6G6-B Bassman & Express sound clips

[LarryLarry]

Comparing a few chords - Express and 6G6-B Bassman. Playing through 1x12 cab with Celestion Mesa MC-90 (G12-80). 3 room mics, no pedals.

Playing a Les Paul w/500T bridge pickup. Bass channel on the Bassman.

[Structo]

I've never played that model of Bassman so I am surprised you get that good overdrive out of it.

But overall, I preferred the OD of the Express.

Sounds more Marshally.

[Colossal]

Really cool to hear the A/B comparison. Thanks for posting that Larry.

[LarryLarry]

I should add that the Express has Sylvania 6V6GTA tubes in it and the Bassman has Philips 6L6GCs. The Bassman sits right between the Rocket and Express gain wise. It cleans up good when you roll back the guitar volume. I think the Bassman sounds a bit more 'hi-fi' in terms of frequency range where the Express is more focused on the mids.

[M Fowler]

Not being a big fan of Express tones I really liked the Bassman.

[LarryLarry]

The Express seems to do 1 thing really well. It's always hard to tell from sound clips 'how it sounds and feels' in the room too.

It's all fun!

[Colossal]

I gotta say I liked the hi-fi quality (as you say) of the Bassman as well. Maybe it's the 6V6s that don't do it so much for me with the Express.

[LarryLarry]

I'll have to record a comparison with EL34s in the Express...

[Colossal]

I'll have to record a comparison with EL34s in the Express...

That would be great!

[M Fowler]

I'm not a big fan of 6V6's either so I bet the EL34's will push the Express to where it should be.

Mark

[LarryLarry]

I've also got a pair of good old Tung Sol 5881s that I'll try in the Bassman.

What is the general consensus on bias settings for 5881s and 6L6s? I have 430vdc on the plates of the 6L6GCs (GZ34 rectifier) and I have the bias set at 38ma. When I switch it to SS rectifier, the plate voltage goes up to 440vdc and the bias goes to 46ma.

[sliberty]

Really liked the Bassman tones. They sounded more open and airy to me. The Express was a little less articulate to my ear.

[skyboltone]

I think this was a great exercise too and agree that the express needs EL-34s. All that being said for some reason I hear something quite nice in the bass of the Express Journey clip (at least on the first go around) that the bassman doesn't have. Balance. I was prepared to like the Fender circuit more by the way but your express is dialed in nice.

Way to go
Dan

Second go around. Yup. The Express has a better tonal balance to my ear. Naturally no suck out of the middle. The crispness of the bass may come from a whole variety of different sources; different iron, different tubes, etc. Good clips.

[cbass]

I've also got a pair of good old Tung Sol 5881s that I'll try in the Bassman.

What is the general consensus on bias settings for 5881s and 6L6s? I have 430vdc on the plates of the 6L6GCs (GZ34 rectifier) and I have the bias set at 38ma. When I switch it to SS rectifier, the plate voltage goes up to 440vdc and the bias goes to 46ma.

Well the 5881 dissapates 23 watts compared to 30 for the 6l6gc.

So 70% disapation at 450vdc is somewhere around 40ma.I would probaly go at bit less than that definately not more.

[cbass]

I liked the bassman on the Aerosmith better and the express on the Journey,Go figure