People usually endorse things if they get paid to do so. It doesn't hurt. I bet it won't make the sound worse.
True, just like how magazine reviewers get paid to write glowing reviews some of the time.
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180.- Power cable? You've got to be kidding!!
- Thread starter gimmeagig
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True, just like how magazine reviewers get paid to write glowing reviews some of the time.
Same thing occurs everywhere. That's one of the reasons for our current economic state. Agencies like Moody's and S&P rate the "products" from the very companies that pay them to be rated. Would you give a bad rating?
In the case of the magazine, it is not only related to the review itself, but also risking loosing someone that may be spending good $ advertising in your magazine.
In the case of the magazine, it is not only related to the review itself, but also risking loosing someone that may be spending good $ advertising in your magazine.
I think this is the same company that sold the now discontinued products Talent-in-a-Can & Unicorn-Horn fretboard wax. 
Guess those products didn't sell much either.
Guess those products didn't sell much either.
I know, right?!? An outlet has burn in?!? Burn in?!?!?!?! Who the **** is buying this stuff?I don't know about that, but they do have, "very smooth burn in"!
Thats true and actually BP has a bunch of those ESP cable ads as well as the other cable ads as well.
You'd think they'd want to balance that against losing subscribers.
My BP subscription runs out in June and this cable review will definitely enter into my renewal decision.
I'm no electrician, but I'm willing to bet that such a cable would be better than the occasional computer cord that the author of the article claimed to use. Would I pay $180 for one? Hell no.
- Dec 18, 2000
- 13,201
- 340
- Disclosures
- greenboy designs: fEARful, bassic, dually, crazy88 etc
Any high-draw amp should have a 16-gauge or even a 14-gauge IEC power cable instead of the typical "computer" 18-gauge which can't supply enough current for high draw items when they are really being used.
Those are cheap enough. Beyond that, it's hearing what one is predisposed to hear. Probably the only real issue I've ever had with Victor Wooten. But I'll still give him a fair listen ; }
Those are cheap enough. Beyond that, it's hearing what one is predisposed to hear. Probably the only real issue I've ever had with Victor Wooten. But I'll still give him a fair listen ; }
Aye, you can't take the piss too much before people call you on it and you lose readers. I don't know the market for these kinda mags whatsoever, but I can only speculate that they are mostly aimed at people that are quite tech. minded, and if that's right which I imagine it would be you can't spout that kinda BS and get away with it.
I'm sure you could get away with underhanded reviews - in terms of what you focus on and ignore, and your use of words and general tonality of a piece to give off a certain impression, and the mountain of other stone hearted money grabbing evil **** face trickery all forms of media can indulge in - but if you wanna sell you need to remain credible to your market, and given that the market for BP magazine is probably fairly academic and the fact they seem to be pretty cosey with alot of the people that know what they're on about round here, I'd imagine they wouldn't really benefit from BS reviews even if they wanted to.
*EDIT* bugger me I need to learn how to touch type... was responding to kevin.
I'm sure you could get away with underhanded reviews - in terms of what you focus on and ignore, and your use of words and general tonality of a piece to give off a certain impression, and the mountain of other stone hearted money grabbing evil **** face trickery all forms of media can indulge in - but if you wanna sell you need to remain credible to your market, and given that the market for BP magazine is probably fairly academic and the fact they seem to be pretty cosey with alot of the people that know what they're on about round here, I'd imagine they wouldn't really benefit from BS reviews even if they wanted to.
*EDIT* bugger me I need to learn how to touch type... was responding to kevin.
They do.. it's called Powerline. My guitar player uses one for his tube amp. He says it makes a difference.....
I just tell him to turn down..
- Dec 18, 2000
- 13,201
- 340
- Disclosures
- greenboy designs: fEARful, bassic, dually, crazy88 etc
I dunno; I dropped BP mag ages ago. Why? Dumb reviews laced with meaningless catchphrases, articles with plenty of technical inaccuracies, and interviews that really didn't do much to enrich my knowledge of music or bass or finer players' thoughts in depth. Only the ads kept me reading for as long as I did ; }
Even the ads have been the same for a while now.
Oh wait, by "ad" did you mean "review"? Is there a difference?
Snake oil.... and nothing but.
This is sad to hear, and pretty much rules out BP getting any more of my money at the newsstand as well as getting on my "cheap birthday gifts I'd love" list. Any information source that wants to out and out lie to me, or is too foolish to screen out the snake oil from the real thing deserves none of my hard-earned $$*.
