Thomann Affiliate: www.thomann.de/intl/index.html?offid=1&affid=3210 Sweetwater Affiliate: sweetwater.sjv.io/k0mGvx My personal Thomann recommendations: thmn.to/thocf/cv37zixo68 My webstore for Captures, presets etc: ko-fi.com/sonicdrivestudio Thanks for supporting the channel!
Your mastery in the studio with song and arrangement is on a different level. You are so focused in your vision. You inspire myself, and I would suspect many many growing songwriters and producers. Thank you for your work so much.
I like the 6L6 better but just because it’s better for the stuff I play. I had the EL34, 6L6, and Stealth all at the same time. I sold the EL34, but I still think it’s a great amp. The blue channel is waaaay different and noteworthy in the range because it stands out as so much different. The guy who bought the EL34 came over and was playing some 80’s type stuff and it sounded reallly good. Seemed to shine in that context.
Great comparison video! I recently bought the EL34 version and love it. After watching this I know I made the right decision. I like the warmer and fuller sound of the EL34's over the 6L6's.
Thanks for a great review of both amps. I just bought the EL34 version with the matching 2 x 12 cab. I've looking at it for some time and love the sound of all 3 channels to be honest.
I like the 6L6 better in a full band mix but the EL34 better in the iso tracks and that's my experience in playing amps alone or with a band too. You think you have the perfect sound by yourself then it's completely lost with a loud drummer and you need that extra bite to show through with a bass and drummer. Thanks so much for the video.
I love hearing straight up 6L6/EL34 comparisons on the same basic circuit. I am probably one of the few people who really lived the JCM900 series sound with the later 5881-powered models, and would love to see something done with that circuit like the 20w DSL; essentially a 20-watt version of a 4100 HGDR amp. Love the breakdowns, and keep up the excellent work!
El34s are a little bit harder to get now because of the plant in Russia catching on fire a lot of amp Builders switched to the 5881s and if you're looking for an amp that turns it out the mt15 from Paul Reed Smith is a monster
@@Mark_of_the_Bear_StudiosThe attenuator fixes the second problem you named, but I myself am still trying to fix the first. If you find the irl infinite money glitch let me know.
I just got my el34 fully serviced. I bought it and it had issues, I am blown away how amazing the amp is. Its the perfect addition to the 6l6. Having both and a 5150/6505 gives you a plethora of high gain options. They all sound unique
I’m guessing you bought the 5150 used? What exactly was wrong with it? And I totally agree with you. I have a 6505+, 5150 III stealth 100w and an Engl Savage 120 mk2. I have just about every tone available to me. The 6505+ seems to do lower gain stuff better than the 5150 III. Maybe it’s the feel of the 6505+ Idk.
@@Hadouken5150 I think it’s a feel thing with 6505 vs 5150iii the 6505 also has this saturation thing while still tight that is just deofferent than the evh. When I got the el34 re finished they replaced burned out screen resistors and they biased my power tubes that I replaced.
@@mercilessforever well thats unfortunate man. The QC on all the EVH products needs to improve for sure. I haven’t had a single issue with mine, but there’s a ton of people on YT as well as forums that have had issues with their 5150s. Lots of dead on arrivals as well. So sad.
The bass on EL64 sounds like it is filling more the space, and I love it, but the sound on 6L6 its clearer, brighter, closer and I also love it. Hard to decide. Is it possible to have both at one of them? xD Cheers from Brazil, thanks for your videos and never quit this channel please. I dont have money to donate or be a member but I try to help watching, puting a like and commenting always.
Both sound "better". It just comes down to personal preference and what genre one's playing. When that's said, my personal preference is the 6L6 version. Thank you for this comparison.
And that's why I still love my original 50 Watt 6L6 - it can sound fendery clean and still kick most higain amps butt in blue and red channels. But I gotta say the EL34 red channel sounds a bit more widerange which is great to fill some missing space.
I used to love 6L6s but as I've gotten older, I've grown to like the EL34s a lot more. Both are undeniable in the great contrasts they provide when tracking though. They're a lovely blend! If I had to have one, it would be the EL34 version though. I think you can get more out of it in terms of musical genres 👍🏼
Man this is the Best Amp Shootout I've ever seen or heard. Your music is also really a great tune to hear the difference between the two. Thanks I've Sub'd P.S. I like the EL34 best. More Balls
To select one of these amps, I go back to your previous video where you boost blue channel of EL34 version. Turn out, boosting the blue channel make it tighter and clearer. So, my choice definitely is EL34 version particularly 50W version. From other video, I find out 100W version of this amp has flubby bottom end.
