• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Highest powered 6L6 amp?

zachoff

zachoff

Apr 16, 2003
4,373
581
Boulder Suburbia, Colorado
soundslikewords.bandcamp.com
#1
I have a Bassman 135 & I love the tone, but it's falling short on volume. My guitarist recently picked up a V4 and has a Sunn 412 and I've had to turn up to 8ish and I'm breaking up a bit more than I'd like and barely keeping up.

I've noticed the new Bassman heads have 6550s. Are they similar to 6L6s as far as tone goes? I've only ever heard EL34s and 6L6s and they're pretty different. Basically I'd like to keep my tone, but get some more volume and am looking for ideas.
 
#2
Have you heard them in the same amplifier under the same conditions? It's easy to say there's a vast difference between 6L6 and EL34 if you're thinking Fender vs Marshall. ;)

There was a huuuuuge debate going on in one of the threads here (I think the end-all SVT thread?) about how similar/different each tube is. A lot of different opinions.

PS- Try googling to find out what circuit your amp has and see if you can find any higher powered amps derived from its circuit.
 
#4
christw said:
Have you heard them in the same amplifier under the same conditions? It's easy to say there's a vast difference between 6L6 and EL34 if you're thinking Fender vs Marshall. ;)

There was a huuuuuge debate going on in one of the threads here (I think the end-all SVT thread?) about how similar/different each tube is. A lot of different opinions.

PS- Try googling to find out what circuit your amp has and see if you can find any higher powered amps derived from its circuit.
Click to expand...

Well, you're not supposed to swap EL34s and 6L6s... EL34s draw way more current and can wreck your power supply. I guess I have played 6550s in an SVT... I thought those had EL34s. :o

But yeah, I can tell the difference between my Bassman, a V4, and an SVT but I'm wondering if there's something "old Fenderish" that's a bit more powerful.

How do you tell what circuit it uses?
 
#6
The most famous incarnation was the 5F6A, the '59 Bassman. However, the Silverface Bassman's were different amps... Here's a little more (useless) info on them. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Don't really know where to look. If nothing else, you could run your preamp out (if there's an effects loop, etc?) into a higher powered slave amp and another cab...
 
#9
christw said:
Have you heard them in the same amplifier under the same conditions? It's easy to say there's a vast difference between 6L6 and EL34 if you're thinking Fender vs Marshall. ;)

There was a huuuuuge debate going on in one of the threads here (I think the end-all SVT thread?) about how similar/different each tube is. A lot of different opinions.

PS- Try googling to find out what circuit your amp has and see if you can find any higher powered amps derived from its circuit.
Click to expand...
6l6 = more flat and warm sounding
el34 = big mid hump
kt88 = deeper lows and better highs than a 6l6 and generally fairly flat.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back