My heart sank when I saw the ad for these in BP a few months ago with a glowing superlative from Vic Wooten. *sigh*
For pieces of equipment like this that are subtle (to put it mildly) in their tonal impact, more care is needed to avoid selling your readers on crap that will waste their time and money. If BP starts doing double-blind tests with as many listeners as they can manage to shove in the office and I'll be interested again.
*Incidentally, the peer review and insight of people here at Talkbass were part of the reason I was happy to become a supporting member.
This is sad to hear, and pretty much rules out BP getting any more of my money at the newsstand as well as getting on my "cheap birthday gifts I'd love" list. Any information source that wants to out and out lie to me, or is too foolish to screen out the snake oil from the real thing deserves none of my hard-earned $$*.
My heart sank when I saw the ad for these in BP a few months ago with a glowing superlative from Vic Wooten. *sigh*
For pieces of equipment like this that are subtle (to put it mildly) in their tonal impact, more care is needed to avoid selling your readers on crap that will waste their time and money. If BP starts doing double-blind tests with as many listeners as they can manage to shove in the office and I'll be interested again.
*Incidentally, the peer review and insight of people here at Talkbass were part of the reason I was happy to become a supporting member.
Ok, so what have we here?
1) placebo effect?
2) A vast conspiracy to puff up this product, including Musiccord, Vic, BP staff and some TB members?
1) placebo effect?
2) A vast conspiracy to puff up this product, including Musiccord, Vic, BP staff and some TB members?
Sure, that includes Musiccord, Vic, BP staff, but probably not TB members. If it does include TB people, then the conspiracy might be vast.
I always thought Bass Player got somewhat of a raw deal around here, but this review really made me lose a lot of respect for it.
I wasn't shocked, however, to see that the reviewer was Jonathan Herrera. A few years ago he gave some BS logic about why some feature of a certain bass created a certain characteristic in it's playability (increased string tension on a given scale because of increased string length beyond the witness points......please don't start another debate here
).
They actually printed my letter calling him on it. His response was even more BS about "percieved tension"
.
This man is an excellent player, but I've read so many things (both large and small) in his reviews of gear that I question how technically sound his gear/electrical/physics knowledge is.
I wasn't shocked, however, to see that the reviewer was Jonathan Herrera. A few years ago he gave some BS logic about why some feature of a certain bass created a certain characteristic in it's playability (increased string tension on a given scale because of increased string length beyond the witness points......please don't start another debate here
). They actually printed my letter calling him on it. His response was even more BS about "percieved tension"
.This man is an excellent player, but I've read so many things (both large and small) in his reviews of gear that I question how technically sound his gear/electrical/physics knowledge is.
I love how people criticize something they a) don't understand b) can't afford or c) both.
If this cable was $20, would there be a problem? Hey, snake oil is snake oil at any price right? Using the very same logic, there is no difference between strings, pickups, or basses. A Rogue plays the same music as a Fodera so why spend the money?
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http://www.audioquest.com/
http://www.straightwire.com
There seems to be a lot of those out there. I'm sure the FTC would like to speak to all of those companies.
Here's the good news: You are not required to buy one of these cables. But I think it's funny that you fell for the old trick of all these magazines. They exist to create controversy and you bought it hook, line and sinker. "Stereophile" and "The Absolute Sound" have been doing it for years.
If this cable was $20, would there be a problem? Hey, snake oil is snake oil at any price right? Using the very same logic, there is no difference between strings, pickups, or basses. A Rogue plays the same music as a Fodera so why spend the money?
Invalid Link Removed
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[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
http://www.audioquest.com/
http://www.straightwire.com
There seems to be a lot of those out there. I'm sure the FTC would like to speak to all of those companies.
Here's the good news: You are not required to buy one of these cables. But I think it's funny that you fell for the old trick of all these magazines. They exist to create controversy and you bought it hook, line and sinker. "Stereophile" and "The Absolute Sound" have been doing it for years.
Regarding Victor's endorsement of it, he only said, AFAIK, "Incredible."
Maybe he gritted his teeth and really meant "Incredible bunch of BS."
Or "Incredible quality," which is almost certainly true. I'll give Vic the benefit of the doubt. Still,.....:scowl:
Maybe he gritted his teeth and really meant "Incredible bunch of BS."
Or "Incredible quality," which is almost certainly true. I'll give Vic the benefit of the doubt. Still,.....:scowl:
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