Awesome comparison brother! I've been waiting for this comparison since your post in the 5150 FB group when you first got it. I was especially interested to hear the EL34 unmodded blue channel against the 6L6 blue channel. I've done the C137 mod on my EL34, and after hearing your comparison I'm definitely glad I did it! From what I can hear, the mod brings the two blue channels much closer to one another, but keeps the extra thickness that's present on the EL34 in general. Of course I would love to see you add the switchable mod on your EL34 so you can engage and disengage C137, mainly because your videos are so great, and I'd fully trust you to do a fair comparison before and after, and to compare the modded blue channel against the 6L6. But I can understand if you're not interested in modding yours (which I gather from your past vids and posts to be the case). Even so, hearing it back to back against the 6L6 like you did here was great. Great job man!
Dude. Nice riffs! This is my favorite amp shootout I've watched! You approach things like I do so I actually feel like I'm getting a good idea of what each amp have to offer me. Thank you for posting this!
You inspired me to make my own TH-cam stuff (but I suck with it by now :D) I knew you doing HARD work on these videos but gosh. It's really hard to make this constant quality content for so long. Nice work. I prefer the 6L6 version. It's little tighter. But they both great amps.
Double track and run one on the left and one on the right : ) honestly you make all your demos sound great man! Enjoying the channel for years keep it up!
OUTSTANDING video! Funny, I ordered the 6L6 and it blew up 2nd gig this past weekend. Sending it back. EL34 is on the way. Has anyone here tried swapping out the 1st gain stage 12AX7 with a 12AT7 to tame down the gain on CH 1-2?
Great review! Cool that you had no other effects and was careful to match all the settings ... and to play the same riffs ... great compare. Now I'm scared to buy the 6L6 version but I sort of like the EL34 better anyway considering the clean channel was warmer and the mid channel was plenty cool as is.
having played both, the el34 is a lot more fun to play and "feels" better, more well rounded and more powerful. but the 6l6 version definitely sits better in a mix.
I'd love to hear your experience on how close you can get the two amps to sound alike. Maybe a tight, modern boost for the EL34 to cover 6L6 tones. Great video as always!
I've owned the EL34 50w since February 2022. I did a little research because I wanted to be happy with what I decided to go with and damn, I guess I nailed it lol. Love the Green and Red channels, the Blue is good for Rock, Blues, anything not metal. Granted I don't gig with it, but it's played almost daily. It is also loud AF, the master volume sits at about 0.8 on the dial and it still sounds amazing. My only complaint is there is a slight, very slight drop in volume when the FX Loop is turned on. I bought an EQ pedal so I could match up the level. GC had it on-sale when I picked mine up, was $1150! Thinking of picking up a Mesa Boogie Mark V 35, but don't really need it, we'll see.
Jon! You are the man! What a great video! I liked the clean channel on the El34, the blue channel on the 6l6, and the red channel on the El34. I did like the blue channel on the el34 as well! Both are such great amps! If I had to choose I’d go with the 6l6 because to me it seems like the amp that can cover a lot of ground.
Hey man, first off, great content/videos! you make it much easier for me to find the golden tone I am looking for. I own the 6l6 50 watt evh 5150 iii like in the video, and I love the versatility. I think the absolute best version would be the 6l6 with the red channel from the el34, but like you mentioned it is likely due to the tubes at that point. I use emg 81s so that makes up for the compression missing from the 6l6. Either way I play the 6l6 regularly at shows and it cuts through the mix like nobodies business! cheers.
Both are great amps. I own and prefer the 6L6, but nobody loses either way. These are really special and punch WAY above their price; the 6L6 is in my top 5 all time favorite amps.
@GinoGenero 100% agree. I have the El34 version… and I push mids a bit and use an OD to pull a bit of that low end girth out for my live band mixes. I find my sound really closely resembles the 6l6 version as a result. They’re very close And then I tweak the red channel eq a bit to match the vibe of the blue channel so that it isn’t so obviously different I also run the global presence at closer to 12:30-1 o’clock. Opens up the amp as well :)
@@tattooguy413 I know the effort was to highlight the differences between pwr tubes, but just as you did, if you do the opposite and try to match characteristics using the tools you describe, I personally wouldn't be able to pick which is which. No matter though, it's just a great sounding amp.
