Egnater MICA TOL100 Back to 6L6's

[scottosan]

So, I have this amp, a 1996 pre-rocktron, for about 5 months. The old tubes were some Ruby EL34BSTR. I didn't know the entire history of the tubesm, but the map sounded good and the tubes were still biased within spec, so I left them in. I recalled an email exchange I had with Bruce in which he said that these amps were designed around 5881/6L6's and even shipped with them. He said that EL34's run fine in them and that alot of people ran them that way. He still reccomends 6L6's. I typically retube all of my amps every year. So, I decide to try the Ruby 6L6GCMSTR, base of Doug Preston's (Doug's Tubes) advise. Now, let me preface this by saying that I run EL34's in all of my amps and that I love EL34's, but this amp sounds so much better with 6L6's to my ears. In all fairness, I don't know the entire history of the old tube, but generally I only hear reasonable difference in tone when retubing. I can't stop playing this thing now. I reccomend if haven't tried the 6l6s in your TOL100, do yourself a favor and give them a try.

 

[Roddy]

I think that's also why the Tourmaster comes shipped with 6L6's as well...The TM is sort of a modern day TOL from what Jeff told me...

 

[fek]

I just loaded up some new version Ruby 6550's in my RM50 on rec from Doug also. They sound sweet at low volume. I am hoping to push them a bit tomorrow.

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

So, I have this amp, a 1996 pre-rocktron, for about 5 months. The old tubes were some Ruby EL34BSTR. I didn't know the entire history of the tubesm, but the map sounded good and the tubes were still biased within spec, so I left them in. I recalled an email exchange I had with Bruce in which he said that these amps were designed around 5881/6L6's and even shipped with them. He said that EL34's run fine in them and that alot of people ran them that way. He still reccomends 6L6's. I typically retube all of my amps every year. So, I decide to try the Ruby 6L6GCMSTR, base of Doug Preston's (Doug's Tubes) advise. Now, let me preface this by saying that I run EL34's in all of my amps and that I love EL34's, but this amp sounds so much better with 6L6's to my ears. In all fairness, I don't know the entire history of the old tube, but generally I only hear reasonable difference in tone when retubing. I can't stop playing this thing now. I reccomend if haven't tried the 6l6s in your TOL100, do yourself a favor and give them a try.

I remember a similar instance with my 6l6 Loaded Mica 2x12 combo. Another player in another band had the same amp but loaded with 34's. He asked to play my amp one night I was off and I said sure. He was blown away at how much better my amp sounded than his! He promptly changed to 6l6's the next day!

 

[Norjef]

Quote *** I remember a similar instance with my 6l6 Loaded Mica 2x12 combo. Another player in another band had the same amp but loaded with 34's. He asked to play my amp one night I was off and I said sure. He was blown away at how much better my amp sounded than his! He promptly changed to 6l6's the next day! ***


My MICA 2-12" combo has always had 6L6s, currently JJs - I like how they play with the V30s.

Perversely, I like the E34Ls in my TOL (Rocktron) head, which slams 2 1-12" EV ported cabs, with added Mitchell foam donuts.

Kicker is : I make them both sound about the same (..weird)

 

[suzuki211]

Ditto on Steve's question

 

[vinni]

I'm bumping this thread bc I really like to know what has to be modified when you change from EL34's to 6L6 tubes.

Vinni

 

[bruce egnater]

You should make sure the resistors that are located on the back of each tube socket are 5 watts when using EL34s. With 6L6 tubes, the resistors can be anything from 1 watt to 5 watts. Obvioulsy a bias adjustment is also need.