A simple poll. 6L6GC or EL34?

[Prelude670]

Pick what works for you. Tell me why!
Is one better suited for certain types of music,
or better suited to single coil guitars than HB's to your ears?
Spill it!

[duncan]

All the amps I own are EL34 based. All the amps I've kept for any amount of time are EL34 based.

Now, is that a result of the power tubes used or the amp circuit and tone?

[Cirrus]

I've only had one amp that could take both types - a Tremoverb combo. I preferred the EL34s for the kind of sounds I use in my songs - edge of breakup semi-cleans and more focused distortion with an emphasis on midrange.

But the 6L6s were undeniably better for modern distortion, wall-of-noise, and clean cleans. They made the amp sound bigger and more authoritative with deeper bass. And that makes sense, because they as good as say in the manual "You can use EL34s if you want, but we designed it for 6L6s".

Honestly, I think so many of the things we think are down to the valves are down to the voicing of the Eq stack etc. My AC100cph takes EL34s and it actually has more bass and a tighter sound than the tremoverb did with 6L6s.

[Zozobra]

I'll take either. For the most part it depends on the circuit and how loud you're playing as to what will work for you. The grid curves of the two tubes are quite different; 6L6s being more linearly spaces and having a hard knee and EL34s being less linear with a soft knee. EL34s also pull more screen current when they are being ragged hard which causes them to sag a little more resulting in more compression. EL34 circuits also tend to use larger screen resistors too which increases this effect. This is a pretty big generalisation of course and dicking with the screen supply can change things a lot.

[_ej_]

I like KT88's

[benjamin801]

I generally think the differences are subtle unless you're really pushing the tubes hard. Having spent most of my tube amp-playing life on Simul-Class Mesas (i.e. both tube types at once), I'm probably not the best qualified to answer.

[metalguy]

The XXX I have now came with 6l6's (EH i think). Came time for a tube change and listened to other owners and switched to EL34. Never looked back. Very much see myself as a EL34 guy now.

Which is strange cause what I consider to be my dream amp (EVH 5150 III) comes stock with 6L6's. So guess it depends. But until I have that amp, I'll say EL34.

[GuitarBilly]

It really depends on the amp. With the Laney GH, I used 6L6s and did not like the tone of EL34's at all. The Carvin Legacy on the other hand, sounded much better with EL34's than 6L6. For the 6505/5150, I prefer 6L6's over their 6534 amp.

So it really depends on the amp. I picked EL34's on the poll because that's what I am using now since the DSL only takes EL34 type tubes.

[Devin]

Really doesn't matter to me

My main amp uses 6550's (or kt88's) but my Prosonic uses 5881's (6L6) and I love it, too.

[Van_Muddlestein]

most of my favorite amps and sounds are EL34 based amps. However, my favorite tubes are undeniably 6550's. I'm debating modding this ampeg to take 6550's.

[Tommy Eisen]

I generally think the differences are subtle unless you're really pushing the tubes hard. Having spent most of my tube amp-playing life on Simul-Class Mesas (i.e. both tube types at once), I'm probably not the best qualified to answer.

This.

[rock flag and eagle]

I've got the best of both worlds - I own a Mesa Road King, I run channel one with all 4 6L6's clean, channel 2 with EL34's a little dirty, channel 3 2 6L6's in modern mode and channel 4 EL34's raw mode

[NinjaRaf]

I think the biggest difference I notice, even among 6l6s from different brands, is how the amp feels with different power tubes.

[100 watt]

no EL34's for me.

If it'll take em, KT88's / 6550's. If not, then 6L6's / 5881's.

[Ostinato Rubato]

I tend to lean towards 6L6's.

[Rampage]

I really don't have much of a preference. I loved EL-34s in my Shiva and JMP because it really fits that Marshall vibe, but 6L6s in my Mesa sound fine by me. I also really like the way 6V6s sound when cranked.

[soundgardener75]

I solved my curiousity by obtaining two single channel heads with those two tube types. It's hard to pick personally.

[madrigal77]

I prefer 6L6.

[lenster]

Preferred EL34 to 6L6 in my VH100R , to me it had a thicker , grindier tone.
H&K i'm currently using has EL84, man i do really enjoy this amp .
End of the day 'Horses for courses'.

[cibyl]

I like teh EL34's better. Unless of course we're talking about Fender amps.

[wyatt]

I have to say I prefer 6L6's, I find them better in most amps that can use or are offered in both. The Shiva for example is a much fuller, bettered defined and dynamic amp with 6L6's, I preferred the Twin-like cleans and the JCM-like OD better form the 6L6-based Carvin X-Amp, etc.

Not to say I don't love a great El34-based plexi.

[KCTigerChief]

6 months ago I would have said 6L6's...My Mark IV's and 5150's sounded fantastic with them...Still two of my favorite amps ever.

But since I got my ecstasy, I'm in love with the EL34 bite...I think ultimately, it comes down to the circuit, as that will have a bigger difference in tone than the tubes, IMO...

That said, you left off the option for "both", because that's what I'd pick.

[clipless bumper]

I picked EL-34 cause I-ve always been a Marshall guy.
Now I'm on the lookout for a modern high-gainer so that could possibly change.

[stonedtone]

silly

[treedroppings]

My Mk1 boogie is good with 6L6's. The Mark3 simul-class was good half and half.
HiWatt's are great for el34's but cost mega dollars.
My favorites are el84's with an ac30

The XXX I have now came with 6l6's (EH i think). Came time for a tube change and listened to other owners and switched to EL34. Never looked back. Very much see myself as a EL34 guy now.

I had a triple XXX combo, and changing to el34's didn't do anything for me. I lost a lot of bass, and the gain was still too much (I know, that's the way it was built). I had the preamp and gain controls on one or less, LOL.