Amp and Tube Shootout

[daveotero]

Finally got around to the Mesa vs. Mesa showdown. A few clips of a Soldano Avenger and some different tube combination.

check it: http://www.flatlineaudio.com/amptest/

 

[JeffTD]

Awesome!

I'm digging the Tremoverb the best - but I really can't tell much of a difference between the Sovtek, Shuguang, and EH . I = n00b.

 

[KeithRT99]

il ike the EH/groove tube the most.

 

[xmarcelx]

To me the soldano clips don't sound like another amp at all ! But I like the soldano GT the most so far...

 

[LSD-Studio]

To me the soldano clips don't sound like another amp at all !

'cause the first rectos also as the 5150 are nothing but pure SLO copies...same circuit, same design (preamp), but cheaper parts



thanks dave!
could you tell us some more about the ampsettings, micing pos etc?

 

[sorceron]

hmm i prefer the sovteks in all clips

 

[xmarcelx]

'cause the first rectos also as the 5150 are nothing but pure SLO copies...same circuit, same design (preamp), but cheaper parts



thanks dave!
could you tell us some more about the ampsettings, micing pos etc?

I know!
But I A/Bed rectos and soldanos and there's still a huge difference...

 

[LSD-Studio]

I know!
But I A/Bed rectos and soldanos and there's still a huge difference...

rectos don't use negative feedback in the poweramp section, that does make a huge difference......
(that's why soldanos are tighter for example)

 

[Carrier Flux]

Awesome!

I'm digging the Tremoverb the best - but I really can't tell much of a difference between the Sovtek, Shuguang, and EH . I = n00b.

it's not that you're a n00b, it's that there's virtually no difference. is there one? sure, does it really matter? only if you're a t00b schn0b.

although I can tell the difference between mesa and JJ tesla powertubes, and prefer the mesa oddly enough. (I really didn't want to). personally I can't tell a difference between preamp tubes unless they're significantly different. (i.e. my high gain JJ teslas definitely sound hotter than my groove tube 12ax7s).

 

[xmarcelx]

But you didn't understand me!! I was skeptic!! To my ears:
Tremoverb\ -\ JJ6l6\ -\ Mesa\ AX7\ -\ 9th\ Chi\ V1.mp3
Slo\ Avenger\ -\ J6l6\ -\ GT\ AT7.mp3
sound the same!

And not just to my ears: Take them both switch phase on one and there just -24 db noise left! I find it wired that they sound that close

 

[daveotero]

For this project, ended up using the tremoverb with all Mesa AX7s and the Soldano with the GT AT7s.

The tube changes are not huge but they are most definitely there. The difference between the AX7s and the AT7s are pretty huge. AT7s have less gain and lower output and different voicing in the mids.

As far as the AX7s, here's my take:

Mesa (Sovtek) - Typical mesa sound. Huge lows, slighty scooped but clean mids, very open and extended high end.

EH Gold tip - Close to the mesa. Similar low end, mids are a little more focused and the presence seams to be voiced a little lower, highs are more smeared and the least extended of the three.

9th Gen Chinese - Slightly less lows than the others, most mids but least focused, highs similar to the sovtek but again, less focused.

This is all very subtle but these are changes that can not be duplicated with post processing. It is an invaluable tool in the search for that last 5% of tone. Plus, we're all geeks and this shit is fucking fun!

 

[daveotero]

OH yea, if you guys want to get a better feel for the difference, load them up and go exploring with your favorite EQ. Always gives me a better idea of what I'm hearing.

 

[Carrier Flux]

This is all very subtle but these are changes that can not be duplicated with post processing. It is an invaluable tool in the search for that last 5% of tone. Plus, we're all geeks and this shit is fucking fun!

exactly. it's fun. that's my only justification for spending money on different make tubes. it is fun

 

[Shane H.]

Tremoverb sounds nice. Kyle's looking into getting one of those someday.