el34/6l6/ 6v6
- Thread starter bluesfloyd
- Start date
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: el34/6l6/ 6v6
Nice post, Edgecrusher. I've always been a fan of tube history and tone too, and miss some of the tube expos that used to exist....audiophile and guitar amp related trade shows. I was usually the youngest guy there, it seemed. Luckily, I learned a lot from some of the older tube fanatics I met, like Myles Rose, Aspen Pitman, and oldsters who worked for GE.
All I can suggest to guitar players who are into tone is to try and own one prime example of every classic amp in their lifetime, and get them all running their best with nice tubes. You'll learn a lot by owning a Vox, Fender Blackface, Fender Tweed, Marshall Plexi, JCM 800, Mesa Rectifier, Dr. Z Rt. 66, and any other classic example of a tube type.
Youtube clips will give you a rough idea, but actually owning some classic amp models will teach you the sound, the feel, the dynamic range, and all the nuances you can't get from second hand info.
Nice post, Edgecrusher. I've always been a fan of tube history and tone too, and miss some of the tube expos that used to exist....audiophile and guitar amp related trade shows. I was usually the youngest guy there, it seemed. Luckily, I learned a lot from some of the older tube fanatics I met, like Myles Rose, Aspen Pitman, and oldsters who worked for GE.
All I can suggest to guitar players who are into tone is to try and own one prime example of every classic amp in their lifetime, and get them all running their best with nice tubes. You'll learn a lot by owning a Vox, Fender Blackface, Fender Tweed, Marshall Plexi, JCM 800, Mesa Rectifier, Dr. Z Rt. 66, and any other classic example of a tube type.
Youtube clips will give you a rough idea, but actually owning some classic amp models will teach you the sound, the feel, the dynamic range, and all the nuances you can't get from second hand info.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: el34/6l6/ 6v6
Thats an RCA designation the one i posted earlier was from mullard. 6 means the heater voltage is between 6 and 6.9v's, CA is the sequence code (I have an ancient rca recieving manual that explains all of them but its in the states I didnt bring it with me and i dont remember off the top of my head) 7 is the number of elements.
This is the same formula for 6L6, 6V6, 6K6, 6F6 etc.... eventually they ran out of single letters and started using double letter sequence codes.
Sometimes you also see like
6L6G which means glass bulb
6L6GT means glass tube
6L6WGB W is ruggedized G glass and B means an improvement over the first and the A versions
Though please dont forget that these are the old RCA meanings many of the modern chinese and russian manufacturers add letters just to add letters, sometimes they mean something sometimes they dont.
Thats an RCA designation the one i posted earlier was from mullard. 6 means the heater voltage is between 6 and 6.9v's, CA is the sequence code (I have an ancient rca recieving manual that explains all of them but its in the states I didnt bring it with me and i dont remember off the top of my head) 7 is the number of elements.
This is the same formula for 6L6, 6V6, 6K6, 6F6 etc.... eventually they ran out of single letters and started using double letter sequence codes.
Sometimes you also see like
6L6G which means glass bulb
6L6GT means glass tube
6L6WGB W is ruggedized G glass and B means an improvement over the first and the A versions
Though please dont forget that these are the old RCA meanings many of the modern chinese and russian manufacturers add letters just to add letters, sometimes they mean something sometimes they dont.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: el34/6l6/ 6v6
Aye... very much so. For me it all started because the very first amp I purchased ever was an inoperable JMP Marshall. (but that is a whole other story) I got most of my info, books and old tubes by scouring old organ repair places (in the late 80's early 90's they were an untapped gold mine) or the old radio aficionados who would cordon off a corner of the antique swap meets. (I'm from Idaho we didnt really have trade shows.. we were lucky to have stop lights) Then when the net became a thing Myles helped me out a TON. Gave me so much great info.
I agree owning the classics and in particular with NOS glass will really open peoples eyes maybe it wont convert them but they will understand.
Aye... very much so. For me it all started because the very first amp I purchased ever was an inoperable JMP Marshall. (but that is a whole other story) I got most of my info, books and old tubes by scouring old organ repair places (in the late 80's early 90's they were an untapped gold mine) or the old radio aficionados who would cordon off a corner of the antique swap meets. (I'm from Idaho we didnt really have trade shows.. we were lucky to have stop lights) Then when the net became a thing Myles helped me out a TON. Gave me so much great info.
I agree owning the classics and in particular with NOS glass will really open peoples eyes maybe it wont convert them but they will understand.