I prefer the 6L6 clarity, and loved the rich balance in the clean tones. The EL34 sounded a bit muffled to me. But, as you indicated, each has its use. How similar do the Amps "in the room" sound to what's in your videos? They sound fantastic in your videos, and I hope they represent what you actually hear in the room. Thanks
Nice video and good work. I personally like the 6L6 better because to my ears it sounds better in the mix and that's what matters to me. The EL34 is a bit muddy and darker compared to the 6L6. But it's a matter of taste and I choose 6L6 for myself.
Great channel btw… To sum it up to my ears: - green channel : el34 darker/beefier (6l6 having little more higher freq brightness) but nothing the eq can’t fix to make them identical and get el34 more sparkly - blue channel : el34 darker/beefier… same as previous comment. Eq tone control seem to require more high to tighten up tone - red channel : copy/paste. 6l6 seems tighter (el34 requiring a pre-amp sd type of pedal). For blue and red, i’d say you can’t loosen a too tight amp (6l6) but could with a sd/ts pedal with the el34 (if you’re willing to add cables and pedals in the chain) Thanks greatly, you helped me choosing wich of the two I’d likely prefer :) Next : soldano slo-30 test :)… I have one. Pls try to explain the ‘in the room’ feeling of tested amps as it inspires us differently in our “purchsases” ;)
Nice comparison! I would propably put my money on the EL34 version for the simple reason I liked the clean better. The difference on the red channel are to small to consider one over the other. As for the blue channel, if it's to loose, one can fix that with an OD :-)
The blue channel isn’t just loose. It’s EQ’d very differently. A boost doesn’t make it thaaaat much more modern. My “issue” with it was that when I EQ’d it to sound its best (to me) the clean channel didn’t sound anywhere near its best and vice versa. Since they share an EQ that was slightly annoying. But don’t take that to mean I didn’t like it-I did. It’s a really good amp. I had all 3 and decided to only keep two so the EL34 got sold, but I wouldn’t have been sad to keep it.
I know, I understand, and I hear the subtle contrast w/ Ch.1's/ Ch.2's on each of these Twin Brothers in the side by side comparison 🤔...By the Way, Great Job 🤘 Dude ! with putting this video together. Perfecto 💪😎🚬 I usually get little annoyed with rig rundown amp vids, with tha hosts trying to get famous or trying to get a hoard of subscribers blasting the click button off a damn demonstration of an amp's capabilities. While doin stupid antics and quick closeups of their faces and getting off topic turning 6 minutes into 12 minutes and sometimes not even getting in what the heck the Amp can really do on ranges. And the worst is usually some lame ass guitar playing or choices of riffs for the demos that doesn't show the full potential of what these Brick Laying Amps can put out. You showed and proved exactly what you advertised and captured the sounds with good quick back and forth multiple examples which helps a guitarist that's shopping make up his Damn mind finally 🤭 ,you know what I mean, and gets what he wants with no buyer's remorse. I don't get why they made these 2 Models with them so freakin close to one another. Hell, you can raise and lower the pickups on a guitar or turn a knob on the Amp one click up or down to match the other's sound. I've had the 6L for a while and mainly chose it cause I've always wanted an amp wrapped completely in Gleaming White, All the 5150 III's look awesome in any color scheme sold . I've also noticed over the years in
Man the riffing was so good I forgot I'm supposed pay closer attention the tone lol. 6l6 is definitely brighter. I really like the el34 though. It's much more the sound I like.
I like the 6L6 more for every channel. Why? I think it sits cleaner and more contundent on the mix. Though it's true the el34 has that bouncy attack you can't get with the 6L6 and maybe just tweaking the gain, volume and EQ you can maybe get closer to the 6L6. Blue and red channel parts put me to sing, my kind of stuff. Loved it!
Hey, I don't know if you ever answer questions but I have one that nobody has really tackled. As my name shows I'm an old school guy. I can't help but notice how GREAT all your videos and tones are. Even for amps I don't care for live. I've recently started the line 6 Helix thing. I see almost all of your demos use IRs and other processing. I've never got the tones live you do on either Helix/Amps when you do the demos. How much is processed? It just seems like it more the process you use than the amps or modeling effects. Just love to know how it's done. Thanks either way.
Only really difference is the blue channel, as they sound strangely similar at red. The gold box seems loosier... Less focused? I think with that in mind it's the better option after all. You can make it sound like the 6l6 one with a little pedal, but not the other way around. Red channel is way to similar though.
