Color codes on Mesa EL34 tubes

[DrummerChas]

I'm looking to try the Mesa EL34 tubes for my Mark V. The local GC has them in stock which makes it easy to get them fast. The part I'm trying to figure out is what color code to go with. Does anyone have any experience with using the Mesa EL34's and/or do you know the difference between the colors? I think there are four different choices. The guy at GC said that they would all work, but that different color codes gave you different tones, but he didn't know exactly what those tones were or how they would compare to each other. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[SteveO]

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=3718

 

[MrMarkIII]

The colors are used to match tubes in pairs and have nothing to do with tone.
From Mesa's website:
"Mesa/Boogie tubes have a three letter color code at the base of the tube used to group the tubes into matched pairs. These color codes do not apply to different tonal variation (the number and two letter codes with the color code are Production Batch #'s and Tester's initials respectively)."
Whatever any GC salesperson ever tells you, the exact opposite will be the truth. :lol:

 

[mightywarlock]

might we suggest you try JJ EL34L's instead of the Mesa tubes?

They do work wonders...

 

[DrummerChas]

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=3718

This is exactly what I was looking for - thanks for this thread reference!

 

[jjboogie]

might we suggest you try JJ EL34L's instead of the Mesa tubes?

They do work wonders...

I was told that Mesa is now using JJ's

 

[wezzley]

also, beware that a lot of folks on this forum go nuts for SED winged c's! me included

 

[mightywarlock]

also, beware that a lot of folks on this forum go nuts for SED winged c's! me included

for 6L6 or EL34's?

 

[wezzley]

i like the 6l6's best, they have the specific sound i'm looking for in channel 3 for rhythm. the el34, to me, sound better for leads.

 

[DrummerChas]

Since my amp is so new, I didn't want to take a chance on the warranty getting blown so I went with the Mesa EL34's (Yellow). I was able to pick them up at the local GC. I had called Mesa Hollywood and a guy there told me they were definetly not JJ's. They are the Russian tubes... I'm going to start a new thread with the results I have had so far...and so far it is pretty great!

 

[MrMarkIII]

STR-447 = Sovtek, last I heard.