Valves: EL34L's vs 6L6's

[Johnnyc]

Hi guys,

I'm thinking of changing out the valves in my amp from 6L6's to EL34L's; seeing as there's 12 of them it's not gonna be cheap so I thought I'd draw on the vast amount of experience and knowledge of people on here and get some advice first.

Ok so i'm using a Traynor YBA-300 through a Berg NV610, and the sound seems to be more hifi and transparent compared to the Ampeg SVT-CL and SVT-VR which i've briefly owned in the last year and loved the sound of (got rid of them due to reliability and build quality issues) and even though it does sound really nice I'm after a bit more grit and mid punch, seeing as i play 90% rock.

I'm just wondering if switching out the 6L6's to EL34's is gonna do the trick? What do EL34's sound like?

Here's a link to the amp if you're interested:
[url="http://www.traynoramps.com/products.asp?type=5&cat=40&id=435"]http://www.traynoramps.com/products.asp?type=5&cat=40&id=435[/url]


Thanks in advance!

Johnny

[bertbass]

Give this a look / listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMqJeIukXtE

Very interesting and may help you decide.

[Subthumper]

Check that the amp is compatible to take el34s. It could require modification to do so and also el34's require more current to drive the heaters (extra 0.6amp each, which is a total of 7.2amps!) Also the bias would need to be adjusted too. Check first or you could seriously damage the amp. Personally I'd go for kt77's-bigger bottom end and cleaner highs.
Good luck
cheers Just

[Pentode]

[quote name='Subthumper' timestamp='1333552923' post='1603461']
Check that the amp is compatible to take el34s. It could require modification to do so and also el34's require more current to drive the heaters (extra 0.6amp each, which is a total of 7.2amps!) Also the bias would need to be adjusted too. Check first or you could seriously damage the amp. Personally I'd go for kt77's-bigger bottom end and cleaner highs.
Good luck
cheers Just
[/quote]

Also maybe consider 6CA7s' subject to the above precautions.

[Mr. Foxen]

Consider it is the amp that makes the tone not the valves. Modifying the preamp circuit and amount of gain is going to make far more difference to the punch and grit.

[StraightSix]

...and swapping four preamp valves will most likely be considerably cheaper.

[3below]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1333561908' post='1603654']
Consider it is the amp that makes the tone not the valves. Modifying the preamp circuit and amount of gain is going to make far more difference to the punch and grit.
[/quote]

Fully agree, read Merlin's books, [url="http://www.freewebs.com/valvewizard/"]http://www.freewebs.com/valvewizard/[/url] then get modding.

[Bassman Steve]

Some excellent valve reviews and test on the Watford Valves site.

[Johnnyc]

cheers for the replies guys. Will look up on modding the pre amp and maybe some new pre amp valves. The amp is defo designed with EL34's in mind as much as 6L6's, as they say on the website.

[Mr. Foxen]

Modding preamp is fairly extreme compared to getting an amp you do like the sound of. VT bass might do well for you into a transparent amp lacking grit.

[Johnnyc]

yeah it does sound pretty extreme and after giving the link a read i doubt i could be bothered to figure out how to mod it in the first place... could spending hours reading that and still not fully understand!

Is the VT bass likely to do anything that different to the Sansamp bass driver di?

[Mr. Foxen]

Have a mid control is pretty key.

[Johnnyc]

Lol guess that might help slightly