PIGNOSE 7-100 - Old vs New - on harmonica

This is a comparison of two mini amplifiers "Pignose 7-100", old version and current production. For this purpose I used 10 hole diatonic harmonica "Hohner Marine Band Deluxe" in key of A and "Harpsound Aquiline" bullet microphone.
Brown amplifier is an old, original, American production.
Snakeskin one is a current production, Chinesse version of this amplifier.
I made the recording on half-open setting of amplifiers casing and half power volume setting of amplifiers. Recording was made by: microphone "Shure SM57", distanced 5cm from speakers, "Roland Quad Capture" music interface and GarageBand software.
The end of the recording is a comparison of amplifier speakers noise, generated by the 7.5V power supply.
Regarding to the noise from the battery supply, it is hardly audible to record it but as the old model which is hardly hums, that the new one is already buzzing.
An additional important point of both amplifiers is signal coupling from microphone. In the old model there is high tolerance to feedback, while in the new model it is very easy to couple the signal from the microphone.
some dimensions differences of amplifiers:
- height: old 215mm, new 222mm
- width: the same
- depth: old 102mm, new 107mm
- weight: old 1850g, new 1910g
- external speaker cover diameter: old 119mm, new 112mm
old - 00:12
new - 00:22
old - 00:33
new - 00:37
old - 00:41
new - 00:46
old - 00:50
new - 01:01
old - 01:12
new - 01:15
old - 01:18
new - 01:23
old - 01:28
new - 01:32
old - 01:35
new - 01:40
old - 01:48

[@paulkeefe4835]

The new one sounds so constrained. My brother owned one in the 70's, and it was the coolest portable powerhouse ever!

[@JohnnieVolatile]

Thanks for the comparison. The old pig nose has a much better tone.

[@BigDogDaddyD]

Had one of the original ones back in the 70's. Lost it in a poker game. Got a Pignose Hog 20 back in mid 2004-ish. Like it much better.

[@TrilobitesRTasty]

Yikes....I've not heard an amp comparison that showed such a distinct difference. Thank you and Sub'ed.

[@PhilUSAFRet]

I like the 'old' one

[@chrisfrostmusic3423]

Excellent demo. The difference was surprising. I also now want a Pig one for blues harp lol

[@powerharp6619]

Wow! The old one sounds much better with more bottom and clearer highs. The new one seems to compress all of the tones together. I was about to buy a new one, but now I'm gonna look for a used one. If I can find a store that has new ones to demo I will try that simply because it's tough to rely on the absolute accuracy here with so many variables. I believe that this vid is 100% straightforward.

[@richardleetbluesharmonicac7192]

I agree

[@Explivious]

i saw somewhere there's a fix for it on the board itself in the newer ones, not quite as clean and clear but it gets rid of this compression that I hope we are all hearing. I could go into more detail but I do not have them! I know its somewhere if you search (im waiting for my pignose to come in before I look it up myself got a vintage 96 and a 2020 one for 60 each, going to compare them)

[@Frankinsteinguitar]

The difference could be the old one's speaker is "broken in" while the new one is still tight.

[@rychubil]

I don't think so but maybe you're right 😉

[@beerwolf8518]

The old one sounds fuller to me when overdriven. There's a little more bass response. I wonder how different the speaker is from the new one and old one and if that is part of the difference. I wonder how much of the circuit is different too. I have heard of the diode clipping mod that some people do on the new one that opens it up and makes it have a different clean tone.

[@ikust007]

Prefer by far the old one!

[@cookinwithchris86]

My nephew found the old one.....i must say the ild one sounds better i dnt tink its clearer but i like the sound it puts out...it almost in PERFECT condition couple scratches....what a find cant wait to try mine....but i really just want it as a display shes beautiful

[@rychubil]

Great! Try to compare both and share your conclusions 😊👍 Yes, old one doesn't sound clear, it sounds IMPERFECT, almost close to small vintage tube amps.

[@cookinwithchris86]

Yes sir

[@-Pol-]

I'm back again and noticed the Snakeskin one stands physically taller but the speaker hole looks physically smaller. What are the dimensions of their respective speaker cones inside? - Are the speakers the same?

