Differences in Power Tubes on a Guitar Amp

Part of the Video Series How to Use Guitar Amplifiers

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Learn about the differences between types of power tubes for your guitar amp in this free instructional video clip.

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Differences in Power Tubes on a Guitar Amp
Hi my name is Tim Ambrosuis. I am a professional guitar technician for ExpertVillage.com and I am going to explain to you the difference between a couple of different power tubes. Now on most amplifiers with tubes on them they are going to have 2 different types of power tubes. These are EL34s and then there is another common and it is a 6L6; what you are going to see is a 6L6 is a lot fatter than the EL34. Generally speaking a 6L6 is going to give you a much glassier sound to it, an EL34 is going to give you more of a British type of sound I guess. Now they are not interchangeable so you cannot just take out your EL34s and put in 6L6s you would probably ruin your amp at that point and it would need to be completely re-bias and set up to do that. so if you have already got a certain type of tube in your amplifier, you need to stick with that same tube all the time otherwise you are going to ruin your amplifier.

About the Expert

Expert: Tim Ambrosius is professional guitar technician with 10 years of experience. Read More