Wattage
High Voltologist
6L6 STOCK Sovtek Tubes
EL34 Svetlana Replacements
Sykes really wanted to hear some clips of both tube types in the XXX and Soria wanted to hear 6L6's so I did a quick take on both, each is about 2 minutes of asst. riffs. I hope it helps. I can't tell you how easy this amp is to swap tubes. I popped out the 6L6's, flipped the bias switch and popped in the EL34's and I was done. I can dial it in by ear if I want to which I'll likely do later or I can use a meter if I want to make sure I am not running too hot. I had both sets dialed dead smack in the middle of the dial for these samples. I only did samples of the Crunch and the Ultra channels, you're really not buying this amp for the cleans trust me on that. They're not horrible but they really need a nice little chorus or flange to open them up.
Don't know how much you can really get a feel for the difference in the recording since I am fair at best with a mic but the difference was tremendous being in front of the amp. The 6L6 tubes are bit raspy and a little thin at certain settings, not bad at all but certainly they have that tendency where as the EL34's had a lot more grind and crunch to them and certainly didn't lack in the fullness department. I would actually say that the 6L's were a little better suited for the Ultra channel and the EL's were better on the Crunch channel. For me the Crunch is the reason I got the amp so it is much better for my needs now that I tried this. I'll hang on to the 6L's for now but I doubt they're going back in anytime soon. I'll tell you what the Celestion Century speakers came to life with the EL's in there so maybe I'll keep them after all they were overly harsh on the highs with the 6L's. I actually mic'd up the 2x12 Avatar cab with the stock Sheffield speakers for the clips.
The stock tubes are (4) 12AX7s 2 labeled as EH and 2 with the same markings less the EH logo, 3 are pre's and 1 is a phase inverter/power driver I didn't touch those yet. The 6L6's are marked Sovtek 6L6WXT. The EL34's I put in are Svetlana's which are supposed to be a better tube than the Sovtek's from what I understand so maybe a GT 6L6GE or the Svetlana equal would be a better comparison I don't know? If any one wants to send me some I'd be happy to try them
*** I should add that I used my LP Standard with a C5 bridge for the clips***
EL34 Svetlana Replacements
Sykes really wanted to hear some clips of both tube types in the XXX and Soria wanted to hear 6L6's so I did a quick take on both, each is about 2 minutes of asst. riffs. I hope it helps. I can't tell you how easy this amp is to swap tubes. I popped out the 6L6's, flipped the bias switch and popped in the EL34's and I was done. I can dial it in by ear if I want to which I'll likely do later or I can use a meter if I want to make sure I am not running too hot. I had both sets dialed dead smack in the middle of the dial for these samples. I only did samples of the Crunch and the Ultra channels, you're really not buying this amp for the cleans trust me on that. They're not horrible but they really need a nice little chorus or flange to open them up.
Don't know how much you can really get a feel for the difference in the recording since I am fair at best with a mic but the difference was tremendous being in front of the amp. The 6L6 tubes are bit raspy and a little thin at certain settings, not bad at all but certainly they have that tendency where as the EL34's had a lot more grind and crunch to them and certainly didn't lack in the fullness department. I would actually say that the 6L's were a little better suited for the Ultra channel and the EL's were better on the Crunch channel. For me the Crunch is the reason I got the amp so it is much better for my needs now that I tried this. I'll hang on to the 6L's for now but I doubt they're going back in anytime soon. I'll tell you what the Celestion Century speakers came to life with the EL's in there so maybe I'll keep them after all they were overly harsh on the highs with the 6L's. I actually mic'd up the 2x12 Avatar cab with the stock Sheffield speakers for the clips.
The stock tubes are (4) 12AX7s 2 labeled as EH and 2 with the same markings less the EH logo, 3 are pre's and 1 is a phase inverter/power driver I didn't touch those yet. The 6L6's are marked Sovtek 6L6WXT. The EL34's I put in are Svetlana's which are supposed to be a better tube than the Sovtek's from what I understand so maybe a GT 6L6GE or the Svetlana equal would be a better comparison I don't know? If any one wants to send me some I'd be happy to try them
*** I should add that I used my LP Standard with a C5 bridge for the clips***
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