Agreed for the most part. The have much more punch and usually they sound thicker with more low end, circuit design notwithstanding.drbob1 said:I'd say there's a pretty dramatic difference, in general, between those tubes:
El84s-sparkly highs, break up fairly early, lows are full but not punchy.
6L6s-a LOT more clean overhead, much harder hitting on the attack of the note, break up is a bit more abrupt and harsh (with 6L6Gs being the softest and going harder thru the line to 6550s). Bass is more authoritative. A good way to think of it might be the difference between the clean of an 18w Marshall vs Bluesbreaker vs JCM800 (6550s).
Before I bought the Budda, I'd probably have agreed about it being dramatic, afterward, I'd call it subtle. Coming through the same pre, both channels sound very similar. Thanks for the word about softer/harder tube types in the 6 family. I hadn't really thought aboput that. I may have to try a harder 6L6 type-tube in the budda to try and emphasize the difference some more. The intent of that amp appears not be to use different sounds of different tubes, so much as it was to have one power amp attenuated, and the other wide open so your rhythm tone isn't weaker than your lead tone, but the subtleties in tone difference are cool to me. Cab switching is cool, too.drbob1 said:I'd say there's a pretty dramatic difference, in general, between those tubes:
El84s-sparkly highs, break up fairly early, lows are full but not punchy.
6L6s-a LOT more clean overhead, much harder hitting on the attack of the note, break up is a bit more abrupt and harsh (with 6L6Gs being the softest and going harder thru the line to 6550s). Bass is more authoritative. A good way to think of it might be the difference between the clean of an 18w Marshall vs Bluesbreaker vs JCM800 (6550s).
Well said, Leon! I have to agree wholeheartedly, especially since the emphasis on "most" implies that some amp circuits can surprise you by bucking this pattern. I have the feeling that if we were a group of electrical engineers, rather than musician/artists, we'd be discussing amp circuits more often than tubes.Leonc said:Most 6L6 amps I've played often had more body--certainly more low-end--than most EL48 amps I've played. They also sounded a bit less harmonically interesting/complex.
Yes.deadboy77 said:Since I'm used to EL-84's will I like 6L6's?
I'd have to say that my BV25's overdrive channel really sounds like driven 6L6's and not EL84's, as it's pretty easy to get zingy RF lead tones. I've had a couple of Buddas, including a Dual Stage 30 like WaxnSteel, and the BV25 doesn't really approach the EL84 tones I got out either of my Buddas. Anyone else notice that with their BV25s?deadboy77 said:Right now I have a Vox AC30CC2 (2x12) and a Zinky Blue Velvet 25w combo (1x12).
The speakers, cabinet and amplifier voicing (beyond tube set) have a lot to do with this as well. Dr. Z amps have a HUGE low end. The Ghia is a very punchy amp, but it is voiced uniquely and has a different tone stack than other EL84 amps (tone control is like a wah pot that you set to "fit" the range and feel of your guitar)...drbob1 said:I'd say there's a pretty dramatic difference, in general, between those tubes:
El84s-sparkly highs, break up fairly early, lows are full but not punchy.
6L6s-a LOT more clean overhead, much harder hitting on the attack of the note, break up is a bit more abrupt and harsh (with 6L6Gs being the softest and going harder thru the line to 6550s). Bass is more authoritative. A good way to think of it might be the difference between the clean of an 18w Marshall vs Bluesbreaker vs JCM800 (6550s).
There are 6L6 to EL84 converters called "Yellowjackets". Modding the amp would be a major undertaking, Yellowjackets can be popepd in and out easily.my question is that I want to trade out my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe tubes from the 6L6 to an EL84... basically turn it into a Bad Cat Cub 2 for the most part since I can't seem to find any online... is this possible or will it be more cost effective to just get the Bad cat Cub 2 instead of modding my current amp (the Hot Rod Dx)...