Tubes and Tone

[JacksonShredHead]

So i'm new to the tube amp world, I just got my Peavey JSX a week ago. It has EL34 power amp tubes, but it can be easily switched to 6L6's. My question is, what effect toneally will this have if I switch to 6L6's? (will I have more saturation, noise, mids,lows,highs,etc.)

Thanx dudes!

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Tubes and Tone

a bit more headroom before it starts to break up (most apparent clean at high volumes), a minimally "clearer "tone with accentuated bass and highs compared to what you have now....noise should be the same.

But if you run it at master settings under about 8-9 O´Clock you may not hear much of a difference at all, because the power tubes aren´t really working yet, I can run my rack at high bedroom levels loud enough for practicing with both L+R poweramp volumes on zero

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Tubes and Tone

a bit more headroom before it starts to break up (most apparent clean at high volumes), a minimally "clearer "tone with accentuated bass and highs compared to what you have now....noise should be the same.

+1

You should have better cleans with the 6L6's also.

Swapping will likely take rebiasing if you plan to try 6L6's.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Tubes and Tone

Yes, definitely... most 6L6s will run hot and burn up faster in an amp biased for a typical EL34s

 

[mnbaseball91]

Re: Tubes and Tone

If the JSX is like the XXX, it's got a simple switch you can flip for 6L6s. Personally, I'd leave the EL34s in there. I played a JSX with 6L6s and it sounded kinda thin.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Tubes and Tone

Yes, definitely... most 6L6s will run hot and burn up faster in an amp biased for a typical EL34s

So get the 6L6's and rebias the amp. I recommend the Svetlana 6L6GC's with the "winged C" logo. Supersweet with killer cleans.

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: Tubes and Tone

If you want a mix of 6L6 and EL34 tones try the EH 6CA7 tubes. I use them now and went through a bunch of 6L6 and EL34 tubes in my tone search until I settled on these. You would definateley need to have your amp professionaly biased though.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Tubes and Tone

I'll compare em in my XXX:

6L6: Thicker bass, more chunk, a bit harsher in the high end, less high mids.
EL34: Somewhat tighter bass response, toned down high end, a high mid crunch, still has plenty of chunk.

I prefer the latter .

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Tubes and Tone

do 6CA7's work in fender amps? IE a BF?