Ok, so this may seem off the wall. I am a professional guitar player and my best friend and roommate is a hardcore audiophile. Long story short I used one of his power cords to plug my Marshall into the power and noticed an immediate change in the sound of the amp. To my somewhat horror I realized that I am going to have to do a serious upgrade in power cords, patch cord connectors, etc which I've done largely by using Mogami cords for my effects and guitar which are a substantial upgrade that will do for now. I purchased my roommates used power cords when he upgraded his for his sound system.
I need to get a power strip or multi-plug station that plugs into a traditional electrical outlet. While gigging I have to use what electrical is available. Since I am an extreme neophyte I don't even know where to begin so any advice would be greatly appreciated
Hate to be the one to tell you this but the difference you heard with power cords? Extends right on to power strips, conditioners, outlets- right on down the line just as far as you want to go. That's the bad news- there is no end to it. But it's also the good news- it just keeps getting better and better.
This actually makes things easier not harder. All you need is a budget and a need. You need outlets? Look at outlets, strips, whatever are within your budget. What you care about and want is sound quality, so buy based on listener impressions of sound quality- and nothing else! Do not get caught up in stories, which is all anything technical amounts to, stories. The only story that matters is the one about how it sounds. It really is that simple.
suggest you check out PS Audio Dectet. It will protect your gear and you may hear a positive sonic benefit as well. I'm curious, what changes did you hear when you used your roommates power cord?
I practice more, rather than get swallowed by the cable and tube thing with my audio setup.
I DO "get it" though. A nicer tone makes you want to play more. Careful, if you stick around here, you'll become obsessed with plugging it in to a standard wall outlet.
Ditto millercarbon's remarks. I sold gear for a couple of years in New York at Harvey Electronics. I'll bet that name perks up a few ears. Back then (80's) I worked the sales floor with a guy named Henry Yee. If you know instrument amps, you probably know Henry's name. Henry made a lot selling audio, but was busy beavering away on instruments with some pretty famous musicians. If Henry could change the sound of your guitar with a switch of components, why would one assume that a change of cable would accomplish nothing, plus/minus? Go for it!
@listenerm Im looking for something that is going to clean up the noise off a bar electrical outlet and provide surge protection. I play on very high-end vintage amps (Marshalls), effect pedals, and guitars... I want a CLEAN electric signal.
Hilde45 On that very suggestion from Al I bought two of them. Very well built, nice and compact( if that matters on stage?). Should hold up to gigging fairly well I would have thought.
I use a similar Wiremold on my HiFi rig. They are transparent and do not colour the sound. Heavy duty construction and contain no filtering, so will not clean the power at a gig.
@hilde45 and @uberwaltz, thanks very much for the nice words. However as stated in his latest post @bukirob is looking for a power strip providing noise filtering and surge protection. The Wiremold strip linked to in hilde45’s post, which I had suggested for a different application in a previous thread, does not provide either function. It is simply an outlet multiplier.
I'd recommend you take a look at the Furman PST-8, which can be purchased from Amazon etc, at a significant price savings. But you have to search for your best price.
Tripp lite 2400, will work very good for you. It is 2-300.00 dollar range. They have 2 or 3 different types of outlets, They maintain 120, and clean above 20khz and 40khz.
They are a bit noisy, for the average stereo guy, but easy to quiet right down. I used a 6.00 usd tube of silicone, and got rid of 80%. A VERY light hum now.. I have a few, never had a problem, that the silicone treatment didn’t cure. WELL BUILT..
A few of my buddies play, more than a couple use this unit.. All Fender, Marshall, Champion, and run what you brung, guys..
10 outlets or so, rack mount, and 6 ft. PC.
Most found their equipment much more stable, with a voltage maintainer, and cleaner. Repairs almost stopped.
The protection and SQ was stable, that's what you're looking for, ay?
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