldn't be moving anyway within the terminal). I have seen frayed wires on old connections, unsoldered ones, in cabs before but mostly where it's been sat somewhere a little damp or whatever and there has been corrosion on them.

Makes sense though.

one step further, at least electrically and mechanically a “Properly” crimped terminal of the right gauge for the wire is the correct way to use terminals. i used to add a dot of solder too, but doing theatrical equipment installs taught me otherwise. the hard part is finding the correct spade sizes… some speakers have different size tabs.

I solder my speaker tabs once i’ve picked the right speaker for the circuit; though, I have never blown a driver on a guitar amp.