EVH 5150 3 6L6 vs EL34??

[BloodRose]

I see EVH is now offering the 50 watt with 6L6s now. Can anyone tell me how the tone will/does differ from the EL34 version?
I've always found it odd that they used EL34s to begin with as IIRC Ed used 6L6's back in the day and the PV models started with them..

Its out of budget right now, but Id like to get one and will probably go with a 50 watt version as it costs less and the 100 watt is probably over kill. PLUS, from some of the reviews Ive read, the 50 watt has some tweaks to the tone that would probably appeal to me more.

Thanks for any input!!

 

[devastone]

Re: EVH 5150 3 6L6 vs EL34??

The EVHs were all 6L6s to start with, they only added the EL34 versions in the past couple of years because people wanted them, probably because his old Marshalls were EL34s, although IIRC, it's been said he used 6CA7s in them, which is basically a "harder" EL34.

 

[PierceOkken]

Re: EVH 5150 3 6L6 vs EL34??

Marshalls typically come stock with the EL34s, this amp was a crack at the "brown sound." The sound that eddie got from an unknown smattering of cranked marshalls. I personally prefer the el34s, they handle the high gain really well. The have a much smoother high end and are slightly more punchy in the low end. Really you can't go wrong with either one, it is a matter of personal taste.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: EVH 5150 3 6L6 vs EL34??

The EVHs were all 6L6s to start with, they only added the EL34 versions in the past couple of years because people wanted them, probably because his old Marshalls were EL34s, although IIRC, it's been said he used 6CA7s in them, which is basically a "harder" EL34.

duh!!! yeah, you are correct! IIRC now, the EL34s are the "new" thing..
Still curious to see how they differ

 

[Van Noord]

Re: EVH 5150 3 6L6 vs EL34??

From my purchasing research and discussion with other four members who owned the EL34 version, the amp sounds very different from the 6L6 version. Each channel was revoiced / tweaked. The blue channel has a looser feel and brighter sound, while the red channel is not quite as hot as the 6L6 and with a different mid-range character.
I personally have not heard a user say they preferred the EL34 over the 6L6 after owning the 6L6 first.

EVH has said he moved to 6L6 purely for reliability reasons. He stated he has had much better luck with 6L6s as he feels they are less temperamental, more robust and less prone to failure in his experience.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: EVH 5150 3 6L6 vs EL34??

I own the 6L6 version and have played the EL34 version. What most love about the 6L6 version is Channel 2/blue. I just hits all of the right...everything and is really versatile. I liked all channels on the EL34 version too, but Blue wasn't the same as the 6L6. I liked the EL34 version when I tried it, but not enough to ditch the 6L6 version, especially with Blue being as great as it is.

 

[Adieu]

Re: EVH 5150 3 6L6 vs EL34??

The EVHs were all 6L6s to start with, they only added the EL34 versions in the past couple of years because people wanted them, probably because his old Marshalls were EL34s, although IIRC, it's been said he used 6CA7s in them, which is basically a "harder" EL34.

More like they're trying to grab at Peavey's customers, since Peavey has been selling a 6505 (6L6) *and* a 6534 (same amp essentially, but stock EL34's) for a while now

duh!!! yeah, you are correct! IIRC now, the EL34s are the "new" thing..
Still curious to see how they differ

Get a Bugera 6262 Infinum to mess around with? The Infinium version lets you swap em without rebias and iirc even mix and match different types