Rectifier guys: 6L6 or EL34

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itsgoodnow

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Hey all. I just picked up a Rev F loaded with EL-34. It is a lot tighter and brighter and more defined than my normal rectifiers have been. However, I’m wondering how much of this is the tubes and how much is the circuit.

The amp sounds killer but also I’m wondering if I’m missing anything by not having 6L6 loaded in this. Thought I would get some opinions and feedback from people. Thanks.
 
EL-34s are usually my preference in Rectos. They cut a little low end and add some high mids the amps lack with 6L6s. It's subtle, but has always been noticable to me. That said, the F might benefit the other way around, I used 6L6s in mine, if I remember correctly.
 
Tubes don’t affect how tight or bright an amp is to any significant degree. That all happens in the circuit itself. Power tube swaps are usually subtle and the last thing most people should bother with in their signal chain, as long as the tubes are in good condition.
 
MatrixClaw said:
EL-34s are usually my preference in Rectos. They cut a little low end and add some high mids the amps lack with 6L6s. It's subtle, but has always been noticable to me. That said, the F might benefit the other way around, I used 6L6s in mine, if I remember correctly.
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Pretty much what I came in to say. Subtle but noticeable. I think preamp tubes will affect things a LOT more :yes:

I have 6L6s in mine now but that is just because I flip back and forth and I have more 6L6s than EL34s at the moment. Generally, I would say I prefer the EL34s in my recto. I recently got some Sylvania EL34Ls (i think they are) and some JJ EL34 II's so I like swapping things out from time to time. Helps break the ear fatigue for lack of a better way of saying it.

Congrats on your new Rev F :cheers:
 
I had a Rev F SN963. It came with 6L6 and I swapped to EL34. Difference was very minor since a Rectifier gets all its gain from the preamp. In fact, they start to sound pretty bad if you distort the power amp. I felt like maybe there was a 5-10% difference at most. EL34 made the mids a little more prominent and actually darkened the amp slightly. The bass response was about the same at 6L6.
 
I like them both...but in the 2 F triples I had, I preferred EL34s. More snarl IMO. But, 6L6 also sound great.
 
I dunno if this will help you Chris but this is the video I was talking about. It’s a Multiwatt so take that into consideration but I’m sure the differences would be similar across various rectos. Will definitely need to listen on good headphone or monitors but the differences are definitely there. I think there’s value in both tubes

 
Makes quite a difference in my series2 single. I was reading on the eurotubes website a long time ago about how the mesa fixed-bias system runs a much warmer bias on the el34 setting than it does on the 6L6 setting, so that might be one reason I notice such a big difference in that amp.

Overall I slightly prefer 6L6 in any rectifier I've tried, but I've been keeping their mesa 447 tubes(eh-EL34) in my single just for something different and because it blends so well like that with my avatar k100-loaded 212 and my k100/v30 x-pattern cab too. I have all 6L6 in my other rectos, but I run a mix of different era mesa tubes,,,,,,420,430,440,445.
 
I'll end up with a quad of everything like a psycho. I have 1 more recto landing here soon so I'll be able to match some stuff up
 
I like EL34’s best in Recto’s. They bring out the most growl and character in the mids and uppermids. The Winged C 34’s in particular sounded best to me (most aggression, tightness and punch), but still gotta try my RFT 34’s before I can say Winged C’s are the undisputed king. I actually also sometimes really like the Shuguang 34’s in them too (they are very hairy sounding) and the old American 6CA7’s, in particular the ones by GE & Sylvania

6L6GC’s can be good too (especially the Sylvania, JAN Philips & US Tung-Sol’s), but they’re more hollow & smooth in the mids, but more extended lows and highs. I generally prefer 5881’s over 6L6GC’s in Recto’s and in a bunch of amps actually. They sound richer, warmer, more woody/less glassy, not as hollow and more growl in the low mids. I like the same brand as my 6L6GC’s for them plus also RCA & GE

I never liked much any KT tubes whether it’s 66’s, 77’s, 88’s or 120’s (the EHX KT90’s can be good though). Something about them just sounds off or sterile, lacking good tone to me. My old Mullard & GEC KT77’s are great, but they’re a different animal than current made ones from what I understand and don’t sound much different than my Mullard XF2 EL34’s counterparts
 
itsgoodnow said:
I'll end up with a quad of everything like a psycho. I have 1 more recto landing here soon so I'll be able to match some stuff up
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That’s where I’m at lol. About 8 or 9 shelves fully occupied with various tubes. There are some really rare tubes though where I could only get pairs of them so far like my GEC & Mullard KT77’s, Mullard KT88’s, Mullard KT66’s, GEC KT66’s, Raytheon 5881’s, US Tung-Sol 6L6GC’s, Valvo EL34’s and I’m sure others I’m forgetting lol
 
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