Most Musical Power Tube?

[ES350]

Re: Most Musical Power Tube?

I play a lot of 6L6 Fender gear, but my faves are KT66, 7591, 6CA7, 7581, and 7027's. Just good clean output power, reliable, long service life...a little bit of nonlinearity goes a long way.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Most Musical Power Tube?

I had to vote EL84's as my Blues Jr is running on them and it is my only all valve amp.

Saying that, i sometimes wish i had some more valve saturation.

(...is there anything i can do to the lil Fender to get some more break up ?)

 

[Mephis]

Re: Most Musical Power Tube?

I love the EL84s in my peavey classic.

Insanely versatile. I can go from acoustic like cleans, to a great 50's rock and roll breakup, all the way to 80s hair metal.

I do love the sound of some heavily pushed 6L6s though. They're not very musical though.

 

[bigheadood]

Re: Most Musical Power Tube?

6V6s, and 6L6s (Crate stealth/Peavey ultra/Mesa Mark iv)
More 3D sounding to my ears.
EL34/EL84s sound too stiff to me. (Marshall DSL 2000/Carvin Legacy/Mesa F30)

I've never played the others though.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Most Musical Power Tube?

I'm suprised to see a lot of EL84 votes...

Probably one of my least favorite tubes.

Some amps sound amazing with them like the Matchless Lightning's and Vox's but it's a VERY specific sound IMO...not really a 'general purpose' thing.

I went with the KT66. I've yet to play an KT66 amp that was a total dog...

Can't say the same about EL84 equipped amps.

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: Most Musical Power Tube?

I really like the big chime/woody crunch of 6550's. Of course, you have to retreive your head from next door after you're done, but still....

 

[junior]

Re: Most Musical Power Tube?

I've had amps with KT66s, el34, 6v6's, and 6l6s- I think I like the el34's the most for gain, but for a good clean fender sound I like 6v6s or 6l6s. Since I tend to play crunchy, el34s are my vote.

 

[lastwinj]

Re: Most Musical Power Tube?

it really depends on what you are going for, and what your tastes are. hard hitting? 6550, kt88 and 6L6. punchy and smooth, kt66, el34. squishy, but with character, el84, dependent on design.

all tubes rock. what about the 4cx250?

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Most Musical Power Tube?

I'll go EL84. Other tubes don't seem to be able to deliver the same kind of sparkle.

 

[esandes]

Re: Most Musical Power Tube?

i think el34 are best, followed closely by 6L6.