Ed voiced the EL-34 blue channel to be more like his favorite Marshall. Late 60’s Plexis are on the dark side. Back the gain off and drive the power amp hard. The blue channel is meant to be ran that way. EL-34’s and 6L6’s sound the same clean but different when pushed into clipping stage. 6L6’s or 5881 tubes are a favorite for high gain amps because they are more robust than EL-34’s and color the power amp less. Most the tone on the red channel comes from the preamp.
As always, great video. I was wondering : Can you compare the 6505mh with the 5150 lbx and lbx stealth ? (The 15 watts versions). I really enjoy the format of these amps, and the peavey/evh sound, but i dont know which one of these i prefer...
Probably just hearing the difference in the poweramps. The 6L6 50w had the green and blue channels redesigned but Eddie insisted the red channel be brought straight down from the 100w. I would bet the preamps are exactly the same. Changing tubes in my 50w 6L6 made a big tone difference. These come with extremely hi quality sorted JJ's and seems all are balanced and HOT! EL34 vers is so close to a Marshall tone to me but with a modern hi-fi tone.
I had 6L6 version and now I have EL34, which i like more. All u need s to turn down resonance,Much more clarity . El34 has to much bass,. You cant compare with same settings,. 6L6 is better for studio recording ,El34 for live,.
Again, I have the Stealth, and I thought it was the only one with a resonance control. Guess I was wrong. I would've bought the white one. I got black and white 2x12 EVH cabs for it. I like the green and red channels. Blue is a bit prickly to me. The red channel is more "creamy."
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I think the 6L6 version sounds best here. Tighter and clearer. Nice video.
6L6 is a little brighter, EL34 has a little more lowmids. Honestly both are good. The one that doesnt break is the best one lol.
Lol, true!
Curious thing, that usually these are the EL34s which sound brighter.
El34s are always briter!
El34's have mid scoop. 6l6's don't. Simple as that.
6L6’s have more low mids than EL34, actually.
Your mastery in the studio with song and arrangement is on a different level.
You are so focused in your vision. You inspire myself, and I would suspect many many growing songwriters and producers.
Thank you for your work so much.
I like the 6L6 better but just because it’s better for the stuff I play. I had the EL34, 6L6, and Stealth all at the same time. I sold the EL34, but I still think it’s a great amp. The blue channel is waaaay different and noteworthy in the range because it stands out as so much different.
The guy who bought the EL34 came over and was playing some 80’s type stuff and it sounded reallly good. Seemed to shine in that context.
Great comparison video! I recently bought the EL34 version and love it. After watching this I know I made the right decision. I like the warmer and fuller sound of the EL34's over the 6L6's.
Thanks for a great review of both amps. I just bought the EL34 version with the matching 2 x 12 cab. I've looking at it for some time and love the sound of all 3 channels to be honest.
I like the 6L6 better in a full band mix but the EL34 better in the iso tracks and that's my experience in playing amps alone or with a band too. You think you have the perfect sound by yourself then it's completely lost with a loud drummer and you need that extra bite to show through with a bass and drummer. Thanks so much for the video.
I love hearing straight up 6L6/EL34 comparisons on the same basic circuit. I am probably one of the few people who really lived the JCM900 series sound with the later 5881-powered models, and would love to see something done with that circuit like the 20w DSL; essentially a 20-watt version of a 4100 HGDR amp. Love the breakdowns, and keep up the excellent work!
El34s are a little bit harder to get now because of the plant in Russia catching on fire a lot of amp Builders switched to the 5881s and if you're looking for an amp that turns it out the mt15 from Paul Reed Smith is a monster
If you found an amp that you like the sound of that isn’t available in a low enough wattage, use an attenuator with it.
@@AnalogKid_2112 I just don’t want to pay $3000 for a reissue. And 100w is waaay more than I need for anything now.
@@Mark_of_the_Bear_StudiosThe attenuator fixes the second problem you named, but I myself am still trying to fix the first. If you find the irl infinite money glitch let me know.
I just got my el34 fully serviced. I bought it and it had issues, I am blown away how amazing the amp is. Its the perfect addition to the 6l6. Having both and a 5150/6505 gives you a plethora of high gain options. They all sound unique
I’m guessing you bought the 5150 used? What exactly was wrong with it? And I totally agree with you. I have a 6505+, 5150 III stealth 100w and an Engl Savage 120 mk2. I have just about every tone available to me. The 6505+ seems to do lower gain stuff better than the 5150 III. Maybe it’s the feel of the 6505+ Idk.
