You Vote: BOG EL34 vs. 6550

Mynameisfritz · Post by **Mynameisfritz** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:30 am

+1, yeah - so what are we going to do? Leave it? If there's a place to analyze his sound it's here. It sure would be great to have a whole Hendrix section - so let's get it on the way. I know this has been discussed before but didn't get the reason why I didn't happen... Have I missed something?

I personally don't care about the myth that with some Strat and a Marshall you're in Electric Ladyland - it's just a starting point, nothing more nothing less. Hendrix is an icon, that's why many confuse 'This sounds like Jimi Hendrix!' with 'I can play a Hendrix riff.' Our bare perception is blurred by all the cult and hype just too easily. There's a completely different Jimi Hendrix behind that cult, which appears when you recognize all the nuances and depth in his music and playing and his sometimes almost philosophical lyrics - and character. The same with his amps and guitars: I can't help it when people think a Strat and a Plexi will do, but I know it's far too simple - we all know that's far too simple, that's why we should carry on here - and not the other way around.

If there's a point where you get tired of talking and speculating about f.e. the BOG tone... - well, I haven't reached it yet.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:48 am

I just think theres as much subtleties to Jimi and his sound as evh and srv and every other guy who people scrutinize over. I think what these guys are saying tho is theres not much more to be said here without more info. People just need to try the tubes for this particular issue. Id use the Tong Sols but they are expensive.

The Pup · Post by **The Pup** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 7:19 pm

Billy Batz wrote:I just think theres as much subtleties to Jimi and his sound as evh and srv and every other guy who people scrutinize over. I think what these guys are saying tho is theres not much more to be said here without more info. People just need to try the tubes for this particular issue. Id use the Tong Sols but they are expensive.

Nice sound clips BB.

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:35 am

I was very influenced by EVH, and am very nostalgic and fond of his 76-84 work, but to me , there is no 'mystery' or secret about his equipment and tone anymore. This metro forum (EVH section) completly filled in any little 'crack' of info to this that I might have missed/overlooked.

Hendrix on the other hand, has several more instances of 'one off' type tones, that arent so readily defined as Eddie's. Eddie either got a great tone (76 thru the Fair Warning album), or got a lesser tone (81 tour up o the present). I think all the intricasies as to why this is ,has been completely covered and ,for the most part, understood.

I can think of several Hendrix tunes/jams that are very singular. I think Hendrix as a player was MORE DYNAMIC(than ANYONE), and because of this HIS PLAYING came out MATCHING his VIBE. THIS in itself, gave him different tones. There is a version of 'Begginings', off of the "Midnight Lightning" (1975 Alan Douglas release) that has one of Hendrix's best distorted solo tones. I could go on forever about certain examples.

What we need is a JIMI HENDRIX section all to its own.

Mynameisfritz · Post by **Mynameisfritz** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:40 am

HIS PLAYING came out MATCHING his VIBE

So true...

What we need is a JIMI HENDRIX section all to its own.

Who else is in the boat?

Freedom · Post by **Freedom** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:42 am

Mynameisfritz wrote:
What we need is a JIMI HENDRIX section all to its own.
Who else is in the boat?

Count me in...

basile865 · Post by **basile865** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:44 am

well Im glad everyone wants to carry on the torch. Its funny cuz if you look on that post "James Marshall Hendrix" most of the stuff is so old. The posts are all like hey check out this great rarity and the youtube video has been removed due to copyright issues. Damn Janie probably. A fresh new hendrix post is in order for sure.

basile865 · Post by **basile865** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:57 am

by the way, I truly think string gauge is a big part of the equation. If you get the opportunity one day, I know it feels wasteful but for the name of science, buy yourself a pack of 9s 10s and 11s. Sit down, and record yourself playing similar licks and chords using the SAME mic placement and amp settings - dont change a thing except the strings on your guitar.

If you listen you can hear the difference for sure. The bigger the string the bolder the tone but the less clarity in my opinion. Theres definately tradeoffs and in the end I think 10's support the best balance IMO.

On the topic of strings - what does everybody here use? Ive been jumping around but I actually do like DR pure blues 10 pure nickle. Ernie Ball isnt too bad either. But I do use pretty much only pure nickle because thats all that was available back in the 60's

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:33 pm

So here it is.

Thanks George, looks like we have all the space we need now - all in the name of science.

For strings, on a strat I use D'Addario 9,5's when tuned in E and 10's or 10,5's when tuned in Eb. Heavier bass strings too. Before that I played 11's on mostly Eb tuned guitars. There are significant changes in tone, yes, but the main criteria for me is how the strength of the strings corresponds with the strength of the fingers. It's not just about if the strings are too hard or soft but to get to the point where the interplay between string gauge and fingers is optimized for a dynamic playing. So I don't choose a string gauge just for the sound of it but for the possibilities it bears for playing - which in the end is more significant than the significant changes in tone for me. I think too that 10's in Eb are pretty good for Hendrix. 11's would be too much here and 9's just too weak I believe. The best thing of course is to choose the gauge of each string separately, by the way it feels and sounds.

Mynameisfritz · Post by **Mynameisfritz** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:44 pm

So here it is.

That's me.

Herec · Post by **Herec** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 2:40 am

The OT would have been Dagnall, right?

Basically after his "black flag" amps, it was Dagnall OTs?

basile865 · Post by **basile865** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:39 am

duno bout the OT answer sorry - someone else will.

I was just listening to Billy Batz's old comparison clips of 6550 and EL34 again and this time the difference is more obvious. Im on my girlfriends laptop using the low quality speakers that come with it, theres not very much bