Questions about EL34s

[MonsterTone]

Hello everyone! I’m new here.

I don’t know much about amps or gear, so I’m here to ask the experts. Please forgive me if my questions are dumb.

So I just bought a used Peavey Triple X Super 40 EFX amp that is in excellent condition. It is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

I understand that this amp can run both 6L6 and EL34 power tubes, but has 6L6s standard. I was wondering what you guys think the difference each of these respective tubes would give to the amp, because I’m highly considering ordering EL34s to install in it, because based on what I’ve heard, EL34s will provide more of the British tone, which is what I’m going for. I’m definitely going for more of an early VH/Nuno tone.

On the flip side, I’ve heard that the 6L6s are more suited to the amp, and allow for better tone at lower volumes. Not sure how true any of this is??

If I were to order new tubes, is there any really good brands/models you might recommend? I definitely want to get the highest quality I can. This amp will be my gigging amp, so I’m trying to get everything together and set up how I want it.

I chose the triple x super 40 efx because I actually used to have the 2x12 120w triple x combo and it was a killer amp. It was a very forgiving amp to play, and very easy to dial different tones on. It could cover many different tones, and do them well. At least that’s my opinion. The super 40 efx is even cooler because of the built in effects, and it’s great for someone like me on a budget to have a quality tube amp.

Anyway, enough digressing. I would appreciate any help. Thanks!

 

[Kordoba]

I had a XXX Super 40 for a few years and regret selling it. I ran it on the EL34 setting regardless of what tubes were in it. The EL34 setting is a bit brighter and has more punch.

Ultimately I settled on a set of JJ EL34s. Unfortunately I never tried their e34Ls, 6CA7s, or KT77s in that amp. For 6L6s I recommend the Sovtek WXT +.

I didn't find that 6L6s had a better tone at lower volumes.

 

[napalmdeath]

I've owned Triple XXX's, and JSX's multiple times. I never liked 6L6's in either. I've tried various EL34's, JJ 6CA7's, and JJ KT77's. That said, KT77's are my choice, and JJ 6CA7's a close second. Love those amps!

 

[skullfxr]

I have always had EL34's in my JSX.

I have E34L's in there now but I am taking them out until I know that is a safe run. I have heard differing things.

Personally I would go KT77. I am a big bottle guy in general.

 

[Rex Rocker]

I used to have JJ E34L's in my old XXX head. I gotta say, I much prefferred 6L6's. I have no experience with other EL34's in the XXX, but I wouldn't recommend the E34L's. Way too stuffy and cloudy in the low mids.

 

[MonsterTone]

The amp just arrived! I’ve been playing through it for a bit. It’s certainly a monster that gets louder than I will ever need to.

As I said before, I bought this amp because it’s a good bang for buck all tube amp that produces a high quality sound for gigging.

Having said that, I know it’s not necessarily a “Marshall-voiced” amp, but just messing around with it, I’ve managed to get a more Marshally sound out of it. On the “Ultra” channel, I set the resonance switch on the back to “loose”, cranked the gain down to about 10-11 o’clock, bass at 2 o’clock, mids just shy of 12 o’clock, and trebble just sharp of 12 o’clock. Reverb at 6 o’clock with the onboard effects set to a light echo, and the volume anywhere from 10 o’clock to noon.

That seems to be getting in the ballpark, but if anyone else with experience with this amp has better settings for a more “modded-Marshall” tone for this amp, please share!

I’ve heard mixed opinions about the EL34s in this amp, but do you think it would provide a more British sound?

Thanks!

 

[Rex Rocker]

I always felt the Crunch channel was more Marshall-y and the Ultra more Mesa-ish. Very loosely speaking, though.

 

[Pentatonic Wanker]

I always felt the Crunch channel was more Marshall-y and the Ultra more Mesa-ish. Very loosely speaking, though.

This ^^^^

My first XXX head had 6L6’s and it was just stupidly brutal on the ultra channel. My second XXX head had EL34’s and while it was still brutal, the Ultra channel sounded a lot more like the crunch channel (just more gain).

Could have been differences in the amp and not the tubes though.

 

[MonsterTone]

See, the Super 40 EFX version doesn’t really seem to have much of a crunch channel. It’s got the “ultra”, then it’s got this rhythm/crunch channel. When you push the little button under “rhythm” to the in position, you get a little bit of an overdrive if you turn the gain all the way up. It sounds decent, but it definitely sounds like more of a rhythm tone. The notes are kinda brittle and fizzly if you try to solo, and pinch harmonics are hard to do. I’m not sure this amp has an actual crunch channel like the other xxxs.

 

[Kordoba]

See, the Super 40 EFX version doesn’t really seem to have much of a crunch channel. It’s got the “ultra”, then it’s got this rhythm/crunch channel. When you push the little button under “rhythm” to the in position, you get a little bit of an overdrive if you turn the gain all the way up. It sounds decent, but it definitely sounds like more of a rhythm tone. The notes are kinda brittle and fizzly if you try to solo, and pinch harmonics are hard to do. I’m not sure this amp has an actual crunch channel like the other xxxs.

The ultra on the Super 40 is like the crunch on the head. I didn't like the crunch on the Super 40 for the reasons you mentioned.