@@Hadouken5150 I think it’s a feel thing with 6505 vs 5150iii the 6505 also has this saturation thing while still tight that is just deofferent than the evh. When I got the el34 re finished they replaced burned out screen resistors and they biased my power tubes that I replaced.
@@mercilessforever well thats unfortunate man. The QC on all the EVH products needs to improve for sure. I haven’t had a single issue with mine, but there’s a ton of people on YT as well as forums that have had issues with their 5150s. Lots of dead on arrivals as well. So sad.
The bass on EL64 sounds like it is filling more the space, and I love it, but the sound on 6L6 its clearer, brighter, closer and I also love it.
Hard to decide.
Is it possible to have both at one of them? xD
Cheers from Brazil, thanks for your videos and never quit this channel please.
I dont have money to donate or be a member but I try to help watching, puting a like and commenting always.
I've owned both for awhile now, I always go back to the EL34.
I absolutely LOVE both. Because I have both 🤣 Great demo and comparison as usual! Now I need to download those York cabs haha.
My EL34 version has become my go to amp. I can get a good sound going in any room or situation with that thing. I love it.
I bought the 2-12 combo 6L6. It’s a beast!! Love it 👍🏼
Both sound "better". It just comes down to personal preference and what genre one's playing. When that's said, my personal preference is the 6L6 version. Thank you for this comparison.
And that's why I still love my original 50 Watt 6L6 - it can sound fendery clean and still kick most higain amps butt in blue and red channels. But I gotta say the EL34 red channel sounds a bit more widerange which is great to fill some missing space.
I'm glad you did this video, I was on the fence on which one I want to get.
I used to love 6L6s but as I've gotten older, I've grown to like the EL34s a lot more. Both are undeniable in the great contrasts they provide when tracking though. They're a lovely blend! If I had to have one, it would be the EL34 version though. I think you can get more out of it in terms of musical genres 👍🏼
To my taste 6l6 version sounds better but I wouldn't mind having any of these two :D .
Man this is the Best Amp Shootout I've ever seen or heard. Your music is also really a great tune to hear the difference between the two. Thanks I've Sub'd
P.S. I like the EL34 best. More Balls
To select one of these amps, I go back to your previous video where you boost blue channel of EL34 version. Turn out, boosting the blue channel make it tighter and clearer. So, my choice definitely is EL34 version particularly 50W version. From other video, I find out 100W version of this amp has flubby bottom end.
Love them all! EVH 5150 amps are so damn great! But liked always the Blue Channel more for the rhythm than the red one!
Awesome comparison brother! I've been waiting for this comparison since your post in the 5150 FB group when you first got it. I was especially interested to hear the EL34 unmodded blue channel against the 6L6 blue channel. I've done the C137 mod on my EL34, and after hearing your comparison I'm definitely glad I did it! From what I can hear, the mod brings the two blue channels much closer to one another, but keeps the extra thickness that's present on the EL34 in general.
Of course I would love to see you add the switchable mod on your EL34 so you can engage and disengage C137, mainly because your videos are so great, and I'd fully trust you to do a fair comparison before and after, and to compare the modded blue channel against the 6L6. But I can understand if you're not interested in modding yours (which I gather from your past vids and posts to be the case). Even so, hearing it back to back against the 6L6 like you did here was great. Great job man!
I've always liked amps with 6L6 tubes. I have an old Peavey amp from the '70s with 4 6L6s and that thing is a monster. 👹
Dude. Nice riffs! This is my favorite amp shootout I've watched! You approach things like I do so I actually feel like I'm getting a good idea of what each amp have to offer me. Thank you for posting this!
You inspired me to make my own TH-cam stuff (but I suck with it by now :D) I knew you doing HARD work on these videos but gosh. It's really hard to make this constant quality content for so long.
Nice work.
I prefer the 6L6 version. It's little tighter. But they both great amps.
One of the best amp comparisons I have ever heard!!!!!! Good job my friend.
Next amp purchase will be the Stealth 6L6 . Great content once again
We all needed this comparison from a pro like you. Much appreciated .
Thank you! :)
@@SonicDriveStudio You are doing a wonderful job in every video for amp sound nerds like us. Keep up the good work. "In your ears we trust"
Double track and run one on the left and one on the right : ) honestly you make all your demos sound great man! Enjoying the channel for years keep it up!
Really hard choice. I understand why you left both )))) Thanks for the excellent review!
Man those riffs are sick!!
