Sed 6550 vs Sed EL34 in 2008 VH4

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bronz79

bronz79

New member
Hello to all,
I know this topic has been discussed many times,I'm sorry to replace it but I have a question:
My Vh4 is now to my amp tech to do a little mod in order to reduce compression and today I was thinking
about switching the current Sed EL34 to Sed 6550.
I've read also the thread where Peter Diezel explains why Diezel returns on EL34..but how my amp will sound
with 6550?

I think:
-more headroom,
-maybe better clean,
-more bass,
-less midrage

But for heavy heavy riffs ,tuned 1 step down, 6550 can do a better job than El34?

Many thanks. :)
 
Tough call m'man... I was REALLY hesitant to go with the 6550's in my brand new VH4S when I traded my older VH4 in. I was going on about changing it up for EL34's and all this forethought and so forth...

Needless to say, I went with the 6550's and thought for sure I was going to swap 'em out - NOPE - the 6550's are a brilliant match and ya, definitely different than the EL34's, but I do love 'em. Melt-my-face kinda groove through the Diezel FL4x12 G12K cab. Kazy.

Now, having said that, if you're really into EL34's - keep 'em. They're only tubes... I really have warmed up to the 6550's and they've got more power, more low-end grunt, more punch, less fizzle (if any, c'mon, this is a Diezel) and tons of headroom.

Fo'shitz'n'giggles, I say stick 'em with 6550's and see what ya think :rock:
V.
 
I liked 6550s in my VH4S.
It's not so much "less" midrange, per se...more like more everything else.
The 6550s have an extended top end and tighter bass.
They also help out the compression a bit, but it's not a huge difference, since most of teh compression on a VH4 comes from teh preamp.

It's not going to turn the Vh4 into a completely different beast, but there's definitely a difference.
You will lose that characteristic midrange crunch that 34s have.
Depending on why you like the VH4 in the first place, it could be an improvement or not.
 
I'm not a big fan of 6550's in more classic sounding amps to me they get over compressed and just are really BOTTOM heavy, they aren't BAD sounding but they are just not what I expect I guess. I really like SED EL34's I think they are a very hard tube to beat all things considered.
 
Dallas Marlow":21nt5l2w said:
I'm not a big fan of 6550's in more classic sounding amps to me they get over compressed and just are really BOTTOM heavy, they aren't BAD sounding but they are just not what I expect I guess. I really like SED EL34's I think they are a very hard tube to beat all things considered.
Click to expand...

+1 :thumbsup:

Just cuz I think Dallas is a cool shit :D

V.

PS - this doesn't retract my previous statement, I still dig 6550's.
 
imo i thought the amp came to life with 6550s in it. I like alot of low end tho. It was just a better fit for me. 34s sound great but for me...its 6550s. Another alternative i really enjoyed was a KT77. had the better lows & still had the grit of the EL34

and yes...they are only tubes! :lol: :LOL:
 
Many thanks, I'll try Sed "C" 6550..if I don't like them I'll return on EL34. :)
 
Let us know what you think...thus far, there've been a LOT of convertees :yes:

V.
 
Ventura":2hym5kcw said:
Let us know what you think...thus far, there've been a LOT of convertees :yes:

V.
Click to expand...


Tomorrow finally I'll have my VH4 back! :m17:
 
Make sure you let us know what you think... And aside from the install of 6550's, didja go with any new preamp tubes too??

V.
 
Ventura":2zthgpjg said:
Make sure you let us know what you think... And aside from the install of 6550's, didja go with any new preamp tubes too??

V.
Click to expand...
PaulyPanacea":2zthgpjg said:
yes yes...let us know the verdict! :D
Click to expand...

The preamp section tubes remains the same:
Ruby HG+ v1-v2 and HG v3-------v7.
I've also replaced a resistor to have less ubercompressed channel 4 (sorry but I don't know if this afflicts also the other channels and how it really acts, Peter told me is
the same resistor of the bite mod).

So..I've played my Vh4 with 6550 today..to little time to make a final verdict but:
-the whole amp is more open,
-ch4 breathes more and is more usable..and..
-I can't wait until tomorrow to test it again! :rock:
 
My final verdict: 6550! :rock: :rock: :rock:

If anyone is interested ,when I've got time this week,I'll write a little review/comparison between 6550 and EL34 and the VH4 with the mod. :)
 
bronz79":zvwp0nwb said:
My final verdict: 6550! :rock: :rock: :rock:

If anyone is interested ,when I've got time this week,I'll write a little review/comparison between 6550 and EL34 and the VH4 with the mod. :)
Click to expand...



yes please ! :thumbsup:
 
I went with 6550's and the 100K resistor for the mod. The amp is like the audio at an IMAX. 3D, Fat, Thick, Huge and just enough sizzle.....
 
MARK2C":1gezfyka said:
I went with 6550's and the 100K resistor for the mod. The amp is like the audio at an IMAX. 3D, Fat, Thick, Huge and just enough sizzle.....
Click to expand...

What's the 100K resistor mod for? And is it specific to one or all four channels?

More deets please :confused:

V.
 
Ventura":ygbmrtwy said:
MARK2C":ygbmrtwy said:
I went with 6550's and the 100K resistor for the mod. The amp is like the audio at an IMAX. 3D, Fat, Thick, Huge and just enough sizzle.....
Click to expand...

What's the 100K resistor mod for? And is it specific to one or all four channels?

More deets please :confused:

V.
Click to expand...

I really think the 100K mod as the compression mod (but they both meaning the same resistor) is for all channels.
MARK2C can give you a more accurate explanation on it.(sorry Mark but I not too tech).
Anyway 6550 and mod make IMO the VH4 fantastic. ;)
 
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