I recently won a 60watt combo from eBay. It came from the previous owner with both the stock EL34's and 6L6's. I installed the 6L6's based on the "it's not metal enough" comments I had heard. Metal wasn't my sole criteria for this amp but it was important to me. So I can't really comment on the stock EL34's but with 6L6's the amp is very aptly named. Everything from warm, rich, dynamic cleans to full-blown metal crunch. It offers a great deal of tweaking options including a tube contour, compression and a "global attack" that serves as a great lead mid/treble boost. But that's not to say it's difficult to understand. You can pretty much set it up instinctively then tweak it with the above features to find your sound. I agree it has a voice all it's own that falls someplace between a "flabby" Marshall and a "tigh and compressed" Mesa sound. I find it shines equally with single coils or humbuckers which is great since my main guitar is an HSS Strat. In my opinion, those who cannot find a good sound with the amp have preconceived notions of what an amp "should" sound like. It won't sound exactly like a Fender, Marshall or Mesa. It sounds like a Genz Benz. And for me that sounds just right.
