6V6 Power Tubes Compared With The EL34 & 6L6

[@greggalbraith2842]

This demo is better than most at accentuating the differences! Normally, I'm too wordy in my descriptions, so in this case I'll just say this: 6L6: balanced and smooth EL-34: pointy and authoritative! 6V6: smoother than EL-34, but a bit more pointy in the middle than 6L6. This is exactly why I love 6V6 tubes. That folks, is why after having quite a few amps over the years, I recently bought a 6G3 Brownface Deluxe clone...to replace a real 1962 Brown Deluxe I stupidly sold in the 90's!

[@mmagoon67]

Unfortunately, my 6V6s burt out last year. I decided to try the JJ 5881. I think I prefer the 6V6s. Hopefully doing a video on them soon.

[@bd_strummer]

Great job! Thanks!

[@astrogerard2022]

Great demo. Not a big difference between them except maybe level. I definitely lean towards the warmer 6V6 as you get more head room before distorting I believe. You can always increase distortion but it's hard to do the reverse if it's already there on lower levels.

[@LunchboxMods]

Definitely darker sounding. I did end up doing the jj kt77's. Blew the fuses out on the amp,lol. Luckily had ordered 2 sets by mistake. Definitely a louder tube and I did like the sound. Added a low mid growl. Oddly enough, I took the amp out to jam and the kt77's stopped working. I brought the amp home and they were fine. It was really odd.

[@mmagoon67]

That is kind of odd. Where did you end up buying your tubes? I hesitate buying tubes from reputable places to avoid the trouble, as much as possible anyways, of tube failure. I still want to try some KT77's. If money wasn't an issue I'd do a video of all the "KT" type tubes. I'm actually starting to not like the 6550's I bought. Defiantly not a good tube for an amp that already has a lot of midrange.

[@LunchboxMods]

Tube depot. I mean who the heck knows it could have been my fault. The kt77's were pretty cheap for power tubes 40 bucks for a matched set. Unless you want to go gold lion, those are pricey. But the jj's have gotten really good reviews.

[@mmagoon67]

@@LunchboxMods Tube Depot is where I usually get my tubes. However, I always go Eurotubes if I'm getting JJ. Sometimes amps just seem to act up when you mess with power tubes. My old Dual Rectifier hated it when you messed with the tubes. Blew fuses and had to replace tubes frequently.

[@LunchboxMods]

Well the hk is supposed to be good with it. Lol

[@LunchboxMods]

So going back through this as I'm in the process of retubing as my kt77's blew and then putting in the old mesa tubes that weren't really used much blew the anode fuse twice. Lol. Obviously things ha e changed a lot in the past few years with the availability of tubes but looking at a few options through eurotubes. Got a new set of jj 6l6's local to hold me over but thinking I'll go kt77 again but unsure of which el34 route I'll go as there are a few different options. Really wanting to get the plexi sound out of 2A. In addition, getting some little cracks and pops and I'm pretty sure it's the power tubes doing it, but would you recommend changing the PI (v9) as well anyway? I believe it the original tube as it's a tad. Thanks in advanced!

[@1thess523]

They all sounded pretty good but the hill 34 in the 6 V6 I like the best although your 6 L6 still sounded pretty good. I have a marshall jcm 900 that has to 5881 or 6 L 6 tubes and I with it sounded as warm as your amp

[@shredgd5]

The 6V6s sound quiter, in fact I had to compensate for volume when listening to your demo. Once you normalize the levels, the difference between the EL34s and the 6V6s becomes really small. The 6L6s instead sound scooped compared to the others.

[@mmagoon67]

But, now you know they are quieter. In person I find them less bold sounding which makes them great for cleaner sounds, at least for a 4x12. I haven't taken them out since I did this video. If I compensate my amp's volume there is still a very clear difference. I wish mics would help me capture that better.

[@mediumshreddercheese]

What kind of guitar is that? Looks like a Martin headstock kinda

[@mmagoon67]

It's a Music Man BFR 6 JP signature.

[@paweg4321]

el 34 a powerful tube more hums, rather to distorted music. 6L6 quite even sound, clear in clean and distorted. 6v6 perfect for warm playing and chords playing in blues pop music.