Joyo Tidal Wave vs Caline Wine Cellar

[Jason Bonilla]

I'm currently preampless at home but also kind of broke. At least not in a place where spending 200+ on a preamp is a priority. I've got my VTBass at church on my board and that's where I leave it. I've got two amps at home and like messing around with them, but when it comes down to playing on my computer connected to my interface for silent playing I currently only have a compressor and a tuner. I've come across two decently looking Sansamp clones, the Joyo Tidal Wave and Caline Wine Cellar. Do any of you have a good amount of experience with either or both of these? the Wine Cellar sounds pretty good to me considering the price and is currently much less than the Tidal Wave. Though I have noticed Joyo pedals being praised for some time for being pretty good pedals for their price points.

 

[InkCow]

I have a Wine Cellar and have not played through a Tidal Wave (although I have watched a lot of videos on it) but I feel like I should start by saying that these are not apples to apples: the Wine Cellar is a BDDIV1 clone, the Tidal Wave is based on the V2.

The Joyo has a lot more features than the Wine Cellar, setting aside whether you consider “it has a midrange knob” an actual feature.

That said, I got my Wine Cellar from Aliexpress for $25 + tax and minimal shipping. For that price it is absolutely amazing how good it sounds. Like it legitimately sounds really good. However, I don’t think the drive sounds all that great when cranked high. It’s not terrible, but it didn’t pass the audition to serve as my higher gain dirt.

From the videos I’ve watched, the Joyo sounds really good with high gain. The EQ on the Joyo is definitely a lot more flexible with three bands and semi parametric mids and lows. The mids on the Caline are “cut only” and that’s via the blend knob, so for mids you’re really cutting everything else.

So your decision is really about whether you need the extra functionality: the Tidal Wave would be an excellent choice for a primary preamp/DI for someone on a limited budget. That is to say, from the looks and sound of it, I would not hesitate to gig with it.

My Wine Cellar, on the other hand, is 100% my backup that I keep in my bag should anything go wrong with my main preamp pedal. I have done a couple of gigs with it, intentionally, for a change of sound, but it would never be my #1. But it does sound really good when I do. And it was 1/3rd the price of a new Tidal Wave.

 

[Jason Bonilla]

I have a Wine Cellar and have not played through a Tidal Wave (although I have watched a lot of videos on it) but I feel like I should start by saying that these are not apples to apples: the Wine Cellar is a BDDIV1 clone, the Tidal Wave is based on the V2.

The Joyo has a lot more features than the Wine Cellar, setting aside whether you consider “it has a midrange knob” an actual feature.

That said, I got my Wine Cellar from Aliexpress for $25 + tax and minimal shipping. For that price it is absolutely amazing how good it sounds. Like it legitimately sounds really good. However, I don’t think the drive sounds all that great when cranked high. It’s not terrible, but it didn’t pass the audition to serve as my higher gain dirt.

From the videos I’ve watched, the Joyo sounds really good with high gain. The EQ on the Joyo is definitely a lot more flexible with three bands and semi parametric mids and lows. The mids on the Caline are “cut only” and that’s via the blend knob, so for mids you’re really cutting everything else.

So your decision is really about whether you need the extra functionality: the Tidal Wave would be an excellent choice for a primary preamp/DI for someone on a limited budget. That is to say, from the looks and sound of it, I would not hesitate to gig with it.

My Wine Cellar, on the other hand, is 100% my backup that I keep in my bag should anything go wrong with my main preamp pedal. I have done a couple of gigs with it, intentionally, for a change of sound, but it would never be my #1. But it does sound really good when I do. And it was 1/3rd the price of a new Tidal Wave.

Awesome response man, just the type I needed. now i've got to think about whether a dedicated mid control is really a necessity at the moment. which honestly it kind isn't. Really I just want something to be able to give me a bass and treble cut and extra or less volume when going into my interface to play along to youtube or spotify and maybe record a line or two. from the looks of it the Wine Cellar should be more than sufficient! I very rarely play with lots of drive nowadays unless I'm playing along to some old metalcore favorites, so maybe it's weak point wont be very noticeable. thanks man

 

[Ryan X Decent]

I too have no experience with the Joyo, but I have the Wine Cellar and I like it quite a bit. I currently use it as an always-on preamp that I run into my amp. It seems well-made, and I think it sounds great. As InkCow mentioned, it doesn't produce as much gain as a Sansamp, but with the gain cranked, the harmonics turned up, and the blend know about halfway, you can get some usable dirt tones, especially with a compressor in front.

 

[Yahboy]

Late to the party. I own the CP60 first, then i get the Joyo R30 few days ago.

Joyo R30 sound more narrow along with slightly boxy low end, meanwhile CP60 sound more tubey and live ! When match with Joyo R28 , the Caline CP60 just make my Ampeg RB112 stacked sound more close to SVT grind and crunch !

For who go with Caline CP60, you need do some work and casing sheilded to eliminate the hum.

 

[woodyng2]

My vt di pedal got fried recently, and I didn’t want to shell out $250 for another, so I tried the Wine Cellar.
It does exactly what I require, which is a slight bit of tube grit and edge, to make my Micromark 8 sound better.
It doesn’t have nearly the versatility and range of the Vtdi, but for $35, it provides what I need.
I’ve not tried the Joyo.