Woden vs Albion Output Transformers | Can You Hear a Difference? Part Two : Les Paul TIme

[@PsionicAudio]

Sorry about the "skip to 3:18" thing. It's left over from the first video. Time links in the description.

[@jonnybeck6723]

One is louder and that fact that you're truly a guitarist really helps thanx Lyle

[@ianmcfarland512]

PS - I have both '65 Alnico Silver Bulldogs and '99 Alnico Blues to play through. The response I mentioned is the same regardless of speakers used.

[@greyalien3235]

T1 just sounds right and vintage-y. T2 sounds like a newer amp.

[@SteveAaron]

Okay, so I re-listened to both videos in my recording studio which sports a old 1979 Neve console, and transformer 1 is definitely stiff and harsh sounding compared to transformer 2. At list from the videos. However, there are so many different parameters at play when recording, that it might very well be different in person. Just my 2 cts.

[@chokkan7]

Very nicely done presentation, Lyle.

[@ruffryder13]

Seems like I could hear a bit of a difference with no. 2 being a little more 'mellow' and less 'jangly'. (It's hard to put that into words!) But I think it'd probably depend on what sound I was going for...don't think one is better than the other necessarily.

[@patricksrenaski3619]

I'm a fan of T2. On a Strat, they were very close. But, with the LP, it sounded like T1 was just trying too hard. Like it was gripping a baseball bat too hard. Sounded like an unnatural boost in 300-500hz range. Some might call that a color change.

[@dennisflock3958]

1 sounds "sparklier". 2 the highs are noticeably cut off.

[@rjschmirler3794]

I will agree with some previous comments that the 'differences' are less pronounced between the strat and LP. I'll stand behind my choice and still go with TX2.

[@omnaraiya]

I hear a difference, but nothing conclusively “better” between the two. My preference changed back and forth on different playing examples. I’d be happy with either one. Great demonstration. Would love to see a similar shoutout between modern Mercury Magnetics and Hammond output transformers and/or a comparison of a EI vs toroidal OT.

[@stanislavmigra]

T1 has some extra hair and sparkle, T2 sounded spongier and smoother. T1 for band amp T2 for livingroom amp

[@jevinedric5390]

To me, the difference are less pronounced with the Les Paul. I can still hear the differences, but nothing that would make me like one more than the other. T1 sounds to me as if it has a lower headroom and more punch in the eq. Both are equally beautiful. But with a strat, the differences are like night and day to me. Awesome comparison.

[@74cannelle]

No. 1 again, for sure !

[@drewsollars2239]

Huh. I think I like 2 better with the strat and 1 with the les. More noticeable with the strat so I'd probably vote for #2

[@TheChipMcDonald]

T1 brings in the top harmonic more gently, with maybe a narrower but variable Q to the overtone, and is less linear in the upper mids. T2 top harmonic breaks up fast, seems static (and more like decorrelated noise) too fast/unbalanced (like one of those tiny battery powered Orange toy amps), and is boringly linear in the upper mids (like playing through an 80's slow p.a. amp, like a CS-400?). I prefer T1, it has more variability and nuance, T2 sounds like harmonics on/off, like a Mackie/uncolored cheap mic pre distorting. My wife is sitting behind me; I've played Ten Years Gone A/Bing sounds for *hours* on weekends, I'm thinking about saying "look, see? I'm not the only crazy person that does that!" Aside: the "crinkly" breakup on the Melissa example - I need to get a sort of 5E3 top harmonic overtone clipping but without that happening; I think it's a subsonic harmonic, exacerbated by humbuckers...?

[@weschilton]

Its really interesting, the entire harmonic overtone series was different between the two. Really interesting!

[@SteveAaron]

Transformer 2 is still less harsh/stiff and sings more. I like it much better.

[@AmpDeva]

I'd be happy with either. T1 has a bit more sparkle for me in this situation but its really splitting hairs. There is also touch / feel response which only you can tell!

[@ianmcfarland512]

I have two 1965 AC30TB amps - one with Albion iron and one with Woden. I love both amps but gravitate toward the Woden amp. It is more free and open than the other. Transformer 1 in your test seems like that to my ears. It would be my preference. I wonder if I'm wrong about which is which in this test. Hmm...!

