Need Power Tube Suggestions For Mark IV

[gibson5413]

I am totally satisfied with the Mark IV and have been enjoying the 6L6s again compared to using EL34s for the past 2 1/2 years. I have been reading that quite a few players really liked the Mark IV with EL34s coupled with the 6L6s and would like to give it a try. I heard they go in the outside slots.

I have always been a huge fan of EL34s and would love some suggestions from anyone. In the back of the Mesa Boogie catalog it gives some tube suggestions but I thought I would get input from the "Rig-Talk Braintrust".

Any advice or suggestions? I am assuming I would need to take it to a tech to have the amp re-biased, right? What can I expect from adding EL34s in the power section?

 

[badger71]

You won't need it rebiased. You can contact Doug's tubes, KCA, etc...and they know what tubes would work for the MKIV. Personally, I liked the Winged C =C= EL34s for the outer slots when I had my MKIV.

 

[Gainfreak]

I absolutely HATE el-34's in the MKIV but that's just me. It adds more mids to and already mid heavy amplifier and they also add a raspyness to the sound. WIth that said, the only way for you to know is for to try it for yourself.

For lack of a better discription, the addition of el-34's in the MKIV takes away something from of the amp.

FWIW, No biasing needed.

all IMHO.

~R~

 

[badger71]

It is a love/hate relationship with EL34s in the MKIV. I always bounced back and forth, depending on what cab & guitar I favored at the moment.

 

[gibson5413]

I absolutely HATE el-34's in the MKIV but that's just me. It adds more mids to and already mid heavy amplifier and they also add a raspyness to the sound. WIth that said, the only way for you to know is for to try it for yourself.

For lack of a better discription, the addition of el-34's in the MKIV takes away something from of the amp.

FWIW, No biasing needed.

all IMHO.

~R~

I absolutely HATE el-34's in the MKIV but that's just me. It adds more mids to and already mid heavy amplifier and they also add a raspyness to the sound. WIth that said, the only way for you to know is for to try it for yourself.

For lack of a better discription, the addition of el-34's in the MKIV takes away something from of the amp.

FWIW, No biasing needed.

all IMHO.

~R~

Agreed.

With that said, I like the Winged C 6L6's and the Sovtek 6L6WXT+ and Sovtek 5881's. If I HAD to use EL-34's I would use Winged C's.

So are the Winged C 6L6s comparable to the tubes offered by Mesa or do you like them better? What differences between the 6L6s and the 5881s? I agree with the mids comment. Even when I scoop the amp a bit the mids are still very pronounced.

BTW, would these be plug and play as well?

Thanks Ralph and Dave!

 

[gibson5413]

It is a love/hate relationship with EL34s in the MKIV. I always bounced back and forth, depending on what cab & guitar I favored at the moment.

Thanks for the help. I use a cab loaded with V30s which may not be a very good match when coupled with a Mark IV loaded with EL34s.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I am totally satisfied with the Mark IV and have been enjoying the 6L6s again compared to using EL34s for the past 2 1/2 years. I have been reading that quite a few players really liked the Mark IV with EL34s coupled with the 6L6s and would like to give it a try. I heard they go in the outside slots.

I have always been a huge fan of EL34s and would love some suggestions from anyone. In the back of the Mesa Boogie catalog it gives some tube suggestions but I thought I would get input from the "Rig-Talk Braintrust".

Any advice or suggestions? I am assuming I would need to take it to a tech to have the amp re-biased, right? What can I expect from adding EL34s in the power section?

Just get a set of SED EL34's rated for Mesa's fixed bias range, I'm a big fan of Svetlana EL34's

I had a couple sets of Svet EL34's left over that I used to use in my Dual Rectifiers and they work fine in the Mark IV's outer sockets.

Whenever I put EL34's in the outer sockets of my IV I always go back to all 6L6's at some point, but that's just me.

I'm plannning on getting some SED 6L6's soon for my IV next month, I still have the stock Sovteks shipped from the factory (7 years ago)

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

SED's rule the roost!


6L6 or EL-34, just don't think there's a better current tube than either of these from SED!

 

[blackba]

I run all JJ 6L6GC's in my mark IVA. They work great and are still going strong after 4 years or moderate use.

I have never tried EL34's but I have heard my buddy try them and I didn't like them much in the mark IV. I have a set of SED =C= 6L6's as backups that I got from Doug's tubes or KCA (can't remember). Big fan of SED =C= tubes whether it is 6L6's or EL34's.

No need to bias, unless your amp is like mine and has had a bias pot added. The mark IV is biased cold, particularly on the inner 2 tubes. I can always turn the bias pot to min and get the stock bias point.....

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I absolutely HATE el-34's in the MKIV but that's just me. It adds more mids to and already mid heavy amplifier and they also add a raspyness to the sound. WIth that said, the only way for you to know is for to try it for yourself.

For lack of a better discription, the addition of el-34's in the MKIV takes away something from of the amp.

FWIW, No biasing needed.

all IMHO.

~R~

+1

6L6's FTW!!!

 

[Gainfreak]

So are the Winged C 6L6s comparable to the tubes offered by Mesa or do you like them better? What differences between the 6L6s and the 5881s? I agree with the mids comment. Even when I scoop the amp a bit the mids are still very pronounced.

BTW, would these be plug and play as well?

Thanks Ralph and Dave!

The tubes offered from mesa are essentially the same tube that you can get from Dougs tubes or any of the online vendors. Mesa just stamps there name on it and they make sure that the tubes have a bias that is in the range of there amps (any tube vendor can do this for you!)

With that said, Dave is correct. A 5881 is a weaker version of a 6l6 but it does sound different in the MKIV's. It gives them a more rounded sound and definitely more bass. (had my tech put it on a scope because he did not believe me lol!)
I think the SED 6l6's sound killer as do the Sovtek 5881's. The real kicker is that the Sovteks are cheap as hell but they sound great in the MKIV IMHO (I actually hate them in other amps but they kill in the MKIV) If you are on a budget dont overlook the 5881's
I currently have SED's in mine and probably will switch back to the 5881's when they give out.

All the best

BTW, i know that I have said this before but your avatar rules!!!
Shop Smart.........Shop "S" Mart.........

~R~

 

[D-Rock]

5881's are military grade 6L6's. They are apparently more robust than 6L6's and have a more relaxed/subdued high end.

I have no issues using EL34's along with V30's and my mid dial is on 6.

 

[Stratboy151]

the sed 6l6's have been my fav in the mark iv. i currently have ruby's in mine now (doug was out of sed's).

 

[MrDan666]

Sovtek 5881's for me... i have used the Mesa 6L6's and also JJ 6L6's, and when i put in the Sovtek 5881's... the amp sounded 50% better than it ever had before. Also like Ralph said, theyre cheap too which is awesome!!

 

[J.B.]

I'm an EL34 guy, but my favorite tubes in the Mark IV were all SED 6L6's.

 

[blackba]

Sovtek 5881's for me... i have used the Mesa 6L6's and also JJ 6L6's, and when i put in the Sovtek 5881's... the amp sounded 50% better than it ever had before. Also like Ralph said, theyre cheap too which is awesome!!

What was the change with the Sovtek 5881's? How exactly was it better? Very curious as I have JJ 6L6's in there now and some =C= 6L6's around as backups....