OUTSTANDING video! Funny, I ordered the 6L6 and it blew up 2nd gig this past weekend. Sending it back. EL34 is on the way. Has anyone here tried swapping out the 1st gain stage 12AX7 with a 12AT7 to tame down the gain on CH 1-2?
I prefer the 6L6 version across the board but the EL34 has some mojo no doubt. Another great review my dude!
Personally if I was in the market for one of these I'd probably buy the stealth because it sorted a lot of the issues people had with either of these.
Great review! Cool that you had no other effects and was careful to match all the settings ... and to play the same riffs ... great compare. Now I'm scared to buy the 6L6 version but I sort of like the EL34 better anyway considering the clean channel was warmer and the mid channel was plenty cool as is.
I have the 6L6, I run a 10-band MXR EQ in the effects loop to tame some of the harsh upper mids. Blue channel is just gorgeous that way.
I only have played the 6505 series of amps. This video has made me seriously wanting to try out these 50 watt heads.
having played both, the el34 is a lot more fun to play and "feels" better, more well rounded and more powerful. but the 6l6 version definitely sits better in a mix.
In this particular mix with these particular settings (everything noon) the EL34 sits better in the mix imo, the 6L6 is a little too pokey here.
I'd love to hear your experience on how close you can get the two amps to sound alike. Maybe a tight, modern boost for the EL34 to cover 6L6 tones. Great video as always!
I've always been an el34 guy but after this video I'm not sure anymore. I preferred the 6l6 in every comparison, and I never thought I'd say that.
I've owned the EL34 50w since February 2022. I did a little research because I wanted to be happy with what I decided to go with and damn, I guess I nailed it lol. Love the Green and Red channels, the Blue is good for Rock, Blues, anything not metal. Granted I don't gig with it, but it's played almost daily. It is also loud AF, the master volume sits at about 0.8 on the dial and it still sounds amazing. My only complaint is there is a slight, very slight drop in volume when the FX Loop is turned on. I bought an EQ pedal so I could match up the level. GC had it on-sale when I picked mine up, was $1150! Thinking of picking up a Mesa Boogie Mark V 35, but don't really need it, we'll see.
Do the c137 mod the blue channel the nuts then
Line 6, if you're watching, an EL34 5150 in the Helix would be awesome
thanks for the review dude, I got what I came here for 8-)
Jon! You are the man! What a great video! I liked the clean channel on the El34, the blue channel on the 6l6, and the red channel on the El34. I did like the blue channel on the el34 as well! Both are such great amps! If I had to choose I’d go with the 6l6 because to me it seems like the amp that can cover a lot of ground.
Great job on this demo. Outstanding.
I would love to hear them compared but with each one dialed in to the settings you like best for each amp and channel.
These amps sound good pretty much with everything at noon
They both sound amazeballs!!! Great vid man, thanks 🙏🏼
Cheers!
Hey man, first off, great content/videos! you make it much easier for me to find the golden tone I am looking for. I own the 6l6 50 watt evh 5150 iii like in the video, and I love the versatility. I think the absolute best version would be the 6l6 with the red channel from the el34, but like you mentioned it is likely due to the tubes at that point. I use emg 81s so that makes up for the compression missing from the 6l6. Either way I play the 6l6 regularly at shows and it cuts through the mix like nobodies business! cheers.
Hi man, seems we have the same setup. One question, do you use a booster in front of the amp? If yes, what do you use?
@@slash91991 yup I use a Maxon od 808 in front of the amp for the blue channel only. The red doesn’t need it
Both are great amps. I own and prefer the 6L6, but nobody loses either way. These are really special and punch WAY above their price; the 6L6 is in my top 5 all time favorite amps.
What's your full top 5
The tone in your voice is sounding more American too. great vid cheers
I believe in the intro you mean accompany not accommodate, great review, love these amps, especially the stealth
Oops :)
@@SonicDriveStudio its pretty minor man no worries lol :D
I run your Tonex capture of the El34 50 watt through the effects loop of my 6505 combo and it's 🔥
This was awesome thanks so much for doing this. I have the 6L6 and i think this confirms its the one for my style.
The EL34 is a little bit more of an aquired taste I guess
Great video, I prefer the Blue channel on the 6L6 version.
Isn't the reason why they sound different is because of the different power tubes? Otherwise, they're exactly the same. Right?
Come for comparison, Stay for playing.
Great comparison! Both sound great.
I'd love to see a Engl Fireball 100 vs Fireball 25 video. \m/
When amps are this close I feel like the smallest of tone tweaking would make them nearly impossible to distinguish between. But I could be wrong.
