I found tonal bliss by accident today.

[mikey383]

I've been an advocate for E34Ls for the last 4 or 5 years. Every time I try to use 6L6s, I end up switching right back to my JJ E34Ls. 6L6s have the bite, but they lack the midrange I like. E34Ls I think sometimes have a little too much midrange for me, so I've been trying to find a common ground.

So just for fun today, I stuck my JJ 6L6s back in my 2 channel Recto. I tried them both on 6L6 mode and EL34 mode. I liked the way they sounded on EL34 mode, but they still lacked the midrange I desire, and I was a little concerned about frying the tubes or the amp. I measured the current with a bias probe and my meter, and I got 70mA in EL34 mode. I don't think my bias probe is right, since I was getting 53mA with my E34Ls, and 45mA using the OT shunt method. That's still kinda high either way, but I've been running my E34Ls that way for 2 years with no problems. But today, I didn't want to get my head out of the road case and disassemble it to take readings that way. Too big of a pain in the ass.

I wanted to put the 6L6s in the outer sockets and leave the E34Ls in the middles, and try EL34 mode, but once again, I was concerned about frying something.

So I ended up messing around with both 6L6s, E34Ls, a set of Mesa STR420s that I have laying around...going from 2 tubes to 4 tubes, trying to figure out which I liked the best. I kept switching back and forth between the JJs. I had the 6L6s in the two middle sockets when I accidentally grabbed a pair of E34Ls to put in the outers. I had it set on 6L6 mode. I flipped the switch, and BAM. It hit me like a ton of bricks. There it is...the tone I've been searching for!

So I go back through the tubes and find I stuck the E34Ls in the outers. Hmm....that will be safe to run like that...and I love the tone! Turn it up a little bit, and there's the bite with the midrange, and not too much midrange!

I did find out by flipping the bias switch, that there isn't much of a difference between the 6L6 and EL34 mode...just a volume increase. That can easily be taken care of by turning up the volume.

So that's my story

 

[Mr_You]

Is that safe for the amp?

Anyways, you might check out KT77s. Suppose to be a cross between a 6L6 and EL34.

 

[mikey383]

I wouldn't see why it wouldn't be safe. The E34Ls will be a little cold in 6L6 mode.

I've heard that about KT77s. I just haven't got around to trying them. I'm a little hesitant on buying tubes these days. I hate to spend the money then find out I don't care for them.

 

[fluff191]

Can KT77's be used in the Recto? And what bias setting would you put it at?

 

[mikey383]

Can KT77's be used in the Recto? And what bias setting would you put it at?

Eurotube's website says EL34 mode.




I have an adjustable bias on mine. I'm going to take it out of the road case and try different settings later in the week. Right now it's on stock setting.

 

[jdurso]

i have kt77s in my roadster... they're the JJs from eurotubes and you run them in el34 mode.

I will say if you dig the size of the 6L6s but with slightly less bass, more bite, and a more focused sound, while still retaining the sweet cleans, the KT77s are worth the shot.

 

[fluff191]

i have kt77s in my roadster... they're the JJs from eurotubes and you run them in el34 mode.

I will say if you dig the size of the 6L6s but with slightly less bass, more bite, and a more focused sound, while still retaining the sweet cleans, the KT77s are worth the shot.

Wow now I'm really curious. I just put EL34's in my Recto and love them. The 6L6's were just to flabby in the low end. Is it true they do eliminate some of the "chunk" when palm muting?

 

[jdurso]

i have kt77s in my roadster... they're the JJs from eurotubes and you run them in el34 mode.

I will say if you dig the size of the 6L6s but with slightly less bass, more bite, and a more focused sound, while still retaining the sweet cleans, the KT77s are worth the shot.

Wow now I'm really curious. I just put EL34's in my Recto and love them. The 6L6's were just to flabby in the low end. Is it true they do eliminate some of the "chunk" when palm muting?

I dont think any power tube "eliminates" anyone characteristic of an amp, but if anything tames it a little. I found if you dont touch your settings and just chnage the tubes, you will notice a little less bass, and a little more mid bite.

In actuality though you'll see more differences in the amount of bass by changing out your preamp tubes... i dont want to throw you off the deep end into the NOS preamp tube world i went down, but you have WAY more control over certain characteristics by adjusting the tubes you use in the preamp, than switching between power tube types.

 

[tunedown]

wait, lemme get this straight.

I have a 2ch dual rec that's currently running 6L6s. If I want to try this, I would remove the two 6L6 tubes from the OUTER sockets and replace them with EL34s and keep the bias set at 6L6? Is this correct?

And, more importantly, this is actually safe for the amp? I don't run the risk of screwing anything up?

 

[fluff191]

And, more importantly, this is actually safe for the amp? I don't run the risk of screwing anything up?

Well in theory the EL34's would be running very cold, which wont hurt anything. But man it would still make me VERY nervous. I wouldnt want to blow a grid resister or something like that. Ya never know.

I dont think any power tube "eliminates" anyone characteristic of an amp, but if anything tames it a little. I found if you dont touch your settings and just chnage the tubes, you will notice a little less bass, and a little more mid bite.

In actuality though you'll see more differences in the amount of bass by changing out your preamp tubes... i dont want to throw you off the deep end into the NOS preamp tube world i went down, but you have WAY more control over certain characteristics by adjusting the tubes you use in the preamp, than switching between power tube types.

And thanks JDURSO for the info. Its helped alot. I think I am going to order some and give them a shot!

 

[mikey383]

wait, lemme get this straight.

I have a 2ch dual rec that's currently running 6L6s. If I want to try this, I would remove the two 6L6 tubes from the OUTER sockets and replace them with EL34s and keep the bias set at 6L6? Is this correct?

And, more importantly, this is actually safe for the amp? I don't run the risk of screwing anything up?

Actually, either inner or outer sockets would work. Just as long as it's not EL34, EL34, 6L6, 6L6, or something like that.

The EL34s will be running very cold, but the thing is, 6L6s run very cold in a Recto on 6L6 mode anyway. EL34s on EL34 mode get biased up to right around where they should be. Using them in 6L6 mode just makes them as cold as the 6L6s, maybe just a tad hotter.