EL 34's
Moderators: Guitarzan, Grandor, ned, Platypus
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- Mark I
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EL 34's
Put in some Mesa EL 34's last night and wow so much better than 6L6's anybody else share this opinion.
Re: EL 34's
Nope, I find the 6L6GC to be superior in many ways.
Re: EL 34's
I thought the same when I swapped the el34s in. After a while I had an opportunity to test with new 6L6s and boy I was sold on those... el34s doesn't have such wide frequency range as the 6L6s have... My next tubes will be 6L6s again 

Current:
- Electra-Dyne
- Stiletto Deuce Stage II
- 2x12 Recto horizontal
- 4x12 Stiletto slanted
Gone:
- Mark III 60w/grx
- Studio preamp
- Roadster head
- Triaxis / 2:50
- Stiletto Deuce Stage 1
- CAA OD-50
- Mark V
- Electra-Dyne
- Stiletto Deuce Stage II
- 2x12 Recto horizontal
- 4x12 Stiletto slanted
Gone:
- Mark III 60w/grx
- Studio preamp
- Roadster head
- Triaxis / 2:50
- Stiletto Deuce Stage 1
- CAA OD-50
- Mark V
Re: EL 34's
I found the EL34s work way better for me. They have very vocal mids and don't have the excess bandwidth of the 6L6GCs. I should highlight that I like to set my bass pot very low even with the EL34s so YMMV.
Re: EL 34's
A while ago I swapped pickups to my LP and after that I've been able to raise the bass pot from minimum
the low end was overwhelming even with el34s...
the LP had JB/Jazz combination and it was too bass heavy with pole pieces topped and pickup height lowered.. new pickups are the not-so-much loved Gibson burstbucker pro set.

the LP had JB/Jazz combination and it was too bass heavy with pole pieces topped and pickup height lowered.. new pickups are the not-so-much loved Gibson burstbucker pro set.

Current:
- Electra-Dyne
- Stiletto Deuce Stage II
- 2x12 Recto horizontal
- 4x12 Stiletto slanted
Gone:
- Mark III 60w/grx
- Studio preamp
- Roadster head
- Triaxis / 2:50
- Stiletto Deuce Stage 1
- CAA OD-50
- Mark V
- Electra-Dyne
- Stiletto Deuce Stage II
- 2x12 Recto horizontal
- 4x12 Stiletto slanted
Gone:
- Mark III 60w/grx
- Studio preamp
- Roadster head
- Triaxis / 2:50
- Stiletto Deuce Stage 1
- CAA OD-50
- Mark V
Re: EL 34's
Totally agree with EL34's I've been using them in my dual rec for 15 years. Has a great upper mid bite and cuts through really well.
Mesa Dual Rectifier (3 channel)
Mesa 4x12's Recto Std & Traditional
Randall RM100 2x12 (KH-1, Recto, Grail)
Ernie Ball Musicman Petrucci 7 string
Gibson SG
Gibson Les Paul Std
PRS SE Custom 7
http://www.gravelhead.net
Mesa 4x12's Recto Std & Traditional
Randall RM100 2x12 (KH-1, Recto, Grail)
Ernie Ball Musicman Petrucci 7 string
Gibson SG
Gibson Les Paul Std
PRS SE Custom 7
http://www.gravelhead.net
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- Single Recto
- Posts: 1257
- Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:16 am
Re: EL 34's
Personal preference, I still love those Winged C 6L6s in them Rectifiers 

Re: EL 34's
I enjoyed those bottles in Mark III. Never had enough cash to buy quartet of =C='sKH Guitar Freak wrote:Personal preference, I still love those Winged C 6L6s in them Rectifiers
Current:
- Electra-Dyne
- Stiletto Deuce Stage II
- 2x12 Recto horizontal
- 4x12 Stiletto slanted
Gone:
- Mark III 60w/grx
- Studio preamp
- Roadster head
- Triaxis / 2:50
- Stiletto Deuce Stage 1
- CAA OD-50
- Mark V
- Electra-Dyne
- Stiletto Deuce Stage II
- 2x12 Recto horizontal
- 4x12 Stiletto slanted
Gone:
- Mark III 60w/grx
- Studio preamp
- Roadster head
- Triaxis / 2:50
- Stiletto Deuce Stage 1
- CAA OD-50
- Mark V
- domct203
- Moderator
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Re: EL 34's
+100KH Guitar Freak wrote:Personal preference, I still love those Winged C 6L6s in them Rectifiers
Nothing better for a Recto.
Dom
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'18 TC-100
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'08 Stiletto Deuce II
'10 Mark V - sold
'18 TC-100
'01 Recto 4X12 Slant
'04 Recto 4X12 Slant/Straight
'74 Les Paul Custom
'95 American Strat
'12 Les Paul Signature T
TC G-System
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- Triple Recto
- Posts: 3143
- Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:31 am
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Re: EL 34's
+++++1 on the =C= 6L6GC. Sweet tube with lots of bite. Even better driving a quad of EV's.
I too have tried the EL34 (several types actually including the =c= set I use with my RA100) took too much away from the tone that I enjoyed most about the Roadster. Perhaps it depends on what Rectifier amp you used them in as you did not specify..... An alternative to keep some bottom and get the rest would be 6CA7. I was overwhelmed how they sounded in my Mark V but did not have the Roadster at that time.
I too have tried the EL34 (several types actually including the =c= set I use with my RA100) took too much away from the tone that I enjoyed most about the Roadster. Perhaps it depends on what Rectifier amp you used them in as you did not specify..... An alternative to keep some bottom and get the rest would be 6CA7. I was overwhelmed how they sounded in my Mark V but did not have the Roadster at that time.
- screamingdaisy
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Re: EL 34's
I've tried EL34s and didn't like them. Killed the percussive sound that I typically go for. I used to keep a set handy since it's easy to swap back and forth on a Mesa, but I eventually stuck them in an amp I was selling so I could keep the 6L6s that were in it as spares.
I don't hear much about them anymore, but JJ E34Ls were a good compromise option. More bottom than your typical EL34.
I don't hear much about them anymore, but JJ E34Ls were a good compromise option. More bottom than your typical EL34.
Ignore the hype and trust your ears. Play more, buy less = better tone.
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- Single Recto
- Posts: 1257
- Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:16 am
Re: EL 34's
I know someone who uses KT77s with his, and he loves itbandit2013 wrote:+++++1 on the =C= 6L6GC. Sweet tube with lots of bite. Even better driving a quad of EV's.
I too have tried the EL34 (several types actually including the =c= set I use with my RA100) took too much away from the tone that I enjoyed most about the Roadster. Perhaps it depends on what Rectifier amp you used them in as you did not specify..... An alternative to keep some bottom and get the rest would be 6CA7. I was overwhelmed how they sounded in my Mark V but did not have the Roadster at that time.
Re: EL 34's
Just ordered some for my Tremoverb. Liked it fine with 6L’s but decided to put the ones in my MK V in the TVerb to try it out. Undeniably more articulate for riffs and more clarity in general. Still sounds big and bad like a recto does.
Re: EL 34's
When I owned a Roadster, I dug the EL34's for distorted stuff and KT-77s for cleans.
YOUTUBE: mesafanintexas
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- Triple Recto
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Re: EL 34's
Now that I have a quad of EH6CA7, will have to squeeze them into the Roadster and see what happens. I tried them in the RA100 combo just for kicks. I did not care for the KT77 in the Roadster but those tubes rocked quite well in the Mark V.