Well, the blue channel is very different imho
@GinoGenero 100% agree. I have the El34 version… and I push mids a bit and use an OD to pull a bit of that low end girth out for my live band mixes. I find my sound really closely resembles the 6l6 version as a result. They’re very close
And then I tweak the red channel eq a bit to match the vibe of the blue channel so that it isn’t so obviously different
I also run the global presence at closer to 12:30-1 o’clock. Opens up the amp as well :)
@@tattooguy413 I know the effort was to highlight the differences between pwr tubes, but just as you did, if you do the opposite and try to match characteristics using the tools you describe, I personally wouldn't be able to pick which is which. No matter though, it's just a great sounding amp.
I prefer the 6L6 clarity, and loved the rich balance in the clean tones. The EL34 sounded a bit muffled to me. But, as you indicated, each has its use.
How similar do the Amps "in the room" sound to what's in your videos? They sound fantastic in your videos, and I hope they represent what you actually hear in the room. Thanks
El34 has more clarity then a 6l6 and it's supposed too
Nice video and good work. I personally like the 6L6 better because to my ears it sounds better in the mix and that's what matters to me. The EL34 is a bit muddy and darker compared to the 6L6. But it's a matter of taste and I choose 6L6 for myself.
Tough choice.... think I need both ;-)
I like the 6l6 more. Anyway, I want an ENGL- because of your channel!
Great channel btw…
To sum it up to my ears:
- green channel : el34 darker/beefier (6l6 having little more higher freq brightness) but nothing the eq can’t fix to make them identical and get el34 more sparkly
- blue channel : el34 darker/beefier… same as previous comment. Eq tone control seem to require more high to tighten up tone
- red channel : copy/paste. 6l6 seems tighter (el34 requiring a pre-amp sd type of pedal).
For blue and red, i’d say you can’t loosen a too tight amp (6l6) but could with a sd/ts pedal with the el34 (if you’re willing to add cables and pedals in the chain)
Thanks greatly, you helped me choosing wich of the two I’d likely prefer :)
Next : soldano slo-30 test :)… I have one. Pls try to explain the ‘in the room’ feeling of tested amps as it inspires us differently in our “purchsases” ;)
Nice comparison! I would propably put my money on the EL34 version for the simple reason I liked the clean better. The difference on the red channel are to small to consider one over the other. As for the blue channel, if it's to loose, one can fix that with an OD :-)
The blue channel isn’t just loose. It’s EQ’d very differently. A boost doesn’t make it thaaaat much more modern. My “issue” with it was that when I EQ’d it to sound its best (to me) the clean channel didn’t sound anywhere near its best and vice versa. Since they share an EQ that was slightly annoying. But don’t take that to mean I didn’t like it-I did. It’s a really good amp. I had all 3 and decided to only keep two so the EL34 got sold, but I wouldn’t have been sad to keep it.
I'm giving this vid a thumbs up soley in support of that shirt.
EL34 is more scooped in the mids. The 6L6 sounded better to me with the more flat frequencies throughout the mids.
Another awesome review, with killer tunes that make listening fun! I would say neither if you had TWO that broke! Are they made like garbage?
6L6 has a little more clarity and sparkle. Both amps sound great but I prefer 6L6
That t-shirt!! ROFL!!! Awesome. I also just noticed that one of your tattoos also says "never forget", hahahaha! :)
Have you ever considered a series using speaker/room microphones so that we can hear how they would sound in real life versus recordings?
El34 for me
i have been eyeing th el34 for quite some time. this video makes me want the 6l6. what have you done !!!!
Erm... I never do this but, first!!! 😬😂 Strapping in, am a massive fan of EL34 so this’ll be really interesting
That 6L6 version sounds monstrous on every channel. Much tighter than the EL34 version. Cuts through the mix better also.