 

[MonsterTone]

Well, this thing sounds nothing like the 2x12 version I used to have. Sounds remarkably close to the EVH I had. The gain channel is just way too much. I’m looking for more of the marshall voicing with more gain. I remember I used to be able to get that kind of sound out of my 212 xxx. I just assumed this amp would be about the same. Bummer!

Any other tube combos I should look at in similar price range that would cover the sound I’m going for?

 

[Pentatonic Wanker]

There's a 60 watt 1x12 and a 2x12 version that will deliver the goods. The efx 40 was a different beast for sure.

 

[Kordoba]

Well, this thing sounds nothing like the 2x12 version I used to have. Sounds remarkably close to the EVH I had. The gain channel is just way too much. I’m looking for more of the marshall voicing with more gain. I remember I used to be able to get that kind of sound out of my 212 xxx. I just assumed this amp would be about the same. Bummer!

Any other tube combos I should look at in similar price range that would cover the sound I’m going for?

Used Marshall DSL 40s are selling in the neighborhood of $500 shipped. I see there is a 40C and a 40CR and am not sure if one is more desirable than the other.

 

[MonsterTone]

Why does no one ever recommend the blackstars? Do they suck?

 

[Pentatonic Wanker]

Why does no one ever recommend the blackstars? Do they suck?

I had the HT-60 combo back around 2012 and loved it.....until the main board blew on it ($400 repair). I never felt I could trust it for gigging after that, so I got rid of it.

So my opinion is....yeah they suck. That said, I know a lot of guys who are happy with them.

 

[Bad.Seed]

Well, this thing sounds nothing like the 2x12 version I used to have. Sounds remarkably close to the EVH I had. The gain channel is just way too much. I’m looking for more of the marshall voicing with more gain. I remember I used to be able to get that kind of sound out of my 212 xxx. I just assumed this amp would be about the same. Bummer!

Any other tube combos I should look at in similar price range that would cover the sound I’m going for?

Funny you say that. I used to be an XXX fanatic. Still love them, and still own one. It's the best one I've had so far.

I had 3 of the heads and the 212 combo at the same time. Paid no more than $250 for each. This was about 4 years ago. They used to go for nothing!

Anyway,s I always did think the combo sounded more Marshally on the crunch channel. The mids seemed rounder and bigger, not as daggerish as the regular XXX, or the Peavey trademark mids on most of their amps. Thought about turning it into a head only, but with the amount of gear I had, I realized I needed to just start selling stuff.

I threw Kt88's in the outside slots of my XXX for a couple weeks. It sounded amazing. Added some clarity, definitely added some nice mids in conjunction with the 6L6's. Not to sound like an asshole, but I didn't really care if I messed it up at the time, as I have a spare parts xxx and a real goo tech who charges me nothing, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Now I'm scheming on a way to be able to run it like that permanently.

 

[MonsterTone]

Why does no one ever recommend the blackstars? Do they suck?

until the main board blew on it.

Does that happen commonly on them? Have they fixed that issue on newer models?

 

[Pentatonic Wanker]

Why does no one ever recommend the blackstars? Do they suck?

until the main board blew on it.

Does that happen commonly on them? Have they fixed that issue on newer models?

When I was surfing the Blackstar forums looking for answers/support I saw a few references to the problem mentioned.....definitely not a lot, but enough to make me wonder.

That said, Blackstar products sound really good if you are into the hotrodded Marshall sound. I'm guessing my issue was a one off, because the company wouldn't still be in business if the problem was widespread. I DID have to travel about 2 hours (in Central California) to find a factory qualified technician......so I wasn't too happy about that.

I just lost all faith in the amp after I received it back. The problem was sudden (worked one minute, and not the next) and I just couldn't trust the amp on stage anymore. It was my main gigging amp for about two years before it took a crap on me. I haven't been even tempted by Blackstar amps since. I understand normal wear and tear issues happen on all amps (tubes, footswitches, etc)......but a main logic board going out on a 2 year old amp? Nope.

 

[MonsterTone]

Why does no one ever recommend the blackstars? Do they suck?

until the main board blew on it.

Does that happen commonly on them? Have they fixed that issue on newer models?

When I was surfing the Blackstar forums looking for answers/support I saw a few references to the problem mentioned.....definitely not a lot, but enough to make me wonder.

That said, Blackstar products sound really good if you are into the hotrodded Marshall sound. I'm guessing my issue was a one off, because the company wouldn't still be in business if the problem was widespread. I DID have to travel about 2 hours (in Central California) to find a factory qualified technician......so I wasn't too happy about that.

I just lost all faith in the amp after I received it back. The problem was sudden (worked one minute, and not the next) and I just couldn't trust the amp on stage anymore. It was my main gigging amp for about two years before it took a crap on me. I haven't been even tempted by Blackstar amps since. I understand normal wear and tear issues happen on all amps (tubes, footswitches, etc)......but a main logic board going out on a 2 year old amp? Nope.

Well, I’m most certainly into the hot-rodded Marshall sound. I’m not sure the issue you speak of is enough to deter me. My hope is that they addressed the issue on recent models and I can pick up a newer one. Thanks for your honest and informative feedback!

 

[MonsterTone]

I’m going to check out a jet city today