Amp gurus! EL34 V 6L6

[Lew]

Yo! My Pitbull can run 6l6 as well as EL34 - I'm considering getting a set of 6L6 to see how it sounds. Can anyone give me an idea of what to expect? I'm googling too but value the bkp opinion! Ta

[Copperhead]

Nothing like a good 6L6 clean tone, but I don't suppose that's what you'll be exploring with a Pitbull  :lol:

High gain I would say ballsier tighter lows. More useful mids with the EL34, but again on the top end I favor the 6L6.
Sovtek 5881 is my tube of choice for high gain 6L6.

[Lew]

Ta, Copper! I do use it for clean tones, although generally using the guitars volume and not for clean clean. The best cleans I've heard have been found inside a HiwattDR103 (never bought one for some reason :s ) - the amp is actually really similar in feel to a DR103... anyway! I only thought It'd be fun to try them and see what happens, I wouldn't want to give up that 'hollow' midrange that happens with medium gain - I think that's a character of the EL34s.

[viking]

You don't find many amps sounding good with both.If the amp is made for 6L6's (but has a bias switch for EL34's),with EL34's,it won't sound like a EL34 amp...and vice-versa.

[Frank]

All the amps I've really loved the sound of have been EL34 powered, I never quite adapted to the more restrained tone of 6L6's.

If it's just a matter of throwing two tubes in and moving a bias selector switch to another setting then give them a go. And if you really hate the sound then you could always eBay them to recoup some of the cost, no harm done.

[Lew]

Ah, that's interesting, Viking. It was made for EL34s, there's something on the Fryette site about it sounding best with EL34s but then I don't really see the point of giving the option for 6L6... unless they're saying 'hey look at how many options we can cram inside' which could ofc be the case! There's so much stuff on this amp - I've had it for a while now and I've hardly explored it, really.

It has a EL34/6L6 switch next to the power tubes.

[ericsabbath]

I used to be a 6L6 guy, but now EL34's sound better for me even on cleans

[tomjackson]

I borrowed a Vibroverb off a mate for a gig the other day, absolutely lovely smooth cleans, no break up as such but more bite when would up.  Not that other power valves can't do that and the circuit is most of the sound but it the right amp you can't beat 6L6 Fendery cleans.....

[sgmypod]

love both for reasons most have stated above(fender cleans 6L6, for dirt prefer the el34), at moment have a el34 amp as works well against other guitarists 6l6 bassman

[Ratrod]

when choosing 6L6/5881 tubes, go for the short bottle versions. Less wooly and livelier mids.

[HTH AMPS]

in very general terms, you'd expect an EL34 to be lighter in the bass end, more mid-focused and with crunchy high-mids and top end compared to a 6L6.  the 6L6 will have more bass end, less mids, a more precise top end and will not crunch up as early (more headroom), plus they have more balance across the bass/mids/treble than EL34s.

if you can fit them in your amp, you might try some KT66s - they should bias up ok on the 6L6 setting (from memory).  KT66s have all the best bits of both EL34s and 6L6s, imo.

[Copperhead]

My new favorite high gain tone comes from 6550's.
Just so aggressive and raw.
Saving my pennies now for a two 6550 eighty watter.

[Antag]

My new favorite high gain tone comes from 6550's.
Just so aggressive and raw.
Saving my pennies now for a two 6550 eighty watter.

Yep, me too - I love my Engl Savage 120.

However, as to the original question, I've always preferred 6L6s over EL34s - like the extra low end & the smoothness.

[Lew]

Ta all! 8)

[BigB]

I long thought I preferred EL34 for crunch tones, until I played a cranked up Hotrod Deluxe (clean channel, volume about 3 o'clock).