I know, I understand, and I hear the subtle contrast w/ Ch.1's/ Ch.2's on each of these Twin Brothers in the side by side comparison 🤔...By the Way, Great Job 🤘 Dude ! with putting this video together. Perfecto 💪😎🚬
I usually get little annoyed with rig rundown amp vids, with tha hosts trying to get famous or trying to get a hoard of subscribers blasting the click button off a damn demonstration of an amp's capabilities. While doin stupid antics and quick closeups of their faces and getting off topic turning 6 minutes into 12 minutes and sometimes not even getting in what the heck the Amp can really do on ranges. And the worst is usually some lame ass guitar playing or choices of riffs for the demos that doesn't show the full potential of what these Brick Laying Amps can put out. You showed and proved exactly what you advertised and captured the sounds with good quick back and forth multiple examples which helps a guitarist that's shopping make up his Damn mind finally 🤭 ,you know what I mean, and gets what he wants with no buyer's remorse. I don't get why they made these 2 Models with them so freakin close to one another. Hell, you can raise and lower the pickups on a guitar or turn a knob on the Amp one click up or down to match the other's sound. I've had the 6L for a while and mainly chose it cause I've always wanted an amp wrapped completely in Gleaming White, All the 5150 III's look awesome in any color scheme sold . I've also noticed over the years in
Ive had the 6l6 for 3yrs and got the el34 today
6L6 version has quite a bit more bite. Really interesting demo.
On the combo they fitted an onboard attenuattor, wonder why not on the heads? Would have been the icing on the cake for me.
Now i just want both 😅
Man the riffing was so good I forgot I'm supposed pay closer attention the tone lol. 6l6 is definitely brighter. I really like the el34 though. It's much more the sound I like.
I like the 6L6 more for every channel. Why? I think it sits cleaner and more contundent on the mix. Though it's true the el34 has that bouncy attack you can't get with the 6L6 and maybe just tweaking the gain, volume and EQ you can maybe get closer to the 6L6. Blue and red channel parts put me to sing, my kind of stuff. Loved it!
You should demo and compare these to the black stealth. I think you'll definitely dig the Stealth
Be cool to see a 5150 III 50W Head V 5150 III 50W Combo video.
Hey, I don't know if you ever answer questions but I have one that nobody has really tackled. As my name shows I'm an old school guy. I can't help but notice how GREAT all your videos and tones are. Even for amps I don't care for live. I've recently started the line 6 Helix thing. I see almost all of your demos use IRs and other processing. I've never got the tones live you do on either Helix/Amps when you do the demos. How much is processed? It just seems like it more the process you use than the amps or modeling effects. Just love to know how it's done. Thanks either way.
No processing! My sounds tend to be very simple.
Only really difference is the blue channel, as they sound strangely similar at red. The gold box seems loosier... Less focused? I think with that in mind it's the better option after all. You can make it sound like the 6l6 one with a little pedal, but not the other way around. Red channel is way to similar though.
I think a boss/mxr graphic equaliser pedal in the effects loop in either of them is a good idea.
Both smash hardcore without one. Great amps
Great job , have you have probly heard of the c134 clip mod, a switch would be interesting on the el34.
I love the 6L6 best…my kind of crunch!
Ed voiced the EL-34 blue channel to be more like his favorite Marshall. Late 60’s Plexis are on the dark side. Back the gain off and drive the power amp hard. The blue channel is meant to be ran that way. EL-34’s and 6L6’s sound the same clean but different when pushed into clipping stage. 6L6’s or 5881 tubes are a favorite for high gain amps because they are more robust than EL-34’s and color the power amp less. Most the tone on the red channel comes from the preamp.
I’ll take the EL34, already have a Peavey 5150 combo beast
As always, great video. I was wondering : Can you compare the 6505mh with the 5150 lbx and lbx stealth ? (The 15 watts versions). I really enjoy the format of these amps, and the peavey/evh sound, but i dont know which one of these i prefer...
How about a video where you compare EVH 5150 vs Peavey 6505? That would be interesting to see.
Probably just hearing the difference in the poweramps. The 6L6 50w had the green and blue channels redesigned but Eddie insisted the red channel be brought straight down from the 100w. I would bet the preamps are exactly the same. Changing tubes in my 50w 6L6 made a big tone difference. These come with extremely hi quality sorted JJ's and seems all are balanced and HOT! EL34 vers is so close to a Marshall tone to me but with a modern hi-fi tone.
no difference in clean channel, but EL34 in distortion sounds more compressed and a hint warmer. I actually like the 6L6 version better here.
If you listen closely you will hear a difference on the cleans as well
I like the 6l6 version a bit better, but you can't go wrong with either!
I had 6L6 version and now I have EL34, which i like more. All u need s to turn down resonance,Much more clarity . El34 has to much bass,. You cant compare with same settings,. 6L6 is better for studio recording ,El34 for live,.
6L6 all day long. Sounds killllller!
Again, I have the Stealth, and I thought it was the only one with a resonance control. Guess I was wrong. I would've bought the white one. I got black and white 2x12 EVH cabs for it. I like the green and red channels. Blue is a bit prickly to me. The red channel is more "creamy."