ibanez4life SZ!
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Hey guys! This is going to be a long post, so get ready for some reading :wink:
Over my time here, I've seen many guys ask this question, myself being one of the ponderers. Having an amp that can, by design, take a combination of tubes is quite intriguing, so no wonder so many people wonder about it.
On to the point...I finally went out and got a pair of Mesa EL-34s to try in the outer sockets of the Mark IV. I got them used, as to not spend too much cash on the venture, but they work just fine. Popped them in at band practice, with Lead volume at 3 and Output at 4, Full, pentode, simul.
I waited a whole month before posting anything about my findings, as in the past, I have made recommendations on a honeymoon period, many of which prooved to be false. As with my recto, I praised it after a retube, only to once again hate it less than a month later.
This case is different. I have done through 4 practices in the month with the combination of tubes, and I must say, it is OUTSTANDING, atleast for my purposes.
My tonal quest as far as amps has been quite difficult. I started on the Rectifier series. Loved it at first, as my tones were very simply and nu-metal oriented. As I grew as a guitarist and musician, I came to HATE the Rectifier mush and atonality. It sounded like I was always on the neck pickup. All thump, and no bite.
Then, after playing the Mark IV, I found it to be a much more musical and natural amp. It made my guitar sound like a stringed instrument, rather than a overly bassy unnatural drive.
The Mark IV is a very tight amp...we can all agree on that. But, stock, it still has teh 6L6 nature. Big, and even when clear, a little woofy. Whenever I palm mute, the sound came out as more of a thud rather than an aggressive crunch that I was looking for. This is more taste than anything, as the "thud" is in no way a bad thing....it simply hit you with a big bassy punch, rather than come up and bite. I wanted a crunchier character to my gain.
So, finally went ahead and popped in the EL-34s, and I have been in heaven since. The longer I think about it, I see that I am going to like EL-34s MUCH more than 6L6s...it seems like the tubes sit more natural in the guitar frequencies, while 6L6s push the instrument to parts where it should not be. But these tubes have added a whole nother dimension to my drive channels. All I can say is CRUNCH....the gain is very crunchy and raunchy, rather than open and overly gainy. Like said before, it bites rather than thumps. Overall, the gain is much clearer, and harmonics come out much easier. The bass pot on the amp, and the GEQ, are MUCH more usable...nothing seems to fart out on me.
In a band mix, this new setup is just fantastic. Cuts like a knife, and I am playing at lower volumes than before. I was having a hard time pulling a REALLY aggressive metal tone from the Mark, but the EL-34s do it without a problem now. It's all about that midrange crunch :twisted: The sound is FAT, and never gets drowned out. I don't get in the way of the bassist or bass drum anymore. I'm always right there, leading the way.
All in all, I'm exstatic about this configuration. I was ready to swap pups on all my guitars, and go through a whole retube to change the tone to what it is now. This was a very simple change, and I'm glad that was all it took. I'm also VERY happy with the stock Mesa tubes in general, and plan to stay with them, as I've found my tone with them, and they are a VERY reliable tube.
I can't really comment on the low volume tones, as I only use the Mark IV at stage volumes, where it excels, but for someone wanting a REALLY aggressive drive out of the amp at gigging volume, I HIGHLY recommend trying this cheap configuration.
The only downside of the swap...the cleans did suffer slightly. I still like them, as I prefer a slightly grainier clean, but for someone wanted maximum squeeky clean tone, this is not for you...the 6L6s do it better.
Hope that helps for anyone wondering!
Eric
Over my time here, I've seen many guys ask this question, myself being one of the ponderers. Having an amp that can, by design, take a combination of tubes is quite intriguing, so no wonder so many people wonder about it.
On to the point...I finally went out and got a pair of Mesa EL-34s to try in the outer sockets of the Mark IV. I got them used, as to not spend too much cash on the venture, but they work just fine. Popped them in at band practice, with Lead volume at 3 and Output at 4, Full, pentode, simul.
I waited a whole month before posting anything about my findings, as in the past, I have made recommendations on a honeymoon period, many of which prooved to be false. As with my recto, I praised it after a retube, only to once again hate it less than a month later.
This case is different. I have done through 4 practices in the month with the combination of tubes, and I must say, it is OUTSTANDING, atleast for my purposes.
My tonal quest as far as amps has been quite difficult. I started on the Rectifier series. Loved it at first, as my tones were very simply and nu-metal oriented. As I grew as a guitarist and musician, I came to HATE the Rectifier mush and atonality. It sounded like I was always on the neck pickup. All thump, and no bite.
Then, after playing the Mark IV, I found it to be a much more musical and natural amp. It made my guitar sound like a stringed instrument, rather than a overly bassy unnatural drive.
The Mark IV is a very tight amp...we can all agree on that. But, stock, it still has teh 6L6 nature. Big, and even when clear, a little woofy. Whenever I palm mute, the sound came out as more of a thud rather than an aggressive crunch that I was looking for. This is more taste than anything, as the "thud" is in no way a bad thing....it simply hit you with a big bassy punch, rather than come up and bite. I wanted a crunchier character to my gain.
So, finally went ahead and popped in the EL-34s, and I have been in heaven since. The longer I think about it, I see that I am going to like EL-34s MUCH more than 6L6s...it seems like the tubes sit more natural in the guitar frequencies, while 6L6s push the instrument to parts where it should not be. But these tubes have added a whole nother dimension to my drive channels. All I can say is CRUNCH....the gain is very crunchy and raunchy, rather than open and overly gainy. Like said before, it bites rather than thumps. Overall, the gain is much clearer, and harmonics come out much easier. The bass pot on the amp, and the GEQ, are MUCH more usable...nothing seems to fart out on me.
In a band mix, this new setup is just fantastic. Cuts like a knife, and I am playing at lower volumes than before. I was having a hard time pulling a REALLY aggressive metal tone from the Mark, but the EL-34s do it without a problem now. It's all about that midrange crunch :twisted: The sound is FAT, and never gets drowned out. I don't get in the way of the bassist or bass drum anymore. I'm always right there, leading the way.
All in all, I'm exstatic about this configuration. I was ready to swap pups on all my guitars, and go through a whole retube to change the tone to what it is now. This was a very simple change, and I'm glad that was all it took. I'm also VERY happy with the stock Mesa tubes in general, and plan to stay with them, as I've found my tone with them, and they are a VERY reliable tube.
I can't really comment on the low volume tones, as I only use the Mark IV at stage volumes, where it excels, but for someone wanting a REALLY aggressive drive out of the amp at gigging volume, I HIGHLY recommend trying this cheap configuration.
The only downside of the swap...the cleans did suffer slightly. I still like them, as I prefer a slightly grainier clean, but for someone wanted maximum squeeky clean tone, this is not for you...the 6L6s do it better.
Hope that helps for anyone wondering!
Eric
