What is the output tube of your choice?

[Slash2987]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

with mention of where 6550's fall in the tonal spectrum

They are loud with tons of headroom but I think they lack character. Listen to BLS to see what I'm talking about. Unless you're playing EMGs and don't want a very special tone, don't get them, stick with EL34/EL84/6V6/5881s.

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

EL-84's......I have downsized in the amp department over the last couple of years. In a bigger amp I prefer 6L6's for a nice fat tone.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

I'm with aleclee on this one. I had my amp tech put 6CA7's in my Mesa power amp after hearing the same tubes in my buddy's Musicman. Great tube, deep low end with good sparkle and burly mids. It really gave me some more push over the 6L6's I had in there previously.

BTW, in casesome of y'all don't know, Electro Harmonix is making some great power tubes. I've had the 6CA7's, EL-34's, and 6L6's and they've all been great. I highly recommend them.

 

[MVI]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

EL34s for crunchy mids. I have only one EL34 amp, but several w/ 6V6s. Go figure.

 

[larry_emder]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

I have EL-84's in my classic, I love em, but they lack bass. I'll probably get some groove tubes for it or something.

I got those tubes in my mesa boogie studio 22+, and on flat amp setting i find its got too much bass.

would love to try some different tubes (ones that dont break up so easily)...but i dont htink i can with this amp.

 

[ex-250]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

Nothing beats the tone of 100 all tube watt EL34s, IMO.

or in my case, 120

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

I like 'em all for different reasons.

my main gigging amps are 6l6, but I took my Blue Angel (EL84/6V6) to rehearsal last night, and it sounded fantastic.

 

[ES350]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

"The best sound so far but I miss the lows and wide spectrum of the 6l6 Svetlana. I hear the 6CA7 tubes give both? "

Right---6CA7's are a lot 'chestier' (read: 6L6GC) than most EL34's...came stock in Traynors and a lot of those still test good...for best results, go NOS.

Also running NOS 7581A in most 6L6 amps, JJ in 6V6 stuff, NOS TungSol/RCA bp's in old tweeds...

 

[Burkwieser]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

It depends on the amp?

6L6 for my Fender stuff
EL34 for the Marshall stuff

+1

Also JJe34Ls

 

[taphappy]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

6L6's because their in my awesome sounding 5150.

 

[Kac]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

EL-84's......I have downsized in the amp department over the last couple of years. In a bigger amp I prefer 6L6's for a nice fat tone.

+1 to that.

I originally voted 6L6, but I'm really diggin' my V-30 rite now.

Rock On ~ Kac

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

KT-66's - Other

It's got the best of both worlds. It does stunning cleans and then breaks up in the sweetest way. It's the ultimate blues tube.

 

[BigDreamer]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

EL-34s! Awesome midrange and crunch!

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

I don't like seeing this thread popping up every now and then.

The premise is that the power tube determines whether you like the amp, not whether the the amplifier design is preferred, regardless of tube type.

It's like saying "I like EL-84s over 6v6s" instead of saying "I like tone of my model 1974 18w Marshall better than I like the tone of my Gibson GA-19RVT Falcon."

Dig?

EDIT:
That's not taking into account something like the THD Univalve, which can use several types of tubes, it's not designed with a certain tube in mind.

I'm kind of thinking of it like this... A 1967 GTO had the GM 400 ci engine- it was a fast car, a performance car. My parents had a 1980s motor home that had pretty much the same GM 400 engine in it. It was neither built to go fast, nor was it built for performance, but still used basically the same engine...

 

[xerxes]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

ive only ever used el84, but i love the sound im presently getting

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

I love the easy break up of the 6v6's but I really love the sweetness, lowend and smooth gain of 6l6's.

 

[Koreldyre]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

KT-88's

 

[fab.regnaut]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

I voted other : EH 6CA7
cause they are a cross between EL34 and 6L6 , so GOOD !

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

It really doesn't matter in my book what tube is used--it's what the designer does with it that counts.

I've had amps that used 6L6, 6V6, EL34, EL84, or 6550 tubes--and liked all of them.

Bill

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: What is the output tube of your choice?

KT66-other. The best heavy blues tube ever.

It kinda depends on the amp and how I want to use it, though. For a Marshall to be used for rock, the EL34 is probably best suited. If it's gets a little too raggy/snarly, then maybe a 6CA7 instead.