El34 and 6550 comparison-greenbacks and g12-65's comparison

  • Thread starter Thread starter rockstah
  • Start date Start date
rockstah

rockstah

New member
i thought you guys maybe interested in listening to a 6550 to el34 clip comparison.
two different amps but basically the same circuit. both are 50w amps.

6550's (greenbacks)
https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=11292242


EL34'S *greenbacks)
https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=11294718


Here is the same amp used in the el34 clip but now through g12 - 65's
https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=11234593

it is night and day for me between speakers but for the reputation 6550's get, i think they are an interesting tube that are not to be over looked in ones quest for tone.

Mark
 
rockstah":38zcef8q said:
i thought you guys maybe interested in listening to a 6550 to el34 clip comparison.
two different amps but basically the same circuit. both are 50w amps.

6550's (greenbacks)
https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=11292242


EL34'S *greenbacks)
https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=11294718


Here is the same amp used in the el34 clip but now through g12 - 65's
https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=11234593

it is night and day for me between speakers but for the reputation 6550's get, i think they are an interesting tube that are not to be over looked in ones quest for tone.

Mark
Click to expand...
I used to hate 6550's with a passion. I had 2 Marshall amps that were loaded with 6550's and after a month or so of trying to like them I yanked them. I revisited them a couple of yeqrs later and I had the same opinion of them. It was more of a feel thing for me and it felt if the amp was to clean. I had this conversation with Jon Levin and he pretty much said the same thing. (I actually bought my first modded amp from him in 89 and it was loaded with 6550's and he hated them to )

Now fast forward 13 or so years later, I was asked to do a demo of an amp that had 6550's loaded in it and I was actually scared to do the demo but much to my surprised the amp was great!.
I was puzzled. When I first met Mike Fortin one of the things I asked him was WTF is going on with 6550 tubes lol I told him my story and he told me that 6550's can sound good if you know how to tweak a circuit. Some amps will sound and feel good or can be made to sound good with the 50's if you know what you are doing ;) .

So to end my rant, years ago I most definitely would have looked at your comment about 6550's and rolled my eyes but these days Not so much lol :)

you :rock:
 
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that your amp through 65's sounds great but for lack of better words, it's to polite sounding for the VH thing.
Still a great sound though ;)
 
El34's sounded best to me from the clips above. I like the smoothing effect they have in this situation. 6550's seem too dry to me in comparison.
The g12 - 65 clip sounded like a small radio speaker, what's up with that? :D
 
I like the 34's with the combo, but frankly, whats not to like about your clips?

I have a JMP 2203 with 6550's thats brite enough to cut glass, but if i had to chose i'd take my JMP with EL-34's.



Heres something i did earlier this year just messing around, i prefer my Marshall cabs to the Carvins.
 
first off, Mark I'm convinced you can make a Peavy Bandit sound amazing. Secondly, and I certainly don't want some folks here to get bent or anything because I think there are some amazing players on here that I respect and have great talent, but i think Mark set's the benchmark for Old Van Halen tones/Playing. Too me it's ludicrous to post VH clips anymore with him still breathing air because in my ears, I just dont think you could nail it any closer.. actually I honestly think that some of these clips sound better than VH. but again thats just my opinion.

:thumbsup:

6650's sound great, Im with what Ralphie said as well in my experience with them until recently.
 
Mark what brand of 6550s are you using.There are some(new production) that sound tame.
 
Best VH tones and licks on the net imo :thumbsup:

I liked the EL34's best, but they all sound great :rock:
 
I've always found very little difference in the 6550 vs EL34's overall. I do prefer the 6550's more solid low end response and midrange clarity. EL34's are too limiting freq wise for me. Using a 6550 type tube I always go for KT 88's now. When you hit the clipping point the KT88's have a nicer bend/ smooth transition. The 6550 has a harder edge.
 
Randy Van Sykes":22xiw8ad said:
El34's sounded best to me from the clips above. I like the smoothing effect they have in this situation. 6550's seem too dry to me in comparison.
The g12 - 65 clip sounded like a small radio speaker, what's up with that? :D
Click to expand...
i have a love hate relationship with the 6550 but will work with them more. i agree with you.
now the g12 -65 i can't stand!
Mark
 
Gainfreak":16uk6ux8 said:
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that your amp through 65's sounds great but for lack of better words, it's to polite sounding for the VH thing.
Still a great sound though ;)
Click to expand...
thanks man! something i already mentioned is that there is something i like about them that i'm not done at this point with the tube!
Mark
 
charveldan":25shww1y said:
I like the 34's with the combo, but frankly, whats not to like about your clips?

