and which do you prefer?...I only have experience with EL34's until recently when I got a Laney GH100L and the Laney takes both (with a switch for auto-biasing)-
I the 6L6's sound like they have more umph (low end) while the EL34's like to scream more to my ears...
what's the difference? which do you prefer and why?[/size]
Well, you kind of described the difference as oomph vs scream. Which fits your music genre the best? MOST of the guitar players I know all say 6L6 but that may just be a "because I have always used them because everybody says so" kind of thing. I preferred solid state because I didn't want to have to deal with heat and ventilation concerns, but it's been a long time since I was a guitar player too.
I've personally found that 6L6 vs EL34 made fairly little difference. Toss 6L6's into a Marshall and it'll still sound like a Marshall - heck, many of their amps came with 6L6's from the factory!
That's not to say there are no differences, just that the differences are subtle and overshadowed by everything else in the amp. Typically 6L6 has a more solid bottom end and EL34 has more midrange harmonics, but again the amp has more to do with that. My most prized amplifier in my collection is an original Rivera Knucklehead 55. Stock it came with EL34's, but it has fat bass and the most beautiful clean Fender chime I've ever heard, even compared to actual Fenders (no doubt because Paul Rivera worked at Fender for years).
One big upshot with 6L6's is they use less heater current, so your transformers might run a little cooler. Might not be noticeable on your amp, but on an old Carvin amp I have it's much cooler.
You might get more of a tonal shift by changing preamp tubes. Long plate vs short plate, JJ vs Sovtek, 12AX7 vs 12AT7 vs 12AU7 vs 5751. Generally you can toss them in without having to change anything else.
ANYTHING you get from that amp with whatever configuration, so long as you're not in High gain mode, will sound 100% better than the "rock" clips in BIAB. Just stay away from sizzle and fizz and effects. Ue the amp for it's excellent tonal options.
Last edited by rayc; 09/30/2011:23 PM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
All the years I played and used tube amps, I have really never noticed much of a difference. I did the whole thing about buying matched pairs and changing the pre's out to Soviet, or whatever the fad seemed to be at the time. Never really could tell much of a difference between them.
I think it's kind of like the feeling you get that your car is running better because you just washed and polished it. It's not really, but it just seems that way.
That's not to say that tubes don't wear out and that replacing worn out tubes with new ones won't make any difference.... because it will. But if you have good tubes to start with, you really have to have keen ears to hear a difference and I can guarantee you that the crowd from Friday night that comes back Saturday night isn't going to be setting there sipping their drinks saying.... you know, I swear his guitar amp sounds a bit more boomy in the low end than it did last night, I'll bet he swapped his preamp tubes to those new Sovtecs.
Unless you mention it to the band... I doubt that they would realize it either.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
This is a schematic to your amp. It looks to me the bias should work well enough, but to get max performance would require a electronics guy to bias the amp. Every 6L6 or EL34 is slightly different and the bias on your amp is only adjustable by changing out resistors. Flipping the switch puts fixed bias resisters in the circuit.
The actual technical answer to your question is very complex, and very difficult to understand foe anyone. Go look at the data sheets on 6L6 tubes. Google EL34 data sheets and 6L6 data sheets. JJ Electronics has pretty good data sheets.
I build custom amps and have worked on Laney amps but not the model you have.
Personal Highly subjective answer...I generally like the sound of 6L6's No one but you can say what you like!
Cheers,
Billy
Last edited by Planobilly; 10/02/2002:47 AM.
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig? “Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
Adding to what Planobilly said about biasing the amp - most of these more modern fixed-bias type amps tend to keep the bias on the colder side. That's generally good from a tube longevity standpoint, but many people think biasing the tubes hotter sounds better. I personally prefer colder bias on my amps, as I feel the bottom end is a bit more solid and pronounced, but ymmv.
and which do you prefer?...I only have experience with EL34's until recently when I got a Laney GH100L and the Laney takes both (with a switch for auto-biasing)-
I the 6L6's sound like they have more umph (low end) while the EL34's like to scream more to my ears...
what's the difference? which do you prefer and why?[/size]
One post only…
Who cares?
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac 24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
For my style of playing tubes of any kind no longer matter. Amp modelling is so good today that the difference is wasted on me and most everyone I play for.
