Difference between EL84s and 6L6s?

nyck · 02-26-2006, 03:45 PM

Alright, so I'm gonna be getting a Mesa .50 Caliber+ pretty soon. They come in either El84 and 6L6 versions(yes Zimbloth I found some that have EL84s

). I need to know the basic difference between the two poweramp tube types so I can make my decision.

Thx

-or if you can help me out, I'm basically looking for a Meshuggah type rhythm/lead sound. Very tight and focused with not too much gain. Whatever the rhythm sound gives me I'll prolly use it for leads also, or just shape it up with an EQ pedal for adding volume/cuttingness.

LordOVchaoS · 02-26-2006, 04:17 PM

I always found EL84s to have more of a vintage, bluesy type sound where 6L6s = metal and great cleans. I vote for 6L6s in this case.

nyck · 02-26-2006, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordOVchaoS

I always found EL84s to have more of a vintage, bluesy type sound where 6L6s = metal and great cleans. I vote for 6L6s in this case.

So 6L6s would be tighter overall?

LordOVchaoS · 02-26-2006, 04:40 PM

Yes, EL84s = creamy vintage distortion and 6L6s = tight, bottom heavy metal

Leon · 02-26-2006, 04:41 PM

when you think Mesa, 90% of the sounds that come to your mind were probably produced with 6L6's.

darren · 02-26-2006, 04:56 PM

EL84 tubes are traditionally what Vox used in their power amps. 6L6 tubes are traditionally used by Fender in their power amps. Considering Mesa started by hot-rodding Fender amps, this will give you an idea why Mesa amps are typically powered by 6L6 tubes.

bostjan · 02-26-2006, 04:59 PM

6L6 - the hard rock standard, ultimate power tube penultimate to the ultra-rare KT88.

Drew · 02-26-2006, 06:09 PM

6L6's tend to have deeper bass than EL34's (I know you said 84's, but bear with me) and a (relatively speaking) scooped midrange - nothing major, but the emphasis is on treble and bass. EL34's, meanwhile, are very midrangey, and tend to break up a little earlier (due to the midrange emphasis and the fact that's where most of your guitar frequencies are). EL84's, meanwhile, are lower-powered tubes that are similar to EL34's tonally but tend to sound like they're being driven a little harder, quite possibly due to the lower wattage and the fact that they generally ARE.

nyck · 02-26-2006, 06:24 PM

Thanks for the info. I'm still somewhat unsure if EL84s would be good for me. My sound is pretty much mid orientated with even bass and treble. I play metal, but I don't use a whole lot of gain to get the high gain sound, I rely on the pickups and my pick attack. You said the EL34s had a more midrangy type sound, would the mids be harsh? The reason I ask this is I played a Marshall JTM45 combo yesterday with EL84s(I think) and it sounded alright and all, it just didn't sound too smooth. I would consider it a raunchy type of distortion. Also, I couldn't tell from the Marshall because it didn't have too much bass, but do EL84s have tight bass response?

Drew · 02-26-2006, 07:00 PM

EL's of any sort have less bass than 6L6's. As for smoothness, well, a Marshall preamp won't be nearly as smooth as a Mesa, and at the point where you worry about the impact of poweramp distortion on your tone, they'll be fuckin' LOUD.

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02-26-2006, 03:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
nyck blah! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,039 Real Name: Nick Main Seven: no 7 Rig: Mesa .50 Caliber Thanked: 2	Difference between EL84s and 6L6s? Alright, so I'm gonna be getting a Mesa .50 Caliber+ pretty soon. They come in either El84 and 6L6 versions(yes Zimbloth I found some that have EL84s ). I need to know the basic difference between the two poweramp tube types so I can make my decision. Thx -or if you can help me out, I'm basically looking for a Meshuggah type rhythm/lead sound. Very tight and focused with not too much gain. Whatever the rhythm sound gives me I'll prolly use it for leads also, or just shape it up with an EQ pedal for adding volume/cuttingness.

