Who runs EL34's in their Rectos?

[poweredbysoul]

Just doing a poll of which you prefer and your observations.

 

[JF Omalycat]

I do. I think they've got a slightly more organic sound and make the Recto more versatile. Just my opinion.

 

[Holy Diver]

After 2 years with the stock 6L6s i recently put in JJ E34Ls. Still not sure about them to be honest. That said I haven't had a whole pile of time to play with my settings. Definitely completely different bass response. I think the problem i have is that after 2 years with the 6L6s i had reached (very very) close to a near perfect tone for me - after adjustment after adjustment, and now that has completely changed. I will stick with them for now though until i find their sweet spot settings wise (which i feel i am probably some way off at the moment). btw i have an OD808 up front and an eq in the loop and play heavy metal - thrash - extreme metal

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

I'm stuck on EL-34s with my Roadster...I keep trying to bring it back to stock with the 6L6s, but no matter what, the amp always ends up sounding better with the EL-34s.

Count me in!

 

[ltd2recto]

Im running E34L's and love them. Best sounding tube I've found so far. Tightens up the low end while still leaving enough to thump. 6L6's had too much low end for me. Especially with a recto cab. Also use a modified ts-10 in front.

 

[thejay]

I use EL34s in my Roadster - love it

 

[Jerrick]

Ruby EL-34BSTR For me.

 

[konstantine RK]

I have a Roadking 1

So I use them lol

 

[sdgiffin]

I do and I have the JJ E34Ls. Great tubes! I had the stock Mesa EL34s in my 2 channel Recto and I wasn't very impressed. Decided to try a retube and bam! Tight and chunky low end, tamed fizz in the top end and an overall boost in punch. I really enjoy playing my recto now where before, I was iffy about it and was even thinking of selling it.


S.G.

 

[Shadetree_01]

Got a sweet deal on a quartet of Ruby EL34's from a dude who bought a Windsor. The leads seem way better but the preamp doesn't seem to be able to dial out the buzzy mid-treble freq's unless it's cranked up loud. Very weird. I'm still tweaking my GE-7 and what not. We shall see!

 

[ltd2recto]

The leads seem way better but the preamp doesn't seem to be able to dial out the buzzy mid-treble freq's unless it's cranked up loud. Very weird. I'm still tweaking my GE-7 and what not. We shall see!

Try a JJECC83S in V1.

 

[Jacko123]

Great thread. I just realized that I bought 2 34's when I bought my 3ch Recto. I have to give them a shot.

 

[microwerx]

I have a Road King II which allows me to select between 6L6's and EL34's. I personally think the 6L6's sound the best, but the EL34's have a slightly more midrange, slightly lower bass, and earlier power clip than the 6L6's. Most of the amps character is in the preamp. It's always worth a listen, but 6L6's will do the job better. It is really a very subtle change in sound unless you're cranking the amp (due to clipping). I actually notice a bigger difference switching between diode and tube rectification...to give you an idea about how subtle the switch is.

The EL34s will sound thinner than the 6L6's due to their smaller physical size. 6L6's sound nice, big, and round. I'd go ahead and try it with the EL34's for a while and see how you like it. Then you can switch back to the 6L6's and find out what you've been missing. j/k...

 

[mikey383]

I ran JJ E34Ls in my Rectos for almost 5 years before switching to JJ KT77s. IMO, they're the perfect hybrid.

 

[iceman]

Came across this roadster el34/6l6 comparison on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyrkR2mymrI

 

[jtb226]

I'm running JJ E34L's in my 3 ch. DR. I like them a lot better than the 6L6's. Still lots of low end but not so boomy and not as much fizz. Love them.

 

[DarthSnah]

I recently put a quartet of TAD RT164 EL34B-STR valves in my Roadster (http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_60_61&products_id=343) and I must say that they've come to stay.

I play in a stoner rock band and wanted to try something different than the standard Marshall approach: a mesa Roadster with 6L6's into a Marshall 1960A cab didn't exactly do the trick! The EL34 switcheroo did however! The amp has a less scoped is more focused in the midrange and tighter in the bottom.
This makes sens to me because:
- I'm playing through a floppy, sloppy, saggy, whatever Marshall cab and this eens up the response a bit.
- It's better for drop C tuning
- the bass player can do his thing: make low frequency noise, without me interfering (!).

Only setback is I started hearing popping noises when changing channels - never happened with the 6L6's.

Spread the word!