Thats why i like the uni-strand,its a pre-tinned stranded,which makes it similar to solid,but doesnt' do the break thing like the solid does..
So you get the best of both in one wire,and super easy to strip too..
Richie
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does the selection of wire effect the noise?
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bitsandvolts
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novemberrain
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"Solid core wire sounds best"... unless you nick it when stripping it, then it breaks off and doesn't sound like anything at all! Maybe snap crackle pop if the wire carried current.
I expect that part of the problem is that there's some really crappy imported wire out there. I've been at this for decades, it seems to me that the material we used to see would take a lot more mechanical stress than some of the poor alloys that are on the market today.
BTW the reason why aged cloth insulated wire commands a premium price doesn't have anything to do with sonic superiority, it has to do with the fact that if forgers of vintage instruments and gear can get the correct material it's more likely that they can sell their forgeries as originals.
I'll stick with stranded or unistrand wire, you can bend it, twist it, pull it... dime your amp and kneel before it in rapt worship, the stuff is more durable IMHO.
I expect that part of the problem is that there's some really crappy imported wire out there. I've been at this for decades, it seems to me that the material we used to see would take a lot more mechanical stress than some of the poor alloys that are on the market today.
BTW the reason why aged cloth insulated wire commands a premium price doesn't have anything to do with sonic superiority, it has to do with the fact that if forgers of vintage instruments and gear can get the correct material it's more likely that they can sell their forgeries as originals.
I'll stick with stranded or unistrand wire, you can bend it, twist it, pull it... dime your amp and kneel before it in rapt worship, the stuff is more durable IMHO.
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LarryN
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Subtle elements of tone always seem to get the emotions running high! Maybe we like to feel that we have it all figured out. This isn't the first time I've heard this, either. The two people I've heard it from, stand head and shoulders above the crowd in their musical/tonal accomplishments. There have been so many things musical and non-musical, that science or engineering can't explain. I've seen this type of disagreement get pretty heated over something as obvious as carbon comp resistors. Maybe instead of jumping all over someone that can hear it, content yourself with not hearing it and move on. The practical side of multi-strand wire is undisputed. The person who was explaining the wire phenomenon, said that with stranded wire, the signal is mostly flowing on the outer surface. The sound that this guitarist gets, derived from 30 years of gigging and refining his gear, wins my trust, over some of the poo-pooing going on here. He's been and continues to be involved with R&D with several respected companies. About him, it's said: "He has some big ears!"
I find it interesting that the blackface Fenders, reknowned for their sound, had solid wire up until just the first year of silverface. The pre-tinned sounds like an interesting alternative for believers in solid-core. I know we're not talking about a huge tonal shift, here. My approach is "little things add up".
I find it interesting that the blackface Fenders, reknowned for their sound, had solid wire up until just the first year of silverface. The pre-tinned sounds like an interesting alternative for believers in solid-core. I know we're not talking about a huge tonal shift, here. My approach is "little things add up".
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zaphod_phil
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The "skin effect" you refer to is well known in electronics, but only comes into effect when you get into the megahertz frequencies. I challenge anyone on this planet to say their hearing extends into this range - not even bats' hearing reaches quite that high! 
I have much respect for the gentleman in question, but that doesn't mean we all have to accept everything he says on every subject as the ultimate gospel truth. I might sincerely believe that fairies live at the bottom of my garden, but I would suggest in that case, you would be well-advised to carefully to steer away from that idea. 
Here it's neither a case of "little things" that might add up nor emotions. The facts have been well researched over many years of tube circuit design. And like I said, a simple blind A/B test with a few identical amps which use different types of wire would soon lay the matter to rest. And the reason those blackface Fenders sound the way they do is due to a lot of very good reasons, none of which are dependant on solid core wire.
I have much respect for the gentleman in question, but that doesn't mean we all have to accept everything he says on every subject as the ultimate gospel truth. I might sincerely believe that fairies live at the bottom of my garden, but I would suggest in that case, you would be well-advised to carefully to steer away from that idea. Here it's neither a case of "little things" that might add up nor emotions. The facts have been well researched over many years of tube circuit design. And like I said, a simple blind A/B test with a few identical amps which use different types of wire would soon lay the matter to rest. And the reason those blackface Fenders sound the way they do is due to a lot of very good reasons, none of which are dependant on solid core wire.
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Nature abhors a clean tube amp
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Plexi
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"""I might sincerely believe that fairies live at the bottom of my garden"""
And Ozzy says they wear boots
Sometimes in an amp,if its wired up with solid wire,and its pulled fairly tight,the amp can pick up this vibration, and ,kinda just like if you were to tap on a tube. It will get picked up. Resistor leads and cap leads can also do this. And if you ever pulled a rubber band,and flipped it,depending on the length,and tension, it can make a certian frequency vibration. In an amp you don't want this to happen,you want the short leads,or spagatti sleeving over the leads,or the leads pushed along the board. Just as an amp can pick up the noise of a vibrating componet. I know this is way off topic,but it can happen,and you can hear it sometimes.
As for noise in the wire, the placement of the wire,or layout means much more than type used.As many here could tell you,the movement of the wire one way or another can start or stop an oscilation..or lessen hum,or make it worse.
As for Phils talk of the fender amps,[blackface] this is no Myth,untill you've haerd 2 side by side. And not saying it may be in all of them. I had a 68 and a 65 blackface princeton here once. Measued everything i could to compare the two,swap and used same speakers,and tubes in each,mesured caps,and resistors,voltages,and everything i could.. And the 68 did sound really good. But have them both side by side,both on,and plug one to the other,the 65 blackface,smoked the 68 in evey way. I didn't have a chance to swap OT's to test. But i can see where people say the blackface are better sounding,because i witnessed it myself.
Richie
And Ozzy says they wear boots
Sometimes in an amp,if its wired up with solid wire,and its pulled fairly tight,the amp can pick up this vibration, and ,kinda just like if you were to tap on a tube. It will get picked up. Resistor leads and cap leads can also do this. And if you ever pulled a rubber band,and flipped it,depending on the length,and tension, it can make a certian frequency vibration. In an amp you don't want this to happen,you want the short leads,or spagatti sleeving over the leads,or the leads pushed along the board. Just as an amp can pick up the noise of a vibrating componet. I know this is way off topic,but it can happen,and you can hear it sometimes.
As for noise in the wire, the placement of the wire,or layout means much more than type used.As many here could tell you,the movement of the wire one way or another can start or stop an oscilation..or lessen hum,or make it worse.
As for Phils talk of the fender amps,[blackface] this is no Myth,untill you've haerd 2 side by side. And not saying it may be in all of them. I had a 68 and a 65 blackface princeton here once. Measued everything i could to compare the two,swap and used same speakers,and tubes in each,mesured caps,and resistors,voltages,and everything i could.. And the 68 did sound really good. But have them both side by side,both on,and plug one to the other,the 65 blackface,smoked the 68 in evey way. I didn't have a chance to swap OT's to test. But i can see where people say the blackface are better sounding,because i witnessed it myself.
Richie
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