Power Tube Recommendations for Mesa Duel Rectifier

[Bad.Seed]

Looking to retube the blackface 2 channel dual rec I recently bought. I would like to try and tighten up the low end to the best of a power tubes ability, and am looking for a power tube that exhibits more tightness.

I've thought of going the e34l route, but I'm not sure I love el34 types in rectifiers. Is there a tighter 6l6 that has a little more mid content then say a jj 6l6 that would go well in this amp?

 

[The Traveller]

I've heard the JJ6CA7 sounds great in a Recto. The best parts of a 6l6 and el34 in one tube is what I remember the consensus being. I have not heard them in person. I run an integrated quad from Eurotubes of KT66 and KT88 in mine. Sounds great. Tight with a boost in the mids. I'm never going back to 6l6s or el34s in that amp.

 

[Bad.Seed]

I've heard the JJ6CA7 sounds great in a Recto. The best parts of a 6l6 and el34 in one tube is what I remember the consensus being. I have not heard them in person. I run an integrated quad from Eurotubes of KT66 and KT88 in mine. Sounds great. Tight with a boost in the mids. I'm never going back to 6l6s or el34s in that amp.

I actually had 6CA7's in my old 3 channel I had a couple years back. I do recall them tightening up the lows a bit, but honestly, I didn't love the amp and sold it shortly after getting it, so I didn't have a lot of time to roll tubes and get a feel for the differences.

How much tighter would a 6l6 be than a 6ca7?

 

[Snave]

Sovtek 5881 will work and tighten things up a bit compared to 6L6.

 

[stephen sawall]

If you want tighter you might want to try EL34.

 

[rickenbacker198]

Had a Dual Rec for years.
EL34’s never sounded right to me in that amp .. maybe it’s just me ?
Yes they usually have less bass than the average 6L6, but it really depends on the circuit whether they’ll feel tighter.
In fact I found they took away some of that focused Mesa grind.

I found the STR 440’s, which I’m pretty sure are Shuguang 6L6GCMSTR , are very tight tubes. IMO.
Kind of flat and pokey, not at all warm, lacking bass, but great for thrash and chime filled cleans.

You’ve got a ton of amps , pop out some EL34s and try em. The rectos are very cold biased, they should take almost anything.

 

[psychodave]

I seemed to like the Mesa STR440 (yellow). They are a little dark which helps with some of other recto buzz. I’d use NOS Sylvania rectifier tubes as well...but I’d only engage the rectifier tubes when turning up loud to give the feel back to the amp.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Gonna try E34L and KT77 in my MW. I like what they bring in my other amps. Especially the E34L.

 

[jc986]

I'm also a fan of the STR440's (Shuguang 6L6GCMSTR) in a Rectifiers. I typically run a boost in front to tighten things up as well.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I typically run a boost in front to tighten things up as well.

Boost is a must for me. I like what the ts9 does for a clean boost. Just got a savage drive and while I really like it with the Wizard, I've
yet to find a setting I like with the Recto.

 

[jc986]

I used to have quite a few drive pedals but I sold them all off after getting a Seymour Duncan 805. It has worked well with any amp I've ever used it with. Interested in the Savage Drive but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

 

[stephen sawall]

I used 6L6, EL34, 5881, KT77, KT66, 6CA7 and not sure what else in my Tremoverb. The last few years I am using 6L6. But for almost twenty years I used 6CA7. The 6CA7 and EL34 both are tighter in the Tremoverb than 6L6. But EL34 took away too much of the bottom octave for my taste. Tightest sound I have heard from the Tremoverb was using a Horizon Devices Precision Drive. The Attack control on this pedal allows for super tight with about any amp. Personally I prefer the tone of a Fulltone Fulldrive 3 and Fulldrive 2 Version 2.

I play a pretty wide range of styles....so the 6L6 just works best for me with what I doing these days. To be honest I don't think the amp gets real tight without a pedal no matter what tubes are used.