Alright, SO, after the Thanksgiving weekend, I finally got to go back to the practice space yesterday and today and did a couple comparison tests.
Guitar used was one of my two PRS SE Toreros with EMG 81(b)/85
(to give you an idea of the hardware I use to get my sounds)
First up was the new Multi-Watt Dual Rec against my 2005 3-channel Triple Rec.
I ran each head through their own cab (same spec), both on Bold, Diodes, clean on ch1, Vintage mode (what I use) on ch 2 and ch 3. Both have new Mesa 6L6GC power tubes and new Mesa (JJ) 12ax7 preamp tubes.
The new head seems to cut through a little better, having more of a high end bite, that isn't annoying or brittle. On ch 1, the clean on the DR was a little more 'chimey', with a little more depth and clean punch. Ch 2 was similar on both, but, the gain was a little smoother on the DR, as was the presence control's sound. Ch 3 had a more noticeable difference. On the DR, it wasn't overly brash or terribly trebly, like the TR could become if the Presence knob was raised above 10:00. I think I will be using Ch 3 more on the new heads, I like the sound of it. I typically stayed on Ch 2 of the TR, because it is noticeably warmer than Ch 3. Both sounded good, although I do prefer the Multi-Watt over the older Triple, but, I would still be happy with the TR if I weren't able to get these. It is a great head and sounded good through the c90/v30 x patterned cab.
The next comparison is what I plan to use live with this rig, which is running one DR with 6L6's and the other with EL-34's. I grabbed a set of Tung Sol EL-34B's that I had in my TR (till I broke one...only need two duets for the DR's though
)while I was at the house, and popped them in one of the heads last night (the new tube 'cage' protectors are nice, just snaps out, no screws, really simple to remove and put back in, and fully encases the tubes, although I can see the little plastic holders breaking if handled roughly). The differences that the two power tubes had is to be expected, but still neat to hear nonetheless.
The 6L6 head had more bass, a slightly scooped sound, and lots of thump. The EL-34 head has more midrange, and a looser bottom (I am running all 3 channels in Tube Tracking with 5U4GB recto tubes, going to get GZ34's and Mesa STR-447 EL-34's soon).
The clean channels differ a bit with the two tubes. The EL's is a little warmer and a tad brighter, and the 6L6's is a little more "jangly". "Pushed" settings brought forth a little difference as well, with the EL34 head sounding warm, and breaking up nicely, and the 6L6 head sounding a little more focused, with a little been harsher grit, but not too harsh. Adding an OD808 to it made fore some nice medium gain blues sounds.
Ch 2 and Ch 3 differ just from the tube characteristics and the rectifier setting. The Bass response on the 6L6 head is very powerful, where as on the EL-34 head it is a little looser with the Tube Tracking, but the harmonics seem to be more enhanced with this head, especially when playing full chords.The heads really seem to compliment each other in this configuration.
I have both head's channels set relatively close to if not the same (see pic below), thus letting each power tube/rectifier setting's sound come through (6L6 is on Diodes on all three channels, both on BOLD variac setting). In time one power tube may grow on me more than the other, but for now, I am digging one of each. Can't wait to use them in a live setting soon, and they should be fun to have in the studio here in a couple weeks (recording our second full length).
One other note, I have also experimented with the 50/100 watt mode on ch 2 and ch 3, and although there isn't a huge volume drop (not expected), there is slight difference. The 50 watt mode seems to make the amp sound a bit more aggressive in some aspects, mainly gain sounding more brash(not in a bad way), with 100 watt mode adding more headroom, a little bit more bass response and chime.
Settings marked in
RED, both heads set to 100 watt on all channels, Ch1 "Clean", CH 2 and Ch 3 "Vintage" modes on both:
-AJH
