EL34 vs 6V6

[BlueDragon]

What are the tonal differences between EL34 and 6V6 in Trainwreck?

[dobbhill]

My best suggestion would be to just plug them in and see for yourself. I hope that doesn't sound cold, but everyone doesn't agree on subjective things like tone. I like the V's when I need absolutely no headroom and just a creamy, soft lead tone. Also, my band mates like the V's better because they are not quite as loud. Also, to me, the V's have less "bottom" or low end punch.
I hope this helps, but hopefully others will chime in.
PS: different brands of the same tube type will also sound different in this amp.
D

[HeeBGB]

I like the 34's better. They just have more muscle! To me that translates to more responsivness. It's like the difference between playing a 50 watt Marshall and playing a 100 watt. The 50 is good but it's not the 100!

I do like the V's though. I think the V's are just more in control and the 34's are more unruly.

I am very fickle and change back and forth quite a bit. Maybe about 60% of the time I choose the 34's so it's not a landslide but the 34's still win for me.

[908ssp]

I tried Mullard EL34s, GEC KT66's, Sylvania 6550's, GE Black Plate 6L6's, and Tungsol 6550 [KT88]. I forgot to try 6V6's duhh

Anyway I settled on the Tungsol's.

[HiGain]

I've had the same results as posted above: 6V6 are less girthy, less wild, with less harmonics and feedback, less volume, less headroom, and less midrange.

I friend, who is a great jazz player, and knows nothing about high gain amps, said to me the other day that the EL34 tubes make the amp be more about the amp, while the 6V6 tubes make the amp speak more for the guitar.

I like both.

I have a switch that alters the HPF ahead of stage three to .0057uF/56k. This reduces again, but enhances bass. It sounds a little too mushy with EL34s. BUT, it sounds great with 6V6 output tubes-- more headroom, and a better balance of bass. It was a happy accident, but I now think of the switch as a 6V6/EL34 EQ switch.

Jake