el34
- Thread starter yes-fan
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Hellion
New member
Re: el34
I'm not a big fan of EL34s. I think the bottom end is overly soggy and the distortion isn't as melodic as it could be. There are players that sound very good with them, but I personally like 6L6s better, the overdrive seems smoother and the bottom end a little tighter. I don't actually play through tubes much anymore. Once you start processing the signal, you're losing the tonal qualities that the tubes are great at producing, and I process heavily. Plus, I like the tight bottom end of solid state.
I'm not a big fan of EL34s. I think the bottom end is overly soggy and the distortion isn't as melodic as it could be. There are players that sound very good with them, but I personally like 6L6s better, the overdrive seems smoother and the bottom end a little tighter. I don't actually play through tubes much anymore. Once you start processing the signal, you're losing the tonal qualities that the tubes are great at producing, and I process heavily. Plus, I like the tight bottom end of solid state.
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: el34
I thought EL34's had more definition, and that 6L6 tubes were just crunchier...
I thought EL34's had more definition, and that 6L6 tubes were just crunchier...
Hellion
New member
Re: el34
According to some of the recording engineers that I've talked to (and I agree with this, by the way), if you want crunch, go with solid state. Tubes are great for warm analog sounds, and that's not to say that they don't distort well, because they do, but if you want heavy amounts of crunch, go through a solid state amp. I believe the engineer that I heard this from was Flood, who did several Nine Inch Nails projects.
Metalman_666 said:
According to some of the recording engineers that I've talked to (and I agree with this, by the way), if you want crunch, go with solid state. Tubes are great for warm analog sounds, and that's not to say that they don't distort well, because they do, but if you want heavy amounts of crunch, go through a solid state amp. I believe the engineer that I heard this from was Flood, who did several Nine Inch Nails projects.
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: el34
What are the words I am looking for here. IMO EL34's are warmer, smoother and rounder if you picture a distortion wave. 6L6's have a glassier edge to them, and are slightly more in your face. Perhaps the sound difference between an A2 mag like the APH II's and an A5 mag like the 59's, with the A2's being the EL34's, is a good comparison. Both great pickups, just different flavors.
Same with the tubes. I don't belive that a set of EL's will have the same glassy clean quality of a 6L6, especially when pushed a little. It's just different strokes for different folks.
What are the words I am looking for here. IMO EL34's are warmer, smoother and rounder if you picture a distortion wave. 6L6's have a glassier edge to them, and are slightly more in your face. Perhaps the sound difference between an A2 mag like the APH II's and an A5 mag like the 59's, with the A2's being the EL34's, is a good comparison. Both great pickups, just different flavors.
Same with the tubes. I don't belive that a set of EL's will have the same glassy clean quality of a 6L6, especially when pushed a little. It's just different strokes for different folks.
