Are vintage amps better?

[@RyanOwnsACar]

You are so freakin awesome, Sir! Thank you for making such sick videos. Can't find such solid, raw, real amp tone comparisons for bassists anywhere else. As someone who has been looking for their very own bass tone for quite some time, your videos are so helpful and enjoyable. Thank you for your sexy licks, non-biased information, and your effort to present quality sound for bassists all around.

[@jochoui]

Thanks man!

[@johnp.3225]

Are both amps the same or similar at least, in the tube bias? How many tubes in pre and power amp each amp has? Thanks.

[@jochoui]

@@johnp.3225 First, this is a preamp recording. They share the same preamp schematic. The B18 have 2X6SL7 and the small black preamp 2x12AX7. No power amp involved in the clip.

[@alanjacob8542]

They sounded much better...but most of the time they lacked wattage...(not loud enough).

[@tortolita633]

Brilliant.

[@bluesmanshoes]

Very similar. Did you try both live/in rehearsal? Seems they would sound pretty much the same. Is the feel/response different?

[@jochoui]

The pedal preamp is a bit darker on live situation. It’s in the same ball park really. Major difference is 6SL7 vs 12AX7.

[@luigi.zanini]

2:12 B18 3:18 B15

[@tminus1019]

Are still building and selling preamps?

[@jochoui]

@@tminus1019 In the winter season yeah! I do have a Bassman preamp ready for adoption :)

[@pclindholm]

Awesome tone. What kind of cab and speaker?

[@joolsab1]

If you look really hard and I mean reallllly hard you can see the Aguilar name on the top left hand side of the cab 😳

[@jochoui]

The cab on the clip is an Aguilar SL410. But the audio came from the XLR out of both preamps. I used the sound from the cab only for video synchronization.

[@pclindholm]

@@jochoui thanks man, both had a great direct tone

[@jojoba619]

That portaflex sounds great. The tube di sounds good too, but lacks the richness of the portaflex. The difference in tone is subtle, but noticeable.