Winged C vs. 6550's

[Gordo]

What are the tonal differences between Winged C EL 34's and 6550 power tubes? How would my amp change? I have a modded Marshall with 6550's in it now.

 

[fek]

6550's have more headroom and less mids. At least it seems that way. 6550's have a bigger/tighter bottom to them also.

I have a RM100 and prefer 34's to 6550's by a good bit. I play 80's hair rock and 90's AIC'ish stuff.

 

[Gordo]

Cool, Just bein' curious. Any other opinions?

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

SED EL-34's are pretty much the most awesome tubes around of any type.


really you need to compare individual tubes against each other, not SED 34's against all 6550's.


for instance, i think SED 6L6's and EL-34's are the best thing since buttered bread, but i don't like the SED 6550's nearly as much. if you were to mention a Tung-sol 6550, then i'd get interested.


so, really the question is. what 6550's are you running, and what do you want to be deferent?


can your amp run 34's, or does it need to be modded for that?

 

[JTyson]

All of the above
I much prefer 34's

 

[Ventura]

All of the above
I much prefer 34's

And all depends on the amp

 

[harddriver]

Here's my take with the experiences I have had between the two tube types. The 6550 to my ears is alot like a bigger tougher 6L6 which has a broader frequencey response with a tighter low end but extended highs.

EL-34's have an emphasis in the midrange and I always found them kinda loose and less defined on the bottom end for my tastes and yes they can break up sooner than a 6550. If you have a gain modded Marshall which is all preamp tube gain then the whole power tube breakup thing is kinda pointless, I also believe the whole power tube break up thing is mostly the phase inverter clipping hard on a cranked up plexi super lead which contributes greatly, this can be debated endlessly as well.

Another tube you may want to experiment with would be a KT-88, which I liken to as a bigger slightly tighter more EL-34like 6550 variant tube. It is not exactly like a 6550 but similar as it is a Kinkless Tetrode verus a beam forming tetrode that the 6550 is, pretty much similar by design. The low end on the Kt-88 tends to be looser than that of a 6550 but alot warmer in tone response without the midrange bump but still with good toughness and reliablity as the 6550 is.

I have had alot of bad luck with EL-34's cathode plates over the years just being too damn delicate and have quite a few failures as a result. Don't get me started on the Mullard reissue El-34's, Jeesh, talk about QC issues!

El-34's do sound and respond different you may like them you may not, it's your ears!

I'm a 6L6, 6ca7, 6550 KT-88 kinda guy!

 

[Doubleneck]

6550's have more headroom and less mids. At least it seems that way. 6550's have a bigger/tighter bottom to them also.

I have a RM100 and prefer 34's to 6550's by a good bit.

Just like fek said, 6550's have a bigger/tighter bottom end with less mids, El-34's have a softer/looser bottom end with more mids.

I prefer EL-34 type tubes.

 

[Ventura]

6550's have more headroom and less mids. At least it seems that way. 6550's have a bigger/tighter bottom to them also.

I have a RM100 and prefer 34's to 6550's by a good bit.

Just like fek said, 6550's have a bigger/tighter bottom end with less mids, El-34's have a softer/looser bottom end with more mids.

I prefer EL-34 type tubes.

EL34's are sooooooooooooooooooo choice, amp dependent of course.
If possible, mixing the two can really yield amazing results, amp dependent of course.
In my VH4S, I preferred 6550s, but this - taaaadaaaaa - amp dependent, of course.

Winged =C= make awesome tubes, period. EL34, 6550, everything...

Just my 2 cents. They take a high plate too - juicy overtones

 

[charveldan]

The EL-34 Friedman JMP is modded, the 6550 JMP is stock, cab speakers are the same, ones angle, ones straight.

All power tubes are =C='s.

 

[Ventura]

The EL-34 Friedman JMP is modded, the 6550 JMP is stock, cab speakers are the same, ones angle, ones straight.

All power tubes are =C='s.

Is this a good comparo then??

Mo

 

[charveldan]

The EL-34 Friedman JMP is modded, the 6550 JMP is stock, cab speakers are the same, ones angle, ones straight.

All power tubes are =C='s.

Is this a good comparo then??

Mo

Mmmmmm.....yeah, sorta, but not scientific, maybe you have a better one.

 

[leib10]

I think it all depends on what you're going for in terms of your playing style and the music you're playing. I've now tried EL34, KT88, and 6550 in my Uberschall Twin Jet. In this particular amp each has its own flavor and quirks. EL34's break up easily, have a really nice, lush midrange, soft highs, but loose and saggy bottom end- good for rock and cleans, bad for tight metal riffs. The KT88's are nearly impossible to break up, have a scooped midrange, somewhat glassy and brittle highs and a tighter yet extended bottom end- good for metal, bad for anything softer. The 6550s seem to be a nice compromise between the two. They break up somewhat sooner than the KT88s, have a nice midrange spike that really jumps at you, tight and short bottom end, and bright yet not jagged highs. So far it's my favorite tube type in this particular amp; medium-gain rock sounds awesome, cleans are acceptable (not at EL34 level, but better than KT88) and the bottom end is super-tight for fast metal riffs (almost too tight; it forces you to really clean up your playing!)

YMMV, but it really depends on what your style is and what music you're playing.

 

[JTyson]

The EL-34 Friedman JMP is modded, the 6550 JMP is stock, cab speakers are the same, ones angle, ones straight.

All power tubes are =C='s.

Is this a good comparo then??

Mo

Mmmmmm.....yeah, sorta, but not scientific, maybe you have a better one.

34's all the way!!

 

[JTyson]

The EL-34 Friedman JMP is modded, the 6550 JMP is stock, cab speakers are the same, ones angle, ones straight.

All power tubes are =C='s.

Is this a good comparo then??

Mo

Mmmmmm.....yeah, sorta, but not scientific, maybe you have a better one.

34's all the way!!

 

[PaulyPanacea]

All of the above
I much prefer 34's

And all depends on the amp

im with ya Mojo!!

 

[Ventura]

The EL-34 Friedman JMP is modded, the 6550 JMP is stock, cab speakers are the same, ones angle, ones straight.

All power tubes are =C='s.

Is this a good comparo then??

Mo

Mmmmmm.....yeah, sorta, but not scientific, maybe you have a better one.

This I do not have. I was just sayin', know what I'm sayin'...?!?!

 

[charveldan]

The EL-34 Friedman JMP is modded, the 6550 JMP is stock, cab speakers are the same, ones angle, ones straight.

All power tubes are =C='s.

Is this a good comparo then??

Mo

Mmmmmm.....yeah, sorta, but not scientific, maybe you have a better one.

This I do not have. I was just sayin', know what I'm sayin'...?!?!

Yeah, i know, but this is all i have to work with, but here's the EL-34 amp before it was modded......

And here it is after mods.......

 

[Schaf]

I've said this many times and I know some may not agree. Power tubes are going to sound just a little different in most amps. Not that much different though. They are going to be subtle. It's not like it changes an amp into a different animal. I have a 2204 with el 34's and my buddy has the same amp with 6550's. They sound very much alike. As a matter of fact, I was a little surprised how much they did sound alike based on what I read on the internet. I wouldn't run out and buy a different tube thinking it's going be a huge change. It's probably not.

In my experience speakers or preamp tubes will make a bigger impact on tone than power tubes.

By the way I do prefer el34's, but could live with either.

Schaf

 

[Gordo]

Some good opinions out there. I have had 6550's in itsince we built it, and was just curious as to what different power tubes would sound like. Thanks for all the replies! Thinking of trying some 34's and KT88's.