SOZO vs JUPITER Capacitor shootout

Out of curiousity, I went back into my '68 Bassman (AA864), and swapped out the great sounding Sozo Nex Gens for Jupiter Red Astrons and did a rough shootout comparison.
Please comment below what you hear, which do you prefer?
0:00 -intro
2:36 -SOZO chords [Volume 5]
2:52 -JUPITER chords [Volume 5]
3:11 -SOZO low melody [Volume 5]
3:20 -JUPITER low melody [Volume 5]
3:28 -SOZO 12th fret melody [Volume 5]
3:35 -JUPITER 12th fret melody [Volume 5]
3:43 -SOZO high melody [Volume 5]
3:49 -JUPITER high melody [Volume 5]
3:55 -SOZO chords 2 [Volume 5]
4:12 -JUPITER chords 2 [Volume 5]
4:30 -SOZO chords [Volume 7]
4:45 -JUPITER chords [Volume 7]
5:04 -SOZO low melody [Volume 7]
5:13 -JUPITER low melody [Volume 7]
5:21 -SOZO 12th fret melody [Volume 7]
5:28 -JUPITER 12th fret melody [Volume 7]
5:36 -SOZO high melody [Volume 7]
5:42 -JUPITER high melody [Volume 7]
5:48 -SOZO chords2 [Volume 7]
6:05 -JUPITER chords 2 [Volume 7]
6:23 -SOZO chords [Volume 10]
6:42 -JUPITER chords [Volume 10]
7:01 -SOZO low melody [Volume 10]
7:09 -JUPITER low melody [Volume 10]
7:18 -SOZO 12th fret melody [Volume 10]
7:25 -JUPITER 12th fret melody [Volume 10]
7:32 -SOZO high melody [Volume 10]
7:38 -JUPITER high melody [Volume 10]
7:44 -SOZO chords 2 [Volume 10]
8:02 -JUPITER chords 2 [Volume 10]
8:20 -outro
9:01 -final noodles
I've learned from previous experiments that the capacitors will open up a lot over time, so this test is not fair to the Jupiters that were only in the amp for 5 minutes (zero "burn in") before this recording!
96 LP Studio
straight into Bassman (neutral EQ)
12" Eminence Tonker
Sure beta58
No effects or processing
Thanks for watching!
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[@chipstips5823]

0:00 -intro 2:36 -SOZO chords [Volume 5] 2:52 -JUPITER chords [Volume 5] 3:11 -SOZO low melody [Volume 5] 3:20 -JUPITER low melody [Volume 5] 3:28 -SOZO 12th fret melody [Volume 5] 3:35 -JUPITER 12th fret melody [Volume 5] 3:43 -SOZO high melody [Volume 5] 3:49 -JUPITER high melody [Volume 5] 3:55 -SOZO chords 2 [Volume 5] 4:12 -JUPITER chords 2 [Volume 5] 4:30 -SOZO chords [Volume 7] 4:45 -JUPITER chords [Volume 7] 5:04 -SOZO low melody [Volume 7] 5:13 -JUPITER low melody [Volume 7] 5:21 -SOZO 12th fret melody [Volume 7] 5:28 -JUPITER 12th fret melody [Volume 7] 5:36 -SOZO high melody [Volume 7] 5:42 -JUPITER high melody [Volume 7] 5:48 -SOZO chords2 [Volume 7] 6:05 -JUPITER chords 2 [Volume 7] 6:23 -SOZO chords [Volume 10] 6:42 -JUPITER chords [Volume 10] 7:01 -SOZO low melody [Volume 10] 7:09 -JUPITER low melody [Volume 10] 7:18 -SOZO 12th fret melody [Volume 10] 7:25 -JUPITER 12th fret melody [Volume 10] 7:32 -SOZO high melody [Volume 10] 7:38 -JUPITER high melody [Volume 10] 7:44 -SOZO chords 2 [Volume 10] 8:02 -JUPITER chords 2 [Volume 10] 8:20 -outro 9:01 -final noodles

[@qua7771]

I think the Jupiter's are fatter sounding. A bit more of something going on in the lower mids. It's a close call though. Not the same difference I have heard in other cap comparisons (like Wima vs Sozo etc...). I can appreciate the time you put into this.

[@RyansCustomShopandGearOutlet]

Those Sozo's are pretty!

[@eyedunno8462]

Jupiters by a very narrow hair's width, however you can still find original Astron Blue caps for less than new Jupiters so this is the real revelation.

[@ghostface_grilla1155]

Just go with what makes you happy brother 😎

[@chipstips5823]

thanks! Just having fun learning how to work on my amp and what the parts do. It's been a relaxing hobby that I get lost in for hours...

[@dwntgrnd]

This kind of "cork sniffing" always amuses me. The difference is imperceptible in isolation. Sitting in a pristine mix, or with a band in a bar, or a garage, I would defy anyone to hear a difference. Impossible because there really isn't one. That said, those old Fenders sound great and sure are fun to tinker with. And if we're not having fun we're just wasting our time. Rock on.

[@chipstips5823]

haha thanks for watching! My conclusion after trying various (way more than what is in this video) capacitors in this amp, the difference in sound is very subtle, but my feeling of personal attachment and pride in my "custom" setup is worth it. And yeah, it's fun to mess around in there.

