Rectifier and EL34

[blackcom]

Anyone here who have tried/prefers EL34 over the 6L6 in their Mesa Rectifiers?

How di'd it sound, what di'd you prefer in the end?

 

[JeffTD]

It tightens up the low end, makes the highs and lead tone more brittle, makes the whole amp more high-endy, and has more midrange crunch.

That said, I've always found EL34's to get muddy and just sound weird with the 7th string, so I took them out immediately. The 6L6's are fatter, punchier, thicker, and cleaner.

That said, I tried running the 6L6's at EL34 bias, and it sounded badass. I need to call Mesa and see what the real harm is surrounding this.

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

That said, I tried running the 6L6's at EL34 bias, and it sounded badass. I need to call Mesa and see what the real harm is surrounding this.

Please let us know what their answer is

 

[006]

Hell yeah DSS3, let us know so I can try it on my Dual. If it's going to make the amp explode, I'm not even going to flip the switch yet, hehe.

~006

 

[Wolfeman]

That said, I tried running the 6L6's at EL34 bias, and it sounded badass. I need to call Mesa and see what the real harm is surrounding this.

No harm will be done, since the max plate dissapation of el34's is like 20 watts, and the 6l6's are like 24 watts, so you are essentialy running your 6l6's under the point where most people will bias them too. If it sounds good go with it. Problems would happen when you go over that max plate dissapation.

Check out this article-

http://www.duncanamps.com/technical/lvbias.html

 

[006]

*gets ready to go to the studio and try it*

~006

 

[JeffTD]

I'm going to give Mesa a call tomorrow just to be doubly sure, but it sounds like it's burning them hotter for some reason - weird that it would make it sound better while running them lower? It just sounded badass when I tried it.

 

[KillDivision]

And?
Did you make the call?

 

[JeffTD]

LOL I just got back from school, about to call now.

 

[JeffTD]

Hmm... weird. The guy said the techs there told him that running EL34 at 6L6 mode was fine, but vice versa would eat the tubes.

 

[Wolfeman]

Hmm... weird. The guy said the techs there told him that running EL34 at 6L6 mode was fine, but vice versa would eat the tubes.

Ummmm..... That's why those guys only make $7.00 an hour.....

 

[KillDivision]

That's because EL34's should run hotter than 6L6's. EL34 on 6L6setting would run very cold.

I have run my (6l6)Triple Recto for some years on EL34 setting, no problem. I know it was very louder in EL34 mode.
No i have a new (6L6) Dual, gonna try soon if it sound better in EL34 mode.