Gibson 1957 VOS into two vintage Bassman Heads side by side

It's very interesting how two identical circuits can produce different tones. The 1970 Bassman head on the right has not been cherished.
It's been played A LOT, and it shows. Its tolex has scars and tears, its plate is bent from falls on club floors etc. On the other hand the 1968 Silver Drip Edge model on the left is almost new. No marks or scars whatsoever. AB 165 circuits both, however their retubing (TAD 6L6 short bottles inside the '70, and Sovtek 6L6's inside the '68) makes them quite different tonally, and I think it's quite obvious from the start.
Their boring side by side comparison was helped by a 57 Goldtop VOS Les Paul, a Loveperdal Eternity 6 (E6) and a Palmer PD-I03 cabinet simulator.
Remember: RED light on the switcher is the '70 (TAD tubes) and GREEN light is the '68 (Sovtek tubes)
Anyway, one of them will need to go soon.
Which one would you keep, and why ?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gibson
• Les
• Paul
• VOS
• Goldtop
• Fender
• Bassman
• Vintage
• Lovepedal
• Eternity
• E6
• Palmer
• PDI-03

[Nazzz65]

You sir have your priorities straight! That being said, will you come to Boston and join my band!!!

[metiltdah]

i buy you the one you didn't like,

[Dudu001]

I would keep the '70. The '68 has more clarity but is also thinner and bit too bright.

[intrsoul]

I'll say '68 because of the clarity.

[LuminalTv]

i prefer the '70, more midrange, a tad more low end.. but check out if you wish to our video of a 1966 aa165 bassman blackface, i like it more than both of these heads..

[guns1rose]

i like the sound of the 68 better. sounds clear, and not as midrangy as the 70.

[beernguitars]

I think I'm preferring the '70. The natural distortion on the '68 seems a little too fuzzy when cranked.  But the difference may just be in the tubes. Then again I like '68 when cranked with the Eternity on top. I don't know, keep both!

[sixstringd]

The red light with the Tad tubes sounds more defined and tighter kinda compressed to me. Why not put the Tad tubes in the "68 cos a 60's Bassman is probably gonna be more collectible than a 70's Bassman just a thought!!