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Simple question. Which of those two tubes gives a tighter bottom end distortion sound?


Originally Posted by flipsideSimple question. Which of those two tubes gives a tighter bottom end distortion sound?No question: 6l6's

Bottom end tightness...It's hard to say. EL34's do have a tight bottom end, but it's nowhere near as pronounced or full as with 6L6's. After much testing, and at least in my XXX, I prefer 6L6's. They sound tighter, fuller, and not as harsh on the top end or mids.

I don't know guys, I think I would definitely lean more towards the El34's...

Just my .02

Jeff Seal

I'd go with 6l6s. EL34s are known for their mids and cut in the band situation and well, I've always considered 6l6s as Fender or Mesa type stuff, more pronounced lows and highs (that's why I feel the tubescreamers work so well in Fenders, it gives it that mid push that the amp doesn't normally have present).

Play a Marshall DSL and a Mesa Recto side by side, there should be no question that the Mesa has a tighter lowend... just my honest opinion.

6L6s are rounder and have more headroom(Depends on the circuit)
My Marshall amp is pretty tight(Tighter than my BF Fenders) with EL34s,but the mids are different...

I wouldn't say the 6L6 tube is tighter though,just different..


Originally Posted by the_ChrisI'd go with 6l6s. EL34s are known for their mids and cut in the band situation and well, I've always considered 6l6s as Fender or Mesa type stuff, more pronounced lows and highs (that's why I feel the tubescreamers work so well in Fenders, it gives it that mid push that the amp doesn't normally have present).

Play a Marshall DSL and a Mesa Recto side by side, there should be no question that the Mesa has a tighter lowend... just my honest opinion.

You're hearing the reaction and differences between the preamps in your scenario...

EL34s are more compressed sounding and I think the bottom end is tighter.

The bottom end on 6L6's is definitely much more open and loose. When you crank a 6L6 amp the bass tends to get flabby, while EL-34's stay tight. So I'm saying EL-34's.


Originally Posted by STRATDELUXER97
I wouldn't say the 6L6 tube is tighter though,just different..

1

after putting EL34's in my mesa, the bottom end isn't any tighter or looser, it's just a completely different voicing. i tend to prefer the sound of EL34's though

Mike Soldano says that EL34s have a quot;flabby bottom endquot; compared to 6L6s in a not so recent interview in Musician's Hotline. I'd tend to concur.

....really it depends on the circuit used.....it's kinda hard to dispute the fact the (believe it or not) a Fender BF twin has tighter lows than most of the amps made today...gets sort of lost in the open back 212...

However, as far as current production amps that fall into the quot;ultra-tightquot; lows..meaning at least twice as much as the Mesa Recto's.... the top three I know of are:

Diezel VH4, VHT Pitbull and (sheepishly) mine!...having said this, I really can't say I've actually done much designing around the 6L6....

Jeff Seal


Originally Posted by StevoEL34s are more compressed sounding and I think the bottom end is tighter.

Depends on what circuit and in what amp more than the tubes themselves...

well this thread was absolutley no help... lol