Cornford Carrera Tube Swap-Out - EL84 vs 6V6

[TalkToTheBody]

The EL84 is clearly a winner here, it's louder, punchier, brighter and clearer whilst the 6V6 output seems too low in comparison and more importantly the 6V6 sounds very muddied with very little clarity

[ersemola]

@TalkToTheBody hello a question: wich are the tonal differences between the el86 and 6v6? i have peavey classic 50 50 with el84, is a good power amp? hx

[TalkToTheBody]

@ersemola you're better off asking the man who posted this video. Tone is affected by many things and not just the tubes, guitar construction, pickups, cables, pre-amp, playing style, effect chain , make and model of amp etc. One thing for sure as far as valve amps go and that is most of the tone comes from the two phase splitter tubes just before the main output tubes

[TalkToTheBody]

@ersemola In my power amp (Marshall EL84 20/20) it has 2 x ECC83's as phase splitters, although they do not have to be matchedIt is important to buy premium tubes that are internally matched (ie. an ECC83 has two internal circuits, two valves in one so to speak and it is vital that this valve has balanced/matched outputst . This is where most of the tone of a power amp comes from. Also make sure your 4 power valves are a matched quartet.

[TalkToTheBody]

@ersemola Finally always a good idea to change the two phase splitter tubes every time you replace the power tubes, or at least every other power tube replacement. Also make sure the bias is checked every tube replacement

[MrDblStop]

Thanks, some useful comparisons. It shows the EL84 as being more strident, a more in-your-face kind of attack, and the 6V6 being slightly softer and chimier. Pretty much what MelissaArmpit said below.

[ShivaTheAuspicious]

6V6 seems to have less mids, making it sound a bit quieter. EL84 is a bit greasy and gainy.

[that1stupidkid613]

The 6l6 def has more headroom. i personally love both, which is why egnater amps rule.

[ShivaTheAuspicious]

@that1stupidkid613 That Renegade is a hell of an amp huh. I owned one last year, and really enjoyed it but ended up getting into Bogner and H&K stuff. Set myself on H&K after going crazy with what I wanted to stick to.

[KX36]

The only difference I can really hear in this vid is that the 6V6 isn't being driven quite as hard as the EL84, so is a bit quieter and a bit cleaner... but that may just be because this is a 240p quality video...

The amp I'm building can switch between EL84, 6V6, EL34, 6L6... you just have to rebias with a knob and swap out 3 resistors each time LOL. (I'll eventually chose the one I prefer and keep that one, it's not really a feature)

[pfarina]

EL84 is much louder haha

[KissMeImPunk]

6V6 sounds like it's got a little more punch to it

[TalkToTheBody]

@KissMeImPunk you've got bad hearing!

[nutmegger1957]

to MY ear, the 6V6 seems less distorted, and more muted.

[MelissaArmpit]

It seems that the attack of the 6V6 is less edgy than of the EL84, that could be the big difference. Obviously the EL84 is more rock-like and the 6V6 more jazzy. I think the 6L6 is in between, more bluesy. It's a great sounding amp, the switch facility is great. Compare this to a transistor amp A-B and whatever doubts you might have will disappear.

[Equestional]

i like the 6v6

[dclaver2]

EL84 is a little better, but I want to get the Fender Super-Champ and it's $300 which is the max of my price range any other good suggestions for amps from $300 or less? Because i need to pic out an Amp for Christmas

[miller434]

I wrote earlier about wanting to upgrade to a tube amp, but for your 300 dollar range even though its not tube, the roland 30x is great, i also own it & i think its worth a look....you could look at the new "jet city" its made by soldano, 20 watts 1 channel, but its a head only, unlike my gf jk but its 300, good luck

[dclaver2]

Well i already got the fender super champ and it's a very powerful 15 watt, amp and it's great sounding too. Also when i went to guitar center, i said i'm looking for a tube amp and i was looking at the fender super champ, and they said oh well this is a great amp and they showed me a $700 marshal tube head and i said that's a little out of my price range. I hate going to guitar center because they do stuff like that. Try to sell you the best even though they know nothing about it.

[bob505470]

if you want a tube amp ove 10 watts, forget it. 300 isnt close to enough

[dclaver2]

I got a 15 watt tube amp for $300

[bob505470]

ebay? the closest 15 watt tube amp to 300 is the vox nightrain and its 400. if you did that is a steal beacause it costs more tham 300 to make even a simple el34 amp.

[dclaver2]

No guitar center. Fender Super Champ, 15 watt.

[bob505470]

i stand corected. thats not the best sounding amp though. with some mods you could make that thing scream

[Taygoo15]

@dclaver2 Problly sucks dick

[TheGuitareater]

@Taygoo15

OR he could have bought used...

[MihailTronix]

EL84 is better.

[miller434]

anybody please reply if you know the difference here. The new Epi valve series amps still have EL84, but the larger 18 watt Valve Senior has 6L6 listed, so WATTS the difference? j/k But seriously WHAT is the difference in sound between them?

[crysis5]

6L6 is a verry powerfull lamp, more than EL84. 6L6 is used in the majority of the Fenders.

In the sound, we can say that EL84 is a low-power version of EL34, and 6V6 is a low-power 6L6.

El34 is a more rough sounding lamp, associated with "the Marshall soud". 6L6 is smoother, and is the "Fender sound". EL34 is English-sounding, 6L6 is American-sounding.

[GredandForgeRock]

EL84s break up sooner and have a Voxy sound. 6L6 will get you closer to Fender cleans.

Go EL84 if you like OD is my take.

[ruffles272]

well they're 6v6 tubes if its only 18 watts. el84s have that more jangly bright midrangey sound while 6v6/6l6 have more of a smooth sound. i personally prefer el84s

[GuitGuyPL]

Don't you hear ?

[miller434]

computer speakers arent terribly great so no, but i was looking for a more detailed reply which ruffles272 & crysis replied too so thanks to them

[MYTUBEISAPUSSY]

EL84 like 12 BH7 are hard sounding more suitable for hifi,

6V6 & 6SN7 instead sound softer & are great guitar valves.....

you can buy adapter sockerts to stick in

[madstyxpro20million]

Second that. The EL84's have more gain too, come out a bit louder, bit more bite.

[blakegamemaster]

6v6's are more scooped while el84's are thicker.

Personally I like the the 6v6's as far as clean.

El84's have better overdrive sound

[lazysun8aher]

I want this amp so badly. Bloody credit crunch!