ESP MusicCord

[JimmyM]

There are many lousy power cords out there. Some are obviously too skinny for amps and were only intended for low current draw devices such as effects units. Even worse, some fit loosely where they plug into the device -- I had a bad on-stage experience with one of those. Of course, there are the ones that combine both attributes -- absolute nightmares!

So yeah, I could be persuaded to believe that when you compared your ESP cord to one of those crappy ones, you thought you heard a difference.

The difference is you can get a cable that's built just as well for a lot less. And you can build one just as well for even less.

Or you can do what I do and just sort through your box of crappy cables until you find one that fits well

 

[DJ Bebop]

EDIT: possible that your IEC of reference is defective ?

That what I said back at http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/esp-musiccord-786890/index15.html#post11170870 Well, not the same, but that's what I meant

 

[HugoM]

. . . Or you can do what I do and just sort through your box of crappy cables until you find one that fits well

That's what I do.

 

[kuys]

I take that back, along with this magical cable that ignores an electrical conductors inherit properties, I want to change my all inclusive vacation to Middle Earth. Narnia would be too cold this time of the year.

 

[delta7fred]

I give my crappy cables to our guitarist

No, I chop them in half so they don't get used again, but the guitarist usually says 'hey, that was a perfectly good cable you just ruined.' I have dozens of the damn things so periodically give him a couple of nice clean new ones. He can generate enough random pops and crackles without any duff cables.

 

[Soul Power]

All I know is that I won one at Wooten's camp, and to be honest, I haven't noticed any difference----just that it's more durable....but it's loose. Not like....falling out of the thing mid-playing loose though....more like bent downwards while plugged in.

 

[crentest]

if the wire gauge was an issue, wouldn't the original one be measurably warmer?

 

[Jonyak]

Hey regular power cables are fine for the million dollar pieces of electronic test equipment I use at work, in my calibration lab, where we measure into the PPM. I can honestly say I know it will not make a difference in my amps sound.

 

[Robin Ruscio]

Yes. Quite frankly, given your academic background, I am shocked that you would dispute this.

Psychologists don't make huge jumps in research conclusions like that. There's no evidence that it's psychological- no research has been done on this that anyone has mentioned. The reason I'm hearin something has not been clearly attributed to any mechanism. good science would hold off on reaching psychological conclusions so quickly.


( And we hardly attribute much to the workings of the unconscious mind these days. It's not 1950. )

 

[Robin Ruscio]

I think this is the post we've all been looking for (or at least me!). So for all the guys who like this cable, what are the specs on the other cable you've been using?

I have 6 foot ESP, and have tried it against all my other cheap cables, ranging from 4 ft to 12 ft.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Psychologists don't make huge jumps in research conclusions like that.

That's not a jump to conclusions. In the absence of supernatural wire properties or even testing for previously unknown wire characteristics, an explanation that employs bias mechanisms (which psychologists are not unfamiliar with) is logical.

 

[Robin Ruscio]

That's not a jump to conclusions. In the absence of supernatural wire properties or even testing for previously unknown wire characteristics, an explanation that employs bias mechanisms (which psychologists are not unfamiliar with) is logical.

Your attributing bias to people who were not even aware of what was being tested or changed (in my crappy anecdotal tests). I just asked several people (now including an adult student) if they noticed any difference, and they all did, without telling them what I was changing.

I've got another adult student coming in 10 mins. I'm going to play with the good cord, then not change it and ask him again, then change it to the cheap one and ask him again.

I swear I will not play differently for all the Freudians here.

 

[Selta]

Just the fact that you obviously changed something can insert a bias. "How's this sound?" "Ok, I changed it, how's it sound now?"

 

[Febs]

Psychologists don't make huge jumps in research conclusions like that. There's no evidence that it's psychological- no research has been done on this that anyone has mentioned. The reason I'm hearin something has not been clearly attributed to any mechanism. good science would hold off on reaching psychological conclusions so quickly.

I agree. And yet you have jumped to a conclusion by rejecting a plausible hypothesis for no reason other than wishful thinking.

 

[Robin Ruscio]

Just the fact that you obviously changed something can insert a bias. "How's this sound?" "Ok, I changed it, how's it sound now?"

I won't actually change it this next time. I'll just ask him to listen to a few samples and change it randomly.

He's gonna hear it cause it's there.

 

[Robin Ruscio]

I agree. And yet you have jumped to a conclusion by rejecting a plausible hypothesis for no reason other than wishful thinking.

I am not attributing the tonal difference to anything at this point. I'm just suggesting that it's there.

 

[Febs]

I am not attributing the tonal difference to anything at this point. I'm just suggesting that it's there.

I a/b'd this cord after I got it, and it sounds better. Period. It wasn't hard to tell the difference.

On the gig. (jazz gig in urb). ABd the cords. They sound different. The ESP is louder and has more low end and seems o have mre volume. My pianist can clearly hear the difference, and we are in a loud room.

I am not having a placebo effect, either. I have been using this for almost a year.

 

[JimmyM]

I won't actually change it this next time. I'll just ask him to listen to a few samples and change it randomly.

He's gonna hear it cause it's there.

Or he won't.

 

[will33]

I can't believe there's 26 pages arguing the quality of snake oil, this might be a new low.

 

[Paullee01]

Dang you guys are still at it.....

Hey Jimmy I see your from Apopka, that makes me want to take a trip up to Bass Central. Hmmmm I wonder if Beaver sells the power cord!