Mesa Dual Rec with EL84?

[Drumsound]

Hi all,

I have a Mesa Dual Rec Trem-o-verb combo. It has stock 6L6 power tubes, but the amp can take EL84 with just a swap and the flip of a switch. Has anybody doen this? What type of tonal differences should I expect?

Thanks,

TS

[Blast9]

I'm pretty sure its EL34s you're referring to, although you could use the THD Yellowjackets to stick some 84s in there I guess. What'd that be? 50 watts or so?

EL34s in any Dual Rectifier sound great. (Mind you I have no experinece of EL34s in a Trem-o-verb, but the 6L6 one was really nice.

Smooth and less harsh than Solo head >>> 4x12.

Maybe cos it was an open back combo?

[Drumsound]

I actually typed EL34 and then thought I was wrong so I changed it to EL84.

I like the combo and it makes a ton of sounds not just the PRS/Mesa Clear Channel sound.

So EL34 more or less bite that 6L6?

[octatonic]

Not less bite- less bottom end with EL34's and more of a 'Marshall' tone- a raunchy mid range and glassy top.
I have EL34's in my dual recto and to be honest I prefer 6L6's but I use it with another 6L6 amp (Prosonic) so it is nice to have the variation.

If you want to use EL34's then you might like to try THD yellow jackets which ac as a type of coupler or converter (I think of them as tube condoms as they do offer protection for the tubes).

It will drop the wattage of a 100watt recto to about 40 watts and give more of a vox tone.

[Drumsound]

Thanks man, that's what I needed to know. I have a great old Marshall MKII so I think I'll keep the 6L6 happening in the rectum frier.