6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

[Guitarist]

Your opinions, never played anything but 6L6's - just want to know if I should stick with em or start looking towards the other direction. Thanks.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

I have 3 rigs (Rivera, Marshall and Engl), and all of 'em use EL34s.

I'm a big fan of the EL34, and I play old school NWOBHM style stuff. You can hear some old clips at www.twilight-odyssey.com ...

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

EL34'S=Marshall crunch

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

It depends on the design of the amp too, but in general, I like EL-34's for humbucking guitars, and 6L6 amps for single coil guitars. Although you can criss cross that combination, since strats sound great through EL-34 amps too.

 

[Guitarist]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

EL34'S=Marshall crunch

and 6L6=??? ...anyone want to finish the equation?

The only EL34 I've played through was a pair of um in a DSL50. I don't know if it's very fair to judge tubes through different amplifiers because they are all voiced differently, but how much will the tone alter if they are put in a Single Rectifier?

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

It depends on the design of the amp too, but in general, I like EL-34's for humbucking guitars, and 6L6 amps for single coil guitars. Although you can criss cross that combination, since strats sound great through EL-34 amps too.

You are totally correct in your statement as mine was a bit open ended. I love singles and HB through my JCM 600(el34's) equally for both gain and clean. And tone really is subjective to the individual.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

and 6L6=??? ...anyone want to finish the equation?

6L6 = Mesa Chunk.

 

[Duke of Metal]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

and 6L6=??? ...anyone want to finish the equation?

The only EL34 I've played through was a pair of um in a DSL50. I don't know if it's very fair to judge tubes through different amplifiers because they are all voiced differently, but how much will the tone alter if they are put in a Single Rectifier?

i use 6L6s and play Heavy Metal stuff.. I've tried some EL34s and I like the 6l6s better. They are smoother, better bass (to my ears atleast), and have better clarity.

I am still willing to try EL34s again but this time, i want to make sure I try some good EL34s and not old EL34s.

So.. can they be useful for Heavy Music?? for sure.

Duke

 

[JALIN]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

I`ve always played Marshalls (JCM800 w/EL34) until I got a Mesa Rectifier w/6L6. I prefer the 6L6 but yes it does depend alot on the amp.

 

[TheProphet]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

Personally I'm partial to 6V6 myself but finding mass produced amps that run 'em are rare outside of Fender

 

[Hellion]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

I like 6L6's (and Mike Soldano agrees). They have a warmer, much more melodic distortion, the bottom end doesn't sag like an EL34.

 

[some_dude]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

6l6.

 

[Biu]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

6L6=Peavey 5150! I like 6L6's better, great for smooth lead tone.

 

[Guitarist]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

I like 6L6's (and Mike Soldano agrees). They have a warmer, much more melodic distortion, the bottom end doesn't sag like an EL34.

You know, I'm glad you feel this way. In all of the Marshall's I've played (sorry guys, no Plexi experience - so don't rape me on this one), I've always felt the bottom end sag like you're explaining. Didn't know if it was fair to blame the tubes though. Anyway, just thought that was cool!

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

Yeah, I hate Marshall's for the loose low end as well. Although the 30th anniversary 3 ch 6100 model kicked ASS....

 

[MSGfan]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

EL34's sound great for any hard rock or metal! :fing2:
They've got that upper mid crunch that 6L6's seem to lack.
The only amps I've heard that sound good with 6L6's is my Mesa Mark IIC+ and 5150 II's

 

[edi_87]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

What I think? I think EL34's are more alive, no to say: 'full of life".. On my Triamp i can get on EL34's almost any clean and dist and crunch i want.. Point for EL34's

 

[Hawkman]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

I like the sound of both tubes together. So, I put Mullard EL34's in Channel A of my VHT stereo power amp and Svetlana 6L6's in Channel B. Ahhh, the best of both worlds. :dance:

I have also had very good results with the JJ/Tesla E34L, which has higher output (an higher headroom) than regular EL34's.

 

[ishmun]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

Your opinions, never played anything but 6L6's - just want to know if I should stick with em or start looking towards the other direction. Thanks.

what amp were u thinkn of changing the tubes in?

i feel the best poweramps are the mesa simul-class ones
they use both EL34s and 6L6's
u end up getting best of both worlds - the el crunch and the 6l6 bass response

one thing u should DEFINATLEY look into is the use of an Integrated Quad
where, say in a dual recto, u set the bias switch to el34s and put in 2 el34s and 2 6l6's
eurotubes have specifically matched 'quads' that will work well together

ive read many reviews of recto users (it can also be done of 5150s and others)
but chek www.eurotubes.com and read up on the integrated quad power stages

very nifty idea! :smoker:


Ishan

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: 6L6 or EL34 for Metal?

Yeah, I hate Marshall's for the loose low end as well. Although the 30th anniversary 3 ch 6100 model kicked ASS....

This is a sweeping generalization! I have found, more often then not, it's Marshall's cabs which flex at high spl's and have more than a little overhang. (What you probably refer to as "loose" bass) That is why I use Rivera and Hiwatt cabs ...