Need some opinions

punchlinechar

punchlinechar

New member
So I'm hoping to get a tube combo sometime this year, either a Marshall DSL40CST or a 6505 combo. I'm definitely leaning more towards the Marshall, because I tend to prefer the sounds of EL34 vs 6L6 (in my limited experience). I was going to get a 5150III, but I realized that was way out of my price range.

My thing is, I like the sound of the 6534 head, so I was wondering if there was a way to put EL34s in the 6505+ combo?

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Re: Need some opinions

I like the sound of the regular DSL40C, a lot. Given how many players say the Creamback version is a lot better, I wouldn't doubt that a bit. If I hadn't had the extra money to get a used JVM, and if I'd had room for another combo, I definitely would have gotten a DSL40C. Next choice would have been a DSL100H.

I just like Marshall tones more than most others. Once you have that, you might find you still want the 6505 sound as well. Or vice versa.
 
Re: Need some opinions

Little Pigbacon said:
I like the sound of the regular DSL40C, a lot. Given how many players say the Creamback version is a lot better, I wouldn't doubt that a bit. If I hadn't had the extra money to get a used JVM, and if I'd had room for another combo, I definitely would have gotten a DSL40C. Next choice would have been a DSL100H.

I just like Marshall tones more than most others. Once you have that, you might find you still want the 6505 sound as well. Or vice versa.
Click to expand...
I've played the DSL in stores, and I do like it, but I like the tone Eddie got with the original 5150 also. I think what I like is the sound of the 6505 preamp, but the 6L6s sound harsh sometimes. I like the grinding gain, but I also like the more open sound of the Marshall.

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Re: Need some opinions

Since the 6505 is fixed bias, could it take EL34s without issue or...?

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Re: Need some opinions

I don't know about the tube change. Have you ever tried the 5150 pedal in front of a DSL40C?
 
Re: Need some opinions

Lake Placid Blues said:
Nope, it is apparently adjustable bias (technically fixed bias means adjustable bias since it is adjusted or fixed to a certain value) and can't take different tube types without resistor changes. See these threads:

https://peavey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2911&start=15

http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=78053
Click to expand...
How much should this cost to have done? Can I do it with just a soldering iron? I have zero experience fiddling with amps, so I'd rather have a shop do it

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Re: Need some opinions

Peavy makes a 6505 that runs EL34 from the factory:

https://peavey.com/products/index.cfm/item/658/117404

To havea tech convert a 6505 I don't know the cost. With techs there is usually a flat bench fee to look at the amp, plus so much per hour, plus parts.

There are at least a few issues when switching a 6L6 amp to EL34s. First the pin out is slightly different. On a 6L6, pins 1 and 8 are internally connected and on a EL34 they are not. An EL34 amp usually needs to have pin 8 and pin 1 externally jumpered at the tube socket. The result is a 6L6 can plug right into a socket already wired for EL34, but an EL34 may not be able to plug right into a socket wired for 6L6.

Another factor is the 6L6 will require more bias voltage at pin 5 or it will run too hot. The opposite for an EL34. On some amps the bias pot and circuit has enough range to bias either type, but many amps do not. This is why certain resistors may need to be changed to reset the voltage range of the bias circuit.

A third issue is that EL34s pull significantly more heater current (1.5a per tube vs 0.9a per 6L6). This might blow out a power transformer on a 6L6 amp.

On edit: another issue is that EL34s usually require bigger screen grid resistors as well.
 
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Re: Need some opinions

punchlinechar said:
I've played the DSL in stores, and I do like it, but I like the tone Eddie got with the original 5150 also. I think what I like is the sound of the 6505 preamp, but the 6L6s sound harsh sometimes. I like the grinding gain, but I also like the more open sound of the Marshall.

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Click to expand...

Are you playing the 6505 through the matching Peavey cabinet? If you are, that's your harshness right there; those stock 'Sheffield' speakers are awful. Try a 6505 through V30s or something like Creambacks and it's a totally different amp.
 
Re: Need some opinions

Another option to consider is running 5881s instead of 6L6GCs#. The 5881 is of the 6L6 family so should not require any mods but has a softer sound. The KT66 of the 6L6 family is closer to an EL34 tone, but they pull 1.3 amps heater current per tube* and may not fit in the amp because they are physically huge.

* The Tung Sol KT66 pulls the same heater current as a regular 6L6.

# Some 5881s can take plus 450 volts and some can't, so check on that before ordering tubes.
 
Re: Need some opinions

The 5881 might be cool, since Marshall has used them in the past. The combo should have more vertical tube space than a head though right?

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Re: Need some opinions

If I have an opportunity to play a 6505 in store, that could be the deciding factor. Both tones seem good for sure.

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Re: Need some opinions

I'd choose the dsl40c w/creamback65.

If going 6505+112 you could use the $100 savings and get a celestion k100 (nice match IMO).
 
Re: Need some opinions

I'm currently in tone heaven running an EL34 amp....That said;

DSL, 5150, 6505 - I could wake up and play the rev-it-up channel on any of those all day every day and be just fine. Features and such make the difference then.

I was not happy with the 1st channels on any of them for live use. At least not without hooking up some kind of more dirt and lead boost pedals.
 
Re: Need some opinions

Aceman said:
I'm currently in tone heaven running an EL34 amp....That said;

DSL, 5150, 6505 - I could wake up and play the rev-it-up channel on any of those all day every day and be just fine. Features and such make the difference then.

I was not happy with the 1st channels on any of them for live use. At least not without hooking up some kind of more dirt and lead boost pedals.
Click to expand...
I did notice that the DSL crunch channel would need a boost. It's a really narrow margin, but I could probably be happy with either one stock.

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Re: Need some opinions

I've been doing some poking around, did the 6534+ get discontinued? It's not available on most online stores now
 
Re: Need some opinions

punchlinechar said:
I've been doing some poking around, did the 6534+ get discontinued? It's not available on most online stores now
Click to expand...

New Old Stocks are probably running out. Now that they've moved production to China the whole amp-line has been streamlined down to the biggest selling models.

Probably should just look for "gently-used" anyways at this point IMO. Made-In-USA and a bit cheaper.
 
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Re: Need some opinions

punchlinechar said:
So I'm hoping to get a tube combo sometime this year, either a Marshall DSL40CST or a 6505 combo. I'm definitely leaning more towards the Marshall, because I tend to prefer the sounds of EL34 vs 6L6 (in my limited experience). I was going to get a 5150III, but I realized that was way out of my price range.

My thing is, I like the sound of the 6534 head, so I was wondering if there was a way to put EL34s in the 6505+ combo?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

There was Andertons blindfold test in Youtube, where Chapman mistook DSL40C for a modeler, because he thought the overdriven tone of the amp was just too perfectly smooth to be a real tube amp.
 
Re: Need some opinions

punchlinechar said:
So I'm hoping to get a tube combo sometime this year, either a Marshall DSL40CST or a 6505 combo. I'm definitely leaning more towards the Marshall, because I tend to prefer the sounds of EL34 vs 6L6 (in my limited experience). I was going to get a 5150III, but I realized that was way out of my price range.

My thing is, I like the sound of the 6534 head, so I was wondering if there was a way to put EL34s in the 6505+ combo?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Afair the Bugera Infinium 6262 knockoff of the 6505+ is self-biasing and can take any tubes that'll fit
 
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