[@qua7771]

I probably wouldn't notice the difference in the worst possible conditions imaginable either. An amp is the sum of it's parts though, and he only replaced a few with similar sounding brands of caps. An amazing amp sounds good almost anywhere. some amps have it, and some don't. I found out when jamming with a "cork sniffer". My rig sounded like ass by comparison, so I started rolling my own. I really like the sound I'm getting now days from the amp I tweaked. My other amps, not so much.

[@mariuszfoks5976]

In my ears Jupiters are more 3D , more dynamic i Little less output woof..so more subtle and musical in Fender way. Sozo is more briliant and powerful , more ottom tones and more gain overal like more. Ritish sound.

[@velvetsound]

I’ve tried the Orange Drop to Sozos before too in a JTM45 build and a Princeton build, and it as very noticeable. I think this red vs blue is noticeable but very subtle, and which one you prefer will depend on the specific circuit and what tiny shifts you want to achieve. I’m assuming the parts were value matched (within 1%) which is how I’ve done my testing.

[@chipstips5823]

Thanks for your comment! I've learned a lot from these experiments, very happy with the Blue Sozos and some Red Jupiters, for now ;)

[@jonathanhorne6503]

The bright cap on a 67 Bassman should be 120pf. I’ve seen it wrong from the factory. If it correct and not bright enough try a 50 or 60 pf. I’ve never seen one go open, also check the switch. The contacts get dirty. I generally use mallory 150 caps. There isn’t enough difference in tone worth the $10 premium.

[@philipdonovan5127]

For what its worth, the Jupiters sound more "thick", maybe a bit more congested in the low mids than the Sozos. But, I'm just a half deaf 66 year older.

[@ineedcbsi]

The sozos sound a bit brighter. The Jupiter's kinda muffled. Thanks for the comparison

[@jakep8484]

Surprised some people cant hear a difference, jupiter is softer, sozo slightly clearer. You should be wearing headphones to hear the diff.

[@clearcoat]

The Jupiters sound a little more mellow. I like them!

[@greggjohns66]

while we're sniffing corks. I like the Jupiters. the sozos sounded a little brittle

[@chipstips5823]

I agree.

[@Andy-xn9zn]

@@greggjohns66@greggjohns66, what are you using to listen to this?

[@GiulioLuzzardi-xf1xo]

red have warmer bass. I heard a bassman with NOS astrons which were totally different, more zingy. Look up "Millsapp".

[@dafxtone]

Sozo, far away !

[@buzzedalldrink9131]

The real tone comes from your hands. Buying high priced capacitors are for suckers! its a guitar amp Mallory’s and orange drops ARE the tone of vintage amps. If they were good enough when they built the amp, they are good enough for me.

[@chipstips5823]

I think you are correct but I wanted to experiment for myself. Ultimately, I am still dealing with my hands...

[@buzzedalldrink9131]

@@chipstips5823 I don’t always have a great way with words. I really hope you didn’t take my comments the wrong way I really appreciate your video and all the effort it took to make it. My problem is my ears aren’t as good as they used to be and I can’t really hear much of a difference. I like the way my vintage amp sound, and I want them to sound the samewhen it comes time for servicing so since I can’t hear that good, I can’t justify spending the extra money on expensive capacitors when that’s not really what they use in the first place anyway may work good for some but it won’t work for me. Thanks again great video. I’m sorry I couldn’t hear much though.

[@chipstips5823]

​@@buzzedalldrink9131 no offense at all! I was having fun soldering inside the amp and trying out different capacitors. I barely heard a difference, however, seeing as someone had already done a recap with cheapo caps before I bought the amp, I decided to see how the different ones sound. My conclusion is that the original blue molded are probably the best sounding ones, Orange Drops are more aggressive, Illinois feel boxy, Sozo/Jupiters almost indistinguishable. I enjoy believing that the Jupiters will age like a fine wine. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@buzzedalldrink9131]

@@chipstips5823 thanks for your understanding of my thoughts on this subject. Thanks again for taking the time to do all the work for everyone on this!

[@qua7771]

There's not really tone in hands. I mean, you can fight your gear, or have it work with you. I find mediocre tone fatiguing after a wile of playing, sometimes annoying. After a lifetime of working around loud noises I am grateful to have good hearing. I was a tone freak as a child, and still am. I enjoy these types of videos.

[@rickschiller]

Give a slight edge, especially in the mid/high and highs, to the Red Jupiters. Too bad he didn't try Mallaory 150s at $1.19 each. Of course thy don't look at pretty

[@zander1323]

Can't tell a difference. Sounds like you couldn't either...?

[@chipstips5823]

between Sozos and Jupiters the difference is subtle, but from the old Orange Drops (bright, brittle) to either Sozo or Jupiter is quite different. And I think time will tell as the Jupiters will break in and be rounder over time (or so I think)

[@LeviBulger]

​@@chipstips5823Capacitors don't "break in". They're not like speakers with physically moving properties 😂. They may get muddier and more noisy eventually due to failure and leakage but that's essentially it. And that's most likely going to happen quickly and many years down the road.

[@chipstips5823]

@@LeviBulger yes and my ears will get more used to them so I will justify my energy spent by determining that the new capacitors sound better!

[@crossoverchef]

Sozo more open on top, Jupiter, more closed in on top fatter in lower mids.

[@chipstips5823]

thanks for your feedback!