[@ianmcfarland512]

Yes. The amp with the Woden iron has the Silver Bulldogs in it but I have long speaker cables on both cabs so I can use whichever amp I choose.

[@billjohannesen500]

Slightly different, both provided quality tones that will provide a great basis to make beautiful music . I would leave it to the technical professional to select the most durable option. This was a fun test to hear and really shows the critical role the OT plays. Thank you!

[@jamesf2918]

Great, now I need to find the right Les Paul and the right AC 30… some killer tones here

[@williamhamrick5871]

My late '64 has Parmekos. Wonder how they compare?

[@retread1083]

T1 definitely sounds brighter when playing completely clean. But it sounds more harsh when you push it. All things considered, I prefer T2.

[@petertimp5416]

Closer....still 1..... but 2 was good distorted

[@jonnybeck6723]

What about output tube bias and the relationship betwixt the two? (okay I'm nerding out maybe (?)

[@PsionicAudio]

Addressed in the first video. Negligible differences.

[@ramilrodriguez8340]

T1 sounds more open, wider frequency range both ways bass and highs. T2 sounds overall warmer but because of the much sweeter high end. T2 has less highs and the bass doesn’t go as deep as the T1. I believe T1 is a better transformer most because of the frequency range. Both sound clear and good but I prefer T1

[@HiHello-ku1fl]

I preferred 1 again but a strange thing happened this time....I thought transformer 2 was a tad less toppy or bright where as I remember with the strat transformer 2 was brighter. Did you trick us and change transformer 1 and 2 around with this guitar? I did prefer 1 this time and last. I just thought transformer 1 was brighter with the Les Paul and more alive. Can't wait to find out which is which.

[@PsionicAudio]

I didn't switch them.

[@pauldalby5413]

i preferred number 1 again and this time the difference was greater i think. 2 was nice on quieter things though (ten years gone). if you had 2 amps with that difference when recording, i think i would definitely choose one or the other depending on the guitar part.

[@ryanb94457]

I prefer Transformer 2 in this video as well. Transformer 1 isn't necessarily bad, I just prefer Transformer 2.

[@scottwilcox6313]

I really like T1 I like the midrange more than T2

[@russellhltn1396]

I like #1. Seems like a clearer sound.

[@ernestschultz5065]

#1

[@Baldertun]

#2 is nice, but #1 reaches my heart… if that makes any sense… :-)

[@DiegoCastro-kn9tl]

T1 to me. Sounds more open.

[@lonecrow1577]

Hard to hear on computer speakers, but transformer #2 sounds "tighter?". When overdriven #2 sounds less raspy? fwtw it's worth, I'm no expert.

[@oldguy5381]

Leaning towards #1 but then again both sound really good. You should take time for your self to play more, that to sounds good.

[@michaelmarsh4013]

xformer 2 again for me

[@martinreid1740]

I just liked transformer one a little more.

[@hippoferd]

how is it possible that a transformer "shapes the tone" of an amp , I understand it concerning the compression and gain ...but tone ?

[@PsionicAudio]

The answer to that is either book length or me just saying "listen." ;)

[@ramilrodriguez8340]

I build transformers and one of the things you take to consideration is frequency response or frequency range. The core size and winding determines that. So yes, the transformer contributes to the tone. On this comparison seems to me that t2 has a narrower frequency range. Sounds more focused where t1 has extended lows and highs more open sounding

[@SirLoinMagroin]

I liked them both. One sounded a little more fendery. Two sounded a little more marshally. I liked the harmonics on One with the strat vs. Two. Harder to discern on the buckers so I went to my JBL's. Still close with the buckers but gotta go with One. I usually like marshally harmonic structure but the slightly cleaner/individual string presence One tranny was better. #1 just had the better harmonic structure for my individually subjective/personal taste. Other ears may vary. Thanks for the comparison. Make it into a two tranny two channel lol.

[@72spawndn]

I still like T1, even if you switched them

[@PsionicAudio]

I did not switch them.

[@hectoraraujo6368]

I like T1

[@ScottyBrockway]

I prefer one again, it has more harmonic content and more high end. Transformer 2 sounds dull to me.