[@rychubil]

Speakers size are the same but not sure how look cones construction under the cover. imgur.com/gallery/GziNoDK

[@RandoDred]

Any idea Abt if any thing changes through the in yrs.. Is the 70s version built the same as a 90s?

[@rychubil]

Honestly, I'm not sure but in my knowledge not, but much probably they could use different materials through the years for some of parts. For example, cheaper cables are not the same like good, more expensive ones.

[@RandoDred]

@@rychubil what yr is your old one

[@rychubil]

@@RandoDred I have 2 old ones, 12xxx, 35xxx

[@ignacioibanez6138]

Would be interesting to switch the old speaker on the new and hear the speaker influence, for some reason it seems the new speaker is vastly different just looking at it

[@rychubil]

Yes but unfortunately I already don't have a new one Pignose 7-100 but you can hear difference between old and Jensen speaker here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3ulmpp_ecuUZtU

[@ignacioibanez6138]

@@rychubilcool video, also the new one have smaller speaker hole, maybe that make an effect on the sound, I’m thinking about getting this new snakeskin one, but do you reccomend a speaker or if the quality and sound worth it? Great video!

[@rychubil]

@@ignacioibanez6138 I recommend old one, which sounds really vintage Pignose but some players also using newer version and like them (maybe don't know how old one sounds like?) which also is cheaper. The best way to try both 😉

[@martinoldsberg919]

Older one sounds lika a distorted amplifier, the new one like an angry sewing machine.

[@rychubil]

There is something on it 😉

[@Woozy.0]

The vintage one is trying to sound modern and the modern one is trying to sound vintage

[@-Pol-]

How new is the new one? - It does take a good while for a new speaker to break in... I have a newer one that I got second hand and it does have a persistent 'static' sounding fizz to it, even when played clean. I've rarely heard it in KZbin recordings and I don't hear it here? With that said I also own a Microcube and Vox DA-5 and the Pignose remains my first choice for both harmonica and guitar. A tiny Zoom Multistomp pedal provides effects a-plenty. I'll take my Zoom/Pignose combo over any modern day phone app driven wonder-amp.

[@rychubil]

I am not sure what do you mean. Brown casing, red labeled is US one - OLD. Snakeskin casing, white labeling is chinese version of Pig - NEWER. P.S. I also have another NEWER version of Pignose with British flag and again sounds different but closer to the chinese one. Anyway - nothing compare to original old americans ;)

[@-Pol-]

​@@rychubil Ah, I just meant that if the NEWER versions are brand new or hardly used it can take some time for a stiff new speaker to break in. The American one will have had plenty of time to loosen up - it can make a significant difference to the frequency response.

[@rychubil]

@@-Pol- that's interesting statement, maybe something on it? Anyway both 2 my old Pignoses sounds fabulous and 2 my newer Pigs sounds not too bad or not too nice.

[@RandoDred]

@@rychubil does yr make a difference on the USA models?

[@rychubil]

@@RandoDred Yes. Sonically are almost the same. Older (12xxx) American is more tend to coupling over the half of volume setting on the amplifier knob. Newer old American (35xxx) starting to coupling over ¾ of volume knob.

[@jasondonnelly1885]

Dam I have the new one.Old one sounds much better.Better tone.

[@matthawkins8197]

From a guitarist's point of view, the pig is only in it's element when distorting...Give it some and let the grunt out.

[@mr.k905]

No surprise here, The old one eats the new one alive.

[@bobking7347]

new one sounds like ass, they need to make a vintage version with germaniums, which nte still makes.

[@michaeldiaz5473]

Won't buy a new one. Noisy

[@mosfet51]

Dude I want the tab. 👏 👏

[@rychubil]

Thanks man. Let's take A harp and easy you'll find 😎👍

[@mosfet51]

@rychubil My ears have gotten bigger, so I should be able to follow you. Your pignose is working with a mic. What amp are you feeding it to?

[@rychubil]

@@mosfet51 not sure what you mean bro?

[@mosfet51]

​@rychubil Oh wait. The mic in front of the pignose is only for show. Are you actually playing straight out of the pignose?

[@rychubil]

@@mosfet51 I played on Harpsound Aquiline microphone, which is visible on the beginning of the video, plugged straight to the Pignose. The mic which you asking for (Shure SM57) was used for recording of Pignoses only, I'm not using them for harmonica.