Tonights Match: ECC83 vs 12AX7, 6L6 vs EL34

R

RipShredScream

New member
I currently use a Crate Blue Vodoo all tube head for stage work. (believe me, I am not a crate fan, but after hearing this thing against other amps in its price range, I was definately impressed.)

It uses 12AX7s in the Preamp, 6L6s in the power. pretty standard.

I was thinking about switching them out for ECC83s/EL34s, simply because my Laney GH100L is equipped with them and it is the greatest sounding amp I've ever heard, but its only single channel, doesn't work for stage work.

Any thoughts welcome.

Oh and does anyone have any experience with the Crate Blue Vodoo? anything I should watch out for?
 
Re: Tonights Match: ECC83 vs 12AX7, 6L6 vs EL34

I'm not familiar with the Blue Voodoo's back panel. Does it have a bias switch so you can use EL-34's? If not, you can't just pop in EL-34's or the bias will be too cold.

In any case, I'm a big fan of GT12AX7C's in highgain channel switching amps.....and most others for that matter. They're hot and focused sounding, so they tighten up the gain nicely, even if you just have 1 in the 1st position.
As for power tubes, you can't go wrong with JJ or Svetlana. Cheap and good.
 
Re: Tonights Match: ECC83 vs 12AX7, 6L6 vs EL34

V!N said:
No
Click to expand...

correct. not the same, just partially compatible. lots of el34 amps can be
driven with 6l6 if the bias range allows it.

some people say, that the 6l6 is more fender like and the el34 is more
marshall like, but that's relatively as time, speed and taste is ;)

i agree to gearjoneser, that jj's are a great and cheap tubes to try out different sounds.
i replaced the v1 in my thunder with a jj ecc803s which is much warmer, fatter but distorts
a little bit later.
i also used standard jj ecc83 as replacement -v2,v3 in my jive which works flawless.
less microphonic and buzz-happy compared to sovteks imo
 
Last edited:
Re: Tonights Match: ECC83 vs 12AX7, 6L6 vs EL34

Is it true that 5881 = 6L6?
 
Re: Tonights Match: ECC83 vs 12AX7, 6L6 vs EL34

I like the ECC83+EL34 combination, that's what's in my Laney too.
 
Re: Tonights Match: ECC83 vs 12AX7, 6L6 vs EL34

...and EL34 pulls more current (enough to blow the PT), different screen resistors, and some socket rewiring in lots of cases...not a pop-in replacement without knowing that the amp is designed to handle both.
 
Re: Tonights Match: ECC83 vs 12AX7, 6L6 vs EL34

Although the Ecc83 is the european designation for the 12Ax7, there are subtile sound differences between a true 83 and the 12ax7, plus The Ecc83's are capable of handling more current that most 12ax7.
 
Re: Tonights Match: ECC83 vs 12AX7, 6L6 vs EL34

As far as I've seen on alot of websites, they also sometimes call ECC83 preamp tubes: "12AX7A/ECC83"

For example, these are in my Laney, from stock:
http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_60_63&products_id=391

"TAD 12AX7A/ECC83 Premium Selected

The TAD 12AX7A-C became the 1st choice for Boogie®, Brunetti®, Diezel® , Engl®, Fender®, Hughes & Kettner®, Koch®, Laney®, Marshall®, Soldano®, Trace Elliot® and so many more."
 
Re: Tonights Match: ECC83 vs 12AX7, 6L6 vs EL34

When did the Blew Doodoo's start coming with 6L6's? I had one brand new the first year they were out and it came stock with EL34's. Fried the sucker 3 times too before getting rid if it (warranty fix each time). Ever since then, I've been very wary about even turning one on anymore.

If they haven't changed the PCB thickness since the 90's, watch out for two tubes going out and a massive volume loss. That'll mean the PCB traces are frying in some places. That's what happened to mine and they had to replace the entire PCB each time. Hopefully they have improved the design. It certainly couldn't have gotten any worse.
 
Re: Tonights Match: ECC83 vs 12AX7, 6L6 vs EL34

Sune said:
As far as I've seen on alot of websites, they also sometimes call ECC83 preamp tubes: "12AX7A/ECC83"

For example, these are in my Laney, from stock:
http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_60_63&products_id=391

"TAD 12AX7A/ECC83 Premium Selected

The TAD 12AX7A-C became the 1st choice for Boogie®, Brunetti®, Diezel® , Engl®, Fender®, Hughes & Kettner®, Koch®, Laney®, Marshall®, Soldano®, Trace Elliot® and so many more."
Click to expand...

This is true to a point, they are completly interchangable, and alot of tube sellers lump them in together, but a True European made ECC83 is constucted a bit different, and has a few different properties.

From Myles Rose site: "The ECC83 has stronger mids and
low, with more pronounced mids than
most of the 12AX7 family of current
tubes. It is less bright on the high
end than current 12AX7R2, R3, and
7025 tubes.

The ECC83 is one of the factors that
make a Marshall sound like a
Marshall in the 1987, 1959, and JTM
45 series as an example."
http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/12ax7p2.html
 
Re: Tonights Match: ECC83 vs 12AX7, 6L6 vs EL34

Thanks for the info. I don't really know much about tubes, just wanted to show you what I've seen.
 
Re: Tonights Match: ECC83 vs 12AX7, 6L6 vs EL34

Glad to share what bits of useles stuff I've picked up! lol
 
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