EH 6CA7's in my Mark I reissue head?

[Elliott Damage]

Here's some background information.
I just got a Mesa Mark I reissue head. The tubes are pushing ten years old and I find I don't have the clarity I would like. It's time to change the tubes. I would like to try the EH 6CA7's. I have read a pretty good amount of positive posts on this board and I can actually afford a matched quad. I like the description of this tube.

I find the bass to be a little overwhelming for the high gain crunchy powerchords i like so much. I have been running through a detuned Madsound 2x10. I feel this is not a good cab for this amp. I have ordered an oversized 1x12 to use with this amp. The speaker will be an Eminence Wizard. My goal is to give this amp a more aggressive Brittish flavor. I am not trying to turn it into a Marshall, I just want a more assertive crunch with a solid low end as opposed to a smooth lead sound.

Any comments or suggestions for this plan? Thanks!

[aleclee]

Keep in mind that 6CA7s are electrically equivalent to EL34s, not 6L6. As such, I don't know if the Mesa can supply enough heater current.

[Elliott Damage]

Keep in mind that 6CA7s are electrically equivalent to EL34s, not 6L6. As such, I don't know if the Mesa can supply enough heater current.

the user manual states that EL-34's can be used in the amp for a more Brittish sound.

[aleclee]

Then why not go with EL34s?

IME, 6CA7s (incl the EH version) tend more towards 6L6 tone than EL34. They're great for taking some of the EL34 honk out of an amp but I wouldn't expect them to add "aggressive Brittish flavor" to a 6L6 amp.

[Elliott Damage]

Then why not go with EL34s?

IME, 6CA7s (incl the EH version) tend more towards 6L6 tone than EL34. They're great for taking some of the EL34 honk out of an amp but I wouldn't expect them to add "aggressive Brittish flavor" to a 6L6 amp.

do you have an EL-34 recomendation? I'm looking for new production because i need a matched quad. I don't want to spend much more than a hundred. Thanks!!! :BEER

[theirflowers21]

I like the newest Chinese el34bs. The ones that I have had sound pretty good and I have heard they last well. Just my 2 scents :)

[Stormin]

do you have an EL-34 recomendation? I'm looking for new production because i need a matched quad. I don't want to spend much more than a hundred. Thanks!!! :BEER

I've been running the new Mullard EL-34 reissues in my Mark I for the last 2 months, and I REALLY like them. I've found the Mark I reissue is not as sensitive to tube selection as some others. It sounded about the same with Mesa, JJ, and Sovtek, and a hair better with the Mullards, but not that much,

Also, IMHO, you really dont need a matched quad - just 2 matched pairs (esp if you often run in the 60 watt mode).

Stormin!

[Blue Strat]

do you have an EL-34 recomendation? I'm looking for new production because i need a matched quad. I don't want to spend much more than a hundred. Thanks!!! :BEER

The Groove Tubes EL34M (Mullard replica) are killer and just a few $$$ over $100 per quad. Under $100 you have the Russian Mullard Reissues and the SEDs. All available at the link below.

[aleclee]

do you have an EL-34 recomendation? Not really. I tend to prefer the tone of 6CA7s in my EL34 amps because for the stuff I play I don't want the upper mid peak.

If that's what you're looking for, the JJ EL34L might be the thing. When I pop those in my Rivera, it sounds a whole lot more british.

[Dana Olsen]

Not really. I tend to prefer the tone of 6CA7s in my EL34 amps because for the stuff I play I don't want the upper mid peak.

If that's what you're looking for, the JJ EL34L might be the thing. When I pop those in my Rivera, it sounds a whole lot more british.I like 6CA7's too. To me their tone straddles the ground between an EL-34 and a 6L6. They sound like an EL-34 without the upper mid hump, as AlecLee said - to me they sound like a 'glassy' EL-34, and a little 'stiffer' too - Alec, does that describe what you're hearing in them?

I'm thinking that if you want more articulate, go with 6CA7's. You want more British, go with EL-34's.

Dana O.