02-26-2006, 04:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
LordOVchaoS NUDE MAN! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Warrensburg, MO Posts: 3,949 Real Name: Joe Main Seven: Xiphos 7-string+blackouts Rig: Engl SE->Vader Thanked: 55	I always found EL84s to have more of a vintage, bluesy type sound where 6L6s = metal and great cleans. I vote for 6L6s in this case. www.bodenhamer-electronics.com the official gain merchant of sevenstring.org.

02-26-2006, 04:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
Leon {##[====:::. • Super Moderator • Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Ohio Crew Posts: 12,474 Main Seven: RG7620 of Doom Rig: Mesa / Sovtek Thanked: 81	when you think Mesa, 90% of the sounds that come to your mind were probably produced with 6L6's. I have a radical idea. The door swings both ways, we could reverse the particle flow through the gate. We'll cross the streams.

02-26-2006, 04:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
bostjan Spastic Kitchen! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 6,173 Main Seven: Oni Custom 7 Main ERG: Oni Custom 8 Rig: Mesa Dual Recto Thanked: 6	6L6 - the hard rock standard, ultimate power tube penultimate to the ultra-rare KT88. Khereb's myspace

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02-26-2006, 04:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
LordOVchaoS NUDE MAN! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Warrensburg, MO Posts: 3,949 Real Name: Joe Main Seven: Xiphos 7-string+blackouts Rig: Engl SE->Vader Thanked: 55	Yes, EL84s = creamy vintage distortion and 6L6s = tight, bottom heavy metal

02-26-2006, 04:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
darren Mr. Negative Pants™ Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Greater Toronto Area, Canada Posts: 7,362 Main Seven: OMFG! EBMM JP7 Rig: GT6PowerBlockThiele Thanked: 32	EL84 tubes are traditionally what Vox used in their power amps. 6L6 tubes are traditionally used by Fender in their power amps. Considering Mesa started by hot-rodding Fender amps, this will give you an idea why Mesa amps are typically powered by 6L6 tubes.

02-26-2006, 06:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
Drew Fear the Polo! • Super Moderator • Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 29,805 Real Name: Call me Ahab... Main Seven: 1991 Ibanez UV7PWH Main ERG: Sherman 5-string bass Rig: Mesa Recto-verb 50 Thanked: 147	6L6's tend to have deeper bass than EL34's (I know you said 84's, but bear with me) and a (relatively speaking) scooped midrange - nothing major, but the emphasis is on treble and bass. EL34's, meanwhile, are very midrangey, and tend to break up a little earlier (due to the midrange emphasis and the fact that's where most of your guitar frequencies are). EL84's, meanwhile, are lower-powered tubes that are similar to EL34's tonally but tend to sound like they're being driven a little harder, quite possibly due to the lower wattage and the fact that they generally ARE. "...and everything under the sun is in tune, but the sun is eclipsed by the moon."

02-26-2006, 06:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
nyck blah! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,039 Real Name: Nick Main Seven: no 7 Rig: Mesa .50 Caliber Thanked: 2	Thanks for the info. I'm still somewhat unsure if EL84s would be good for me. My sound is pretty much mid orientated with even bass and treble. I play metal, but I don't use a whole lot of gain to get the high gain sound, I rely on the pickups and my pick attack. You said the EL34s had a more midrangy type sound, would the mids be harsh? The reason I ask this is I played a Marshall JTM45 combo yesterday with EL84s(I think) and it sounded alright and all, it just didn't sound too smooth. I would consider it a raunchy type of distortion. Also, I couldn't tell from the Marshall because it didn't have too much bass, but do EL84s have tight bass response?

02-26-2006, 07:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
Drew Fear the Polo! • Super Moderator • Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 29,805 Real Name: Call me Ahab... Main Seven: 1991 Ibanez UV7PWH Main ERG: Sherman 5-string bass Rig: Mesa Recto-verb 50 Thanked: 147	EL's of any sort have less bass than 6L6's. As for smoothness, well, a Marshall preamp won't be nearly as smooth as a Mesa, and at the point where you worry about the impact of poweramp distortion on your tone, they'll be fuckin' LOUD.

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Difference between EL84s and 6L6s?