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Post by freddieg on Mar 14, 2009 9:23:15 GMT -7
OK - can anyone tell me in layman's terms the major tonal differences between 6L6 and 6V6 tubes - ?
Sorry if this is a novice question for all of you guys on the board but I own a few amps with both types of tubes and the sound seems pretty similar to me - but another member of the Z-forum corrected me on this point on a different thread.
I am generally playing at low volumes at home for the most part and I typically don't have a chance to put the amps at "11".
Also - I just bought a Z-brake and I still need some time to experiment.
Thanks! ! FreddieG
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Post by smolder on Mar 14, 2009 12:23:48 GMT -7
I think tone (IMO) is similar, but am told that 6L6's can generate more wattage (louder) and have more headroom that 6V6's.
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Post by BW on Mar 15, 2009 22:11:53 GMT -7
6V6's are sweeter (and quicker) on the breakup when you crank the amp up...6L6's are stouter, cleaner. You really wouldn't notice much difference 'til you get 'em singin'. Its the difference between, say, a Deluxe Reverb and a Pro Reverb. (Or maybe a Z-28 and an EZG...)
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Post by myles on Mar 17, 2009 15:56:14 GMT -7
They are very different tubes.
The 6V6 has the same plate impedance of an EL84. That is one reason that Fender went for EL84 tubes in the Blues Jr .... cheaper for the same sort of tonal character.
6V6s can be chimey while 6L6s which use a very different output transformer can sound bigger in the low and low mids.
Soem feel a 6V6 is just a lower power 6L6 and this is incorrect. They are very different tubes and in fact in some amp circuits a 6V6 can sound more like an EL34 than a 6L6. An EL84 has sometimes been descibed as an EL34 in a small bottle and in fact the EL84 and EL34 have more in common than the 6L6 and 6V6. Listen to an 18 watt Marshall .... sounds like a cranked plexi if you get a good one.
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Mar 17, 2009 17:33:27 GMT -7
They are very different tubes and in fact in some amp circuits a 6V6 can sound more like an EL34 than a 6L6. Can you say Remedy
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Post by timford on Mar 17, 2009 20:06:49 GMT -7
Hi guys,
Question for Myles - read some of you myspace info the other day and figure you know tubes. This type of question and subsequent discussion is the sort of information I am always interested in. Are there any books/manuals - particularly guitar amp focused, that you or the doc would recommend that give this sort of information (the amp examples are great) in detail.
Apologies if this is a question you are asked all the time. It seems everyone here loves the nuts and bolts.
Had a 1980/81 Fender 30 (6l6) and was going to ab with friends 65 princeton (6v6), but amp fell over in his van on the way over and speaker/baffle fell out and needed repair. It was going to be an interesting experiment with 6l6, 6v6, el84 and el34 amps all lined up. Friend preferred the warmer character of his princeton to the fender 30 which was more brittle, but then again it depends on which tube with which circuit, speaker combinations etc.
2 amps side by side like 2 Victoria Regal II's, one loaded with a 6l6 and the other a 6v6, all other things the same would be an interesting comparison. Perhaps the airbrake to normalise the corresponding sweat spot volumes. AB to jump between the 2 with the same guitar.
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Post by myles on Mar 18, 2009 13:14:08 GMT -7
Hi guys, Question for Myles - read some of you myspace info the other day and figure you know tubes. This type of question and subsequent discussion is the sort of information I am always interested in. Are there any books/manuals - particularly guitar amp focused, that you or the doc would recommend that give this sort of information (the amp examples are great) in detail. Apologies if this is a question you are asked all the time. It seems everyone here loves the nuts and bolts. Had a 1980/81 Fender 30 (6l6) and was going to ab with friends 65 princeton (6v6), but amp fell over in his van on the way over and speaker/baffle fell out and needed repair. It was going to be an interesting experiment with 6l6, 6v6, el84 and el34 amps all lined up. Friend preferred the warmer character of his princeton to the fender 30 which was more brittle, but then again it depends on which tube with which circuit, speaker combinations etc. 2 amps side by side like 2 Victoria Regal II's, one loaded with a 6l6 and the other a 6v6, all other things the same would be an interesting comparison. Perhaps the airbrake to normalise the corresponding sweat spot volumes. AB to jump between the 2 with the same guitar. What is the question? I may not reply too quickly as I am on the road.
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Post by myles on Mar 18, 2009 21:34:46 GMT -7
Tim, I know that Myles has endorsed Dave Hunter's amp book. It is my favorite amp book on the planet.
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Post by timford on Mar 19, 2009 1:21:56 GMT -7
Thanks guys, I've just ordered that book and the 'tube amp book revised edition' that also has contributions by Dave Hunter. I'll be more to the point next time Sorry for hijacking. Back to "major tonal differences between 6L6 and 6V6 tubes"
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Post by myles on Mar 19, 2009 11:09:28 GMT -7
Thanks guys, I've just ordered that book and the 'tube amp book revised edition' that also has contributions by Dave Hunter. I'll be more to the point next time Sorry for hijacking. Back to "major tonal differences between 6L6 and 6V6 tubes" Dave's book is more technical of a slant and Aspen's book is more historical generally. On Aspen's book you will see both Dave's name and my name in there as he and I worked together on Aspen's book for about a year and a half. Most of the tube and rectifer pieces and recording pieces you will find my name on so if you want any details that are not in the book in those sort of areas feel free to contact me.
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