someone should send this thread to them.

Remember when the forum was talking about how too many solder fumes start to make you go nuts and everything?  Do you think there's a connection?  The guys making these things were just regular DIY types, having a good old time making stompboxes and HiFi gear and what-have-you in their workrooms and basements, and then a few too many fumes and now their selling magic knobs for hundreds of dollars.  

I suppose it could just be economics that drives them to this - when you sell knobs for 500 dollars, you don't have to sell nearly as many as when you sell them for 3.  All you need are one or two really rich, not so bright guys and you're golden.

Thanks for the great links and photos guys.  It was a boring day at work until now!

You gotta larf.  I love the way they play on people's fears.

Quotethe micro vibrations created by the volume pots and knobs find their way into the delicate signal path

So you MUST protect your DELICATE signal path.  

The sad part is that there are probably a few neurotic (and maybe psychotic too) audiophools out there who will delude themselves that they are some kind of hero if they stop the evil physical vibrations (  :evil:  ).

Weird.

Quotethe micro vibrations created by the volume pots and knobs find their way into the delicate signal path

What about the macro vibrations from the music??

Warding off the evil micro vibrations . . . Reminds me of this comic . . . [/url]

Quote from: sfrReminds me of this comic . . . [/url]

I'll have to pick up some of that Gleaming Twistfoil.

Quote from: sfrWarding off the evil micro vibrations . . . Reminds me of this comic . . . [/url]

Thanks for the link...

Kerry M

This has GOT to be a joke, right? I mean- no one who as a spare $400 is going to be stupid enough to waste it on a knob, right?
luke

:mrgreen: Haha! This is so stupid that it's funny! :mrgreen: lol

Yeah, this is a great thread!  I think it's best when no one's divided on a topic, we're all united in bashing something crazy, you know?    What fun!  

Alex

ATTENTION: Glass house dwellers!!

1)  A JRC4558D will improve the sonic quality of just about anything within 50 feet of it.

2) Anything and everything is better with tubes.  Even cellphone quality can be improved by tubes.

3) If you want your '62 Strat to sound authentic, you really need to have pots with a 1962 date code on them.


One of the things that is conspicuous about anyone having anything remotely related to the arts is that enthusiasm and oral legend can have a drastic impact on perception.  Not only do people SEE a naked emperor as fully clothed, they can even tell you what the fabric feels like!

I suspect the only difference between those who place too much faith in urban legend about performance equipment and those who place too much faith in urban legend about music reproduction equipment is the pricepoint and age range.  Musicians tend to be younger with less disposable income, so they get duped about stuff that generally costs in the under-$500 range, where audiophiles tend to be older with more disposable income so their foolishness can come with a higher price tag.  Apart from their respective budgets, though, there is really not all that much difference in their respective levels of gullibility.

All of that aside, what I find truly remarkable is that the stuff they sell that will clearly make a difference in sonic quality, or at least has an undisputed relevance to sonic quality - like caps and op-amps - go for a puny fraction of what other items like knobs and volume controls go for.  It's like spending $120 on a Strat pickup trio and then turning around and spending $1000 on the pickup switch and $800 on the wire to connect them.

Me, I wonder why I don't see more folks lying dead in bed in their Nikes with their 'nads removed. :?  There seems to be no end to folks who never stop for a moment and ask themselves "But does that really make sense?" about whatever it is they happen to be swept away over.

Quote from: Mark Hammer1)  A  JRC4558D will improve the sonic quality of just about anything within 50 feet of it.

2) Anything and everything is better with tubes.  Even cellphone quality can be improved by tubes.

3) If you want your '62 Strat to sound authentic, you really need to have pots with a 1962 date code on them.

Well yeah, if you buy into that horsecrap too  :wink:

But the audiophile crap makes paying over the top prices for a pedal or component seem tame.

So... Any takers on a "Just like Jimi" Fuzz Face circuit in an MDF box covered in "Gleaming Twistfoil"? Only $500. True bypass upgrade $500. Beyond the grave mojo vibration detector knobs upgrade sale price of $750 for a pair.

Form an orderly queue please.  :twisted:

QuoteBut the audiophile crap makes paying over the top prices for a pedal or component seem tame.

Does it?  Just yesterday I saw a TS-808 advertised on e-bay with a "magic" JRC4558D MALAYSIAN chip in it - for about US$500 - and the auction hadn't finished!  Malaysian 4558 indeed!  But some Pedalaphool bought that TS-808 (and the story) for megabucks.

As Mark H said

QuoteThere seems to be no end to folks who never stop for a moment and ask themselves "But does that really make sense?" about whatever it is they happen to be swept away over.

I've also seen reports that around 50% of americans believe in the Genesis account of creation and around 25% believe in telepathy ( :roll: !!).  To me it says a lot about the weaknesses of the education system that people can't reach simple rational conclusions about stuff.

Well Brett, how many Australians believe in those things? Hmm? Or are you all just a bunch of crocodile dundee wannabee's going walkabout? Do you get my point?  

As an American, I get tired of people from other countries bashing my education and that of everyone I know. We can't all live in a former penal colony you know. LOL! If you ask me all the smart Aussies swam to New Zealand years ago! By the way, do we have any Kiwis on the board?

This is all meant in fun Brett, but it does have a real point to it.

You get what you pay for with audio components.
 And if you pay for those knobs, chances are you'll get 'em..they probly bought a bulk shipment, and can ship out a pair to you, no9 problem for about 9$ total...
  What the heck..put it up there just for fun, get one or two bites and Ill be in the pink.
  The number of sucker ads found makes me think there are Ppl who might buy into one of those...that's why there are so many 'leech' ads.
 You get enough misinformation, and a novice [although it would seem unfeasable anyone could be so stupid] might have trouble sorting it out, and buy into it simply, going for 'the more you pay the better you get' theory.
 I'm sure they probly get dagged responses...and laugh...

Quote from: brett
I've also seen reports that around 50% of americans believe in the Genesis account of creation and around 25% believe in telepathy ( :roll: !!).  To me it says a lot about the weaknesses of the education system that people can't reach simple rational conclusions about stuff.

It's not a weakness, it's a strength!  :wink:  Or schools crank out ideal consumers! Spoiled infantile dumbasses who never saw an advertising claim they didn't believe. Not that we have a corner on the wacky belief market.

I'll post this again for good measure: www.randi.org

Kerry M

ok, i read this post with my glasses OFF and thought i was seein things... put em back on and about fell outta my chair! Talk about 10 pounds of crap in a 9 pound bag LOL

Quote from: Mark Hammer
Me, I wonder why I don't see more folks lying dead in bed in their Nikes with their 'nads removed.

LMAO! (@ 3:30 AM @ girlfriend's apartment)

There are 'other' things you could do witha knob.
 I think the seller has done them all too...
 Those 'inserts' are Bronze NOT Brass...
 With all that 'Jazz' and one grain of salt, you could have an "Exorcize the Evil Spirits of the Signal path party!!!"

:mrgreen: