Retraction (tube related)

[steve_k]

Changed the tubes in the VH4 the other day from SED EL34C's to 6550's. Sounded damn good at lower volumes and I got all worked up . I finally got the place to myself a while today and had a chance to air it out with a little horsepower on the master volume . To me, I lost all the tone on Ch. 3 that made my loins quiver for the VH4 in the first place . The 6550's are being ejected tonight and the 34's are going right back in where they came from.

Steve

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

You know, I got to agree, 34's still sound better. The 6550 still aren't bad though, you have to do some tweaking to your eq to get them closer, less bass in the preamp for starters(pres and deep can stay the same though). Little bit lower channel volume and high master. But still pales in comparison to the crisp attack and harmonic swirl any EL34's put in the amp. 6550's are just too smooth and relaxed and ridiculous bass. They're good enough for me to keep in there till I retube personally though. I acutally thought the cleans were better too with the 34's, more sparkle. Catch 22 though, the cleans with the 6550's are nice and round though. Channel 2 sounds EXCELLENT with the 6550's though. The lead channel could go either way really, depends on how smooth you want you leads.



-Nick

 

[steve_k]

Yep, its just the tone I am used to hearing out of the VH4. Felt a little lost without it!

I really noticed it most though when I threw some Tool on the the monitors and I could not get dialed in for shit .

Its all good now though and 34's back under the hood.


Steve

 

[RaulTx]

Its all good now though and 34's back under the hood.

Hi!! I was thinking on buying the 6550s to retube my einstein, but after reading your post, now i'm doubting... which el34 are you using?

any other feedbacks on the 6550s compared to the el34s??

Regards!
Raul

 

[Joeytpg]

Raul, the 6550 apparently have a dif. effect one the VH4, whereas the Einstein and Herbert really benefit from them. Just based on what I've read.

I'll order some 6550 when it's time to order tubes again. Of course some 6L6 just to be safe since they're my fav. and two KT77 to complete the other two KT77 I alreade have.

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

I got a little tip for anyone using using 6550's a friend of mine is letting me borrow some JJ ECC83's and I got to tell you THEY'RE FRIGGIN AWESOME with the 6550's. They are what was in there before I sent my amp to have some 6550's put in, they even more bad ass with EL34's. Makes the 6550 one sweet sounding tube though I gotta tell ya.

Put them in V1 and V2, trust me, it rocks SO much harder than all chinese in the VH4. It just works wonders with it's voice. Low end becomes more open and punchy and harmonic spread and clarity are through the roof awesome. Cleans,SO NICE.

Herbert I liked all chinese better, the two JJ thing made it a little tubby.

 

[guitarobert]

I must be old school on the VH4.

I still like 6L6s best of all tubes (6L6, EL34, KT77) I have tried. If anything else, I'm considering trying KT66s since they apparently have a 6L6 type character.

 

[steve_k]

The great thing about a VH4 - the ability to change character dramatically with different families of tubes.

I had a specific tone I was after when I bought it and the 34's make it happen.

Just my 2 cents, and that is all it is worth...


Steve

 

[Duolos]

IMO the 6550 tube sounds the best for what I play and like. For me it is all about the riffage

 

[Anonymous]

I have found that all Diezel amps respond well to different tube changes.
I changed out the EL-34's in my Einstein after they needed changing to KT77's and put a NOS Mullard 12AT7 in V-1 and V-3 and a NOS 5751 in V-2. Big difference in the tone.

NOS real Mullards, Telefunkens, and RFT's work well in all Diezel amps in the pre section.
It becomes a matter of voicing the pre with the power section to achieve just the right combination.

 

[nbarts]

Hell, I adore the 34s in my Herbert. When you crank it, those babies sing.

 

[steve_k]

Hell, I adore the 34s in my Herbert. When you crank it, those babies sing.

 

[Ventura]

I've gone through a MESS of various high quality tubes in both models VH4 and VH4S... I love the 6550's power output, but without sounding too know-it-all (as I am FAR from that), I find them almost a bit "sterile" at mid to higher volumes. "Sterile" can be okay, as it's something that can be EQ'd to suit your needs at the true-sonic level. But when it comes to tone and character, top-drawer EL34's are my thing

I have the brand new VH4S loaded with the 6550's and it's fine. Love it. But part of my playing it so much is because I'm hoping to wear those puppies out and replace them with my supply of Tung Sol or SED EL34's. Personal preferences, flexibility, and everything else - it's all good. Tubes are cheap in comparison to buying an entirely different head to achieve the same end result.

V.

 

[eddiespaghetty]

Its all good now though and 34's back under the hood.

Hi!! I was thinking on buying the 6550s to retube my einstein, but after reading your post, now i'm doubting... which el34 are you using?

any other feedbacks on the 6550s compared to the el34s??

Regards!
Raul

Hi Raul,

I tried 6550s in my Einstein, but replaced them very soon with EL34 again (JJ EL34L). I like El34 better.

eddie

 

[steve_k]

Its all good now though and 34's back under the hood.

Hi!! I was thinking on buying the 6550s to retube my einstein, but after reading your post, now i'm doubting... which el34 are you using?

any other feedbacks on the 6550s compared to the el34s??

Regards!
Raul

Hi Raul,

I tried 6550s in my Einstein, but replaced them very soon with EL34 again (JJ EL34L). I like El34 better.

eddie

Ditto....

The only 34's I use in all my amps are SED Winged C's. This is not to say they are best by any means, but they can be driven well and knock on wood - no tube failures yet. The Ruby's sounded similar as well.

Steve

 

[synchu]

^Much agreed on EL34 vs. whatever. When I find the time I am changing the KT77 in my Einy back to EL34. Although KT77 sound better in cleaner settings - the EL34 are much better (well - say different in a way that I like, to be politically correct) when high gain is needed - for me most of the time. And who needs clean sounds anyway?
There's just something all time classic and great with the EL34 cranked I still don't have the time to experiment with the preamp tubes, though Would love to do some shuffling with the box full of different ECC83 tubes, I have...but when time permits. Looking through my schedules this will be around New Year 2010 or sumthin' ...