If I'm playing a telecaster, the new Fender Tone master amps sound excellent. Real nice clean sound. Reverb is good I find my pickup selection (Joe Barden's for me) much more important than the amp. The Barden's crackle the way I like and the breakup is there at volume The tonemaster weighs half what a tube based deluxe reverb does. That matters to my 62 year old back.
For a humbucker based guitar (for me a prs cs24) i normally play the tonemaster or a Quilter. I like the breakup on the Fender but the Quilter has a good sound also.
I've been waiting for decades for solid state modelling amps to do a good enough job to replace my tube amp. That time has arrived I sold my last Vibrolux 6 months ago. Don't miss it. Happy to get a grand for an amp I paid $300 for.
Tube amps are dead..... Long Live Tube Amps !!!!
biab2025(Mac) Latest Build Mac OS (Latest) Apple Mac Mini M2 pro 32GB Ram Logic Pro (latest or pretty close) Heddon Super Spook XT (Mullet)
For my style of playing tubes of any kind no longer matter. Amp modelling is so good today that the difference is wasted on me and most everyone I play for.
If I'm playing a telecaster, the new Fender Tone master amps sound excellent. Real nice clean sound. Reverb is good I find my pickup selection (Joe Barden's for me) much more important than the amp. The Barden's crackle the way I like and the breakup is there at volume The tonemaster weighs half what a tube based deluxe reverb does. That matters to my 62 year old back.
For a humbucker based guitar (for me a prs cs24) i normally play the tonemaster or a Quilter. I like the breakup on the Fender but the Quilter has a good sound also.
I've been waiting for decades for solid state modelling amps to do a good enough job to replace my tube amp. That time has arrived I sold my last Vibrolux 6 months ago. Don't miss it. Happy to get a grand for an amp I paid $300 for.
Tube amps are dead..... Long Live Tube Amps !!!!
I quite like the Boss Katana amps. Lightweight, loud, and sound fantastic! I'd personally get the 100 watt version as a minimum for gigging.
That said, you'll never get me to give up my Rivera or my Carvins.
I have been using solid state amps for years starting with a Carvin FR1200 amp. I like the clean sound you get with them and in the wedding band business that was important. The Carvin had a distortion option on it for those rock sounds.
Too bad that Carvin amps/sound equipment went out of business. Toured the world with their gear. Everything I ever bought from them still works as new even if it no longer looks it.
Well… except for this guy (bass works great, though)
Carvin LB85 with split flame koa top.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac 24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
Too bad that Carvin amps/sound equipment went out of business. ....................
Yes, it is too bad they went out of business as they made some great equipment. Here is a picture from the past with me and my Carvin guitar and amp:
It's such a shame. I have a 1990-ish Carvin X100B head (the carpet-covered version), and it's probably my second most used amp. Also have a mid 90's MTS3212, which was the first tube amp I ever rebuilt - it had some PCB damage at the phase inverter, which caused squealing. Sounds great, even with diode clipping on the drive channel, and has an excellent reverb!
Conversations about the various types of amps can and do go on forever. My recommendation is to play what sounds good to you.
Solid state amps have come light years from the first transistor amps.
In a conversation with Bruce Zinky once, I ask him if a solid state amp could be made to sound like a tube amp. His answer was yes, if you wanted to spend enough money.
One thing I like about tube amps is their repairability. Solid state amps in general, are designed to be less expensive and disposable. Some repair parts for solid state amps are no longer manufactured and symply don't exist.
Someone can bring a tube amp to me and I can change the way it sounds without much difficulty. Doing the same thing with a solid state amp is much more difficult. Most if not all the "boutique" amps I have ever seen were tube.
There has always been an unending search for "tone". I don't see tube amps going away anytime soon.
Billy
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig? “Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
Mario, cool photo. Still have the double neck? Did your right sleeve ever catch any of the hardware mounted on the switch plate between the necks?
No I do not have that guitar. And no my sleeve never caught switch. What I liked about that guitar is that I could have both necks active at the same time. I use to play Dueling Banjos go back and forth between the necks. But the guitar was very heavy and almost impossible to play sitting down do to the shape of the body. I traded it in on my guitar MIDI controller.
Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean