Cornford Carrera Tube Swap-Out - EL84 vs 6V6

Im testing a Cornford Carrera. Its a 5-8 watt handwired boutique amp built in the UK. A neat feature it has is the ability to switch from an EL84 tube (9 pin) to a 6V6/6L6/EL34/KT88 etc (8 pin) tube via a switch on the top of the amp, hence the variance in wattage. The differences range from subtle to obvious depending on the tube and the settings. The EQ is set Bass on 9, Mids on 5, Treble on 8 and a little reverb. I'm using a JJ 6V6, a Sovtek EL84 and three JJ 12AX7 preamp tubes.

Im playing a Tom Anderson T Classic with three single coil pickups that I just got this week. I have not had it set up yet and there is some buzzing/intonation issues, so live with it. My playing is crap, which is why Im the Untalented Gearhead, as Im quite aware of it.

This was recorded on a Zoom H2 handheld recorder about 6 inches from the amp. Any crackling you hear is from the recorder, not the amp. The amp is GREAT. There were no effects used at all.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• cornford
• carrera
• harlequin
• tube
• amp
• amplifier
• tom
• anderson
• guitar
• classic
• tele
• 6v6
• el84
• boutique
• untalented
• gearhead

[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

[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 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

[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]

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

[TalkToTheBody]

@KissMeImPunk you've got bad hearing!

[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]

@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.

[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.