Mesa Rectoverb 6L6 vs EL34

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MKibanez

MKibanez

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I'm playing a Mesa Rectoverb 50 with 6L6 since I have it. Will it make a big difference in the sound if I change it for EL34 tubes? What difference I'll notice if so?

Thanks
 
6L6s will give you a more "open" sound. It is most noticeable in my opinion when playing on the clean channel. While with the EL34s, everything will sound a bit "tighter." For me personally, I like my high-gain stuff to be more tight sounding so typically-I go with EL34s in my Mesa stuff. There is obviously more to it but, basically that's the difference. Definitely something you should experiment with though, try both. Worst case scenario, you have an extra pair of tubes lying around, nothing wrong with that :D

Ohh and take off your preamp tube covers-your tone will that you :thumbsup:
 
boogies are typically prem distortion so 6l6 is fuller sounding more highs more lows as to where an el34 is more of a focused midrange bark.

I have one of these coming my way on a trade. How you like yours.?
thanks
 
In my opinion, the reason Boogies benefit from EL34s or KT 77s has less to do with the type of tube and more to do with the 34s getting hotter which makes the boogie's gain sound a lot better than stock. My dual sounded very dead with the stock tubes. It now sounds more open and tighter, which usually are contradictions. It just sounds sooo much better with the 77s.
 
makes sense. each one is so tempramental. My mark III was crazy. One day it was awesome the next it sucked.. it ate tubes too.
 
jerrydyer":2zjkoamj said:
boogies are typically prem distortion so 6l6 is fuller sounding more highs more lows as to where an el34 is more of a focused midrange bark.

I have one of these coming my way on a trade. How you like yours.?
thanks
Click to expand...

Well I love mine but I think I'll try EL34. Will keep you inform.
 
Recently got a Rectoverb and it is a series 1 however someone modded it to have either el34s or 6l6s. Currently running 34s however it gets kind of stiff sounding. Is that the amp or the tubes? If I get 6l6 will it have more sponginess to it?
 
My answer for any Recto is always 34's. I have had a couple of Tremoverbs, and Rectoverb, and a dual and triple Rec. All benefited from 34's in my opinion.
 
Holy necrobump :lol: :LOL: this is almost 8 years old but I agree wit fek. I have run different types of EL34s (Mullard and =C=) in my Rectoverb with very good results.
 
Double the Necrobump fun!

Just picked up this guy and she is as spongy as your mom's bootie... love it... thick, syrupy, slices and dices... typical beautifully ugly chunks of goodness... BUT, I'm also very curious about taming some of that thunderous low with EL34's...

Should I? :)
 

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McLeanAB said:
Double the Necrobump fun!

Just picked up this guy and she is as spongy as your mom's bootie... love it... thick, syrupy, slices and dices... typical beautifully ugly chunks of goodness... BUT, I'm also very curious about taming some of that thunderous low with EL34's...

Should I? :)
Click to expand...
I would imagine much of the low end is due to the amp being in the corner?
 
dead-pan said:
I would imagine much of the low end is due to the amp being in the corner?
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Nope... sounds that way anywhere I put her... doesn't sound bad, just very big... my Mark V:25, same cab, in the corner, doesn't have the same low end... it sounds amazing too...
 
glassjaw7 said:
In my opinion, the reason Boogies benefit from EL34s or KT 77s has less to do with the type of tube and more to do with the 34s getting hotter which makes the boogie's gain sound a lot better than stock. My dual sounded very dead with the stock tubes. It now sounds more open and tighter, which usually are contradictions. It just sounds sooo much better with the 77s.
Click to expand...
This is my take. The EL34's run hotter bias in the Mesa EL34 circuit. Upwards of the recommended 35 ma iirc which eliminates the harsh crossover distortion present when running 6L6's.

It drastically improved the tone of my Tremoverb. It eliminated any harshness and flatness, especially in midgain settings it had a way more dynamic and vintage sounding classic rock sound. It sounded more open and articulate.

Tbt can you have the bias adjusted by a tech to run 6L6's hotter, and get the same benefits while still keeping the 6L6 sonic footprint.
 
^^^^^

That's what I'm hoping for with swapping in some EL34's... I love the Rectoverb (take a listen), but it does sound a little 'flat' and 'sterile.' Just a bit... the Rec Pre and Fifty/Fifty has just a bit more depth and sparkle... it's a richer sound... the Rectoverb with the 6l6's sounds great, but just very dirty comparatively...

I'll find out soon enough!

Thanks!

 
McLeanAB said:
^^^^^

That's what I'm hoping for with swapping in some EL34's... I love the Rectoverb (take a listen), but it does sound a little 'flat' and 'sterile.' Just a bit... the Rec Pre and Fifty/Fifty has just a bit more depth and sparkle... it's a richer sound... the Rectoverb with the 6l6's sounds great, but just very dirty comparatively...

I'll find out soon enough!

Thanks!

Click to expand...


McLeanAB said:
^^^^^

That's what I'm hoping for with swapping in some EL34's... I love the Rectoverb (take a listen), but it does sound a little 'flat' and 'sterile.' Just a bit... the Rec Pre and Fifty/Fifty has just a bit more depth and sparkle... it's a richer sound... the Rectoverb with the 6l6's sounds great, but just very dirty comparatively...

I'll find out soon enough!

Thanks!

Click to expand...

That sounded pretty awesome to me.
 
Some more experimenting... enjoy!

I'm starting to really dig how 'ugly and dirty' this amp is... what I perceived as 'flat and sterile' might just be the rude behavior of this beast... kinda like a dirty hooker than can body slam you...

 
McLeanAB said:
Some more experimenting... enjoy!

I'm starting to really dig how 'ugly and dirty' this amp is... what I perceived as 'flat and sterile' might just be the rude behavior of this beast... kinda like a dirty hooker than can body slam you...

Click to expand...


yeah man. good stuff. I like the cleans on the Rectoverb as they are true cleans. And pushed cleans are fun too. The Single to my ears is not as 3D and over-flowing with awesomeness as the Duals but they shine in their own right with their Recto low mid chug AND great cleans. And they are easier to control (the gain) even though they don't have all the tweaking options the Dual has. IMO. Looking forward to your EL34 report :yes:
 
glassjaw7 said:
In my opinion, the reason Boogies benefit from EL34s or KT 77s has less to do with the type of tube and more to do with the 34s getting hotter which makes the boogie's gain sound a lot better than stock. My dual sounded very dead with the stock tubes. It now sounds more open and tighter, which usually are contradictions. It just sounds sooo much better with the 77s.
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I think it's both. They do run much warmer, and I like the added mids, and bark. I've had a Single Rectifier Solo 50, (Loved that amp, but the loop sucked), and ran it with KT77's. I also had a Multi-Watt, and actually put 6CA7's in that one, and they worked well. I disliked 6L6's in both.

I wish they'd reissue the Solo 50 head with the improved modern loop. I loved that amp!
 
napalmdeath said:
I think it's both. They do run much warmer, and I like the added mids, and bark. I've had a Single Rectifier Solo 50, (Loved that amp, but the loop sucked), and ran it with KT77's. I also had a Multi-Watt, and actually put 6CA7's in that one, and they worked well. I disliked 6L6's in both.

I wish they'd reissue the Solo 50 head with the improved modern loop. I loved that amp!
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I've had my series2 single since 09. One of my favorite things about it is that you can get to all the preamp tubes without removing any power tubes and/or rectifier tubes (like you would on the dual/triples. That makes it very easy to audition various preamp tubes at different positions.

I had mine serial-loop modded with the addition of a send-level control (placed where the old mix knob was)
 
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