I have a JMP 2203 with 6550's thats brite enough to cut glass, but if i had to chose i'd take my JMP with EL-34's.



Heres something i did earlier this year just messing around, i prefer my Marshall cabs to the Carvins.
Click to expand...
thanks mang! i know my attitude towards 6550 has changed but not totally convinced. ;)
 
70strathead":1hvpzbvu said:
first off, Mark I'm convinced you can make a Peavy Bandit sound amazing. Secondly, and I certainly don't want some folks here to get bent or anything because I think there are some amazing players on here that I respect and have great talent, but i think Mark set's the benchmark for Old Van Halen tones/Playing. Too me it's ludicrous to post VH clips anymore with him still breathing air because in my ears, I just dont think you could nail it any closer.. actually I honestly think that some of these clips sound better than VH. but again thats just my opinion.

:thumbsup:

6650's sound great, Im with what Ralphie said as well in my experience with them until recently.
Click to expand...

hey man :) i appreciate the words here but come on man, a bandit? lol thanks!
i appreciate your post my friend!
Mark
 
Thanks for the comparison. Not sure how much of the difference in those clips can be attributed to tubes, but of those two clips, I like the one with the el34s the most. The 6550s had a bigger low end and tighter, which is cool, but the el34s were warmer and fuller. I tend to choose the one that sounds the most musical, and in this comparison it seems the el34s.

That said, they are similar enough and without something to compare it, most people won't care.
 
Rogue":3o3yd694 said:
Thanks for the comparison. Not sure how much of the difference in those clips can be attributed to tubes, but of those two clips, I like the one with the el34s the most. The 6550s had a bigger low end and tighter, which is cool, but the el34s were warmer and fuller. I tend to choose the one that sounds the most musical, and in this comparison it seems the el34s.

That said, they are similar enough and without something to compare it, most people won't care.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response!
i agree with you about the two tubes but it is interesting how they aren't that much different and yet have differences if that makes sense. :lol: :LOL:
Mark
 
wow. great clips again....truly impressive what you can do man!!!

i think the 6550's have a bit more sparkle to them.....but i just love the el34 bite and growl for some reason. the 34's also sound a bit more subdued to my ears.

both have a mid range snarl and attitude that i just fuckin love.

great job, i always enjoy your clips.
 
both clips sound great (I di dn't much care for the 65 clip though..sounded too 'distant' or muffled? but the greenies sounded great)

actually the tubes sound pretty similar...6550s have some more low end and a glassier top end...but the mids are still there..

I have 34s in my one amp and vlad modded my second amp so it could take 6550s...they're not really night and day but the differences are there inherently enough where I'm glad I decided to put the 50s in my second amp...I was originally thinking 88s but I find them to have a bit too much low end for my liking...'sides..rich ward uses 6550s so that's good enough for me..hehe

other than the sonic differences I found them to feel a little different as well...the 6550s 'feel' (and I guess sound) a little clearer and less saturated than the 34s..not by much but I can feel the difference...the 34s seem a little more saturated to me..not by a mile, but it's there..

I tend to gravitate towards the down tuned chugga chugga with the 6550s more than I do with the 34s...they're slightly more modern sounding...

either way, both clips kick ass with the greenbacks!
 
shreder75":29y5t3pm said:
both clips sound great (I di dn't much care for the 65 clip though..sounded too 'distant' or muffled? but the greenies sounded great)

actually the tubes sound pretty similar...6550s have some more low end and a glassier top end...but the mids are still there..

I have 34s in my one amp and vlad modded my second amp so it could take 6550s...they're not really night and day but the differences are there inherently enough where I'm glad I decided to put the 50s in my second amp...I was originally thinking 88s but I find them to have a bit too much low end for my liking...'sides..rich ward uses 6550s so that's good enough for me..hehe

other than the sonic differences I found them to feel a little different as well...the 6550s 'feel' (and I guess sound) a little clearer and less saturated than the 34s..not by much but I can feel the difference...the 34s seem a little more saturated to me..not by a mile, but it's there..

I tend to gravitate towards the down tuned chugga chugga with the 6550s more than I do with the 34s...they're slightly more modern sounding...

either way, both clips kick ass with the greenbacks!
Click to expand...

well put. i agree with your analogy!
Mark
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top