[Elliott Damage]

I've been running the new Mullard EL-34 reissues in my Mark I for the last 2 months, and I REALLY like them. I've found the Mark I reissue is not as sensitive to tube selection as some others. It sounded about the same with Mesa, JJ, and Sovtek, and a hair better with the Mullards, but not that much,

Also, IMHO, you really dont need a matched quad - just 2 matched pairs (esp if you often run in the 60 watt mode).

Stormin!

i didn't even think of using two matched pairs. good suggestion.
Stormin, how do you find the tone differs when using EL-34's?


lots of good info here guys. keep it coming!

[aleclee]

They sound like an EL-34 without the upper mid hump, as AlecLee said - to me they sound like a 'glassy' EL-34, and a little 'stiffer' too - Alec, does that describe what you're hearing in them?I could agree with "glassy". "Stiffer" could mean a lot of things and I have no idea which of them you might mean. I just say that they're smoother without the huge upper mid peak.

[Elliott Damage]

what would you guys suggest for pre-amp tubes?

[Elliott Damage]

i didn't even think of using two matched pairs. good suggestion.
Stormin, how do you find the tone differs when using EL-34's?


lots of good info here guys. keep it coming!
bump

[Stormin]

It's kinda hard to describe, but with the Mk 1, EL34's seem to shift the mid range focus a little higher than the 6L6's do (less mid scoop). I don't mean at all to imply it's more "Marshall-y" (cause it's not), but it's a little more raw, aggressive, and punchy. I also play my Mk 1 with the mid almost maxed, so this may help accentuate this a little more. My settings are definately not typical of others.

Keep in mind I'm usually playing a Strat or a Tele with this rig, so I get slightly more "meat" than I do with the 6L6's.

..Stormin!

[Elliott Damage]

It's kinda hard to describe, but with the Mk 1, EL34's seem to shift the mid range focus a little higher than the 6L6's do (less mid scoop). I don't mean at all to imply it's more "Marshall-y" (cause it's not), but it's a little more raw, aggressive, and punchy. I also play my Mk 1 with the mid almost maxed, so this may help accentuate this a little more. My settings are definately not typical of others.

Keep in mind I'm usually playing a Strat or a Tele with this rig, so I get slightly more "meat" than I do with the 6L6's.

..Stormin!

i understand. what tubes do you use in your amp?

what are some of your favorite settings?

[Stormin]

Elliot,

Right now, I'm running EH pre's. The outer power's are Mullard reissue EL-34's, and the inner pair are Mesa EL-34's. I run the head into an EVM loaded 1x12 Thiele and an MC90 loaded 1x12 half back. Settings are as follows (I only use Input 2):

Vol1: 0
Vol2: 4
Master: Set to desired vol
Treble: 8
Bass: 4
Middle: 9
Reverb: 3
Presence: 7
also set for 100 Watt and Tweed.

I also use an OD/Dist or two, since the amp is running right below the edge of breakup. I've been running various flavors of this for like the last 7-8 years, and it gets me from SRV to Buddy Guy to the Allman's to ZZ Top to Skynyrd to Santana.

YMMV,

Stormin

[UfoPilot]

I haven't thoughtoof using EH6ca7's in mine. AND I have 6 extra pair! I t hink I'll give it a try. Thanks for the idea. :BEER

[Elliott Damage]

I haven't thoughtoof using EH6ca7's in mine. AND I have 6 extra pair! I t hink I'll give it a try. Thanks for the idea. :BEER

please let me know what you think :RoCkIn

thanks!

[Elliott Damage]

I haven't thoughtoof using EH6ca7's in mine. AND I have 6 extra pair! I t hink I'll give it a try. Thanks for the idea. :BEER

did you ever try this out?

[UfoPilot]

did you ever try this out?
That amp is currently on consignment at the local music store. They're not moving it so I've been thinking about bringing it home and putting it on ebay. I'll try it when I get it home after school starts. I like the EL34's best in that amp because the bass sounds better. :RoCkIn

[Elliott Damage]

That amp is currently on consignment at the local music store. They're not moving it so I've been thinking about bringing it home and putting it on ebay. I'll try it when I get it home after school starts. I like the EL34's best in that amp because the bass sounds better. :RoCkIn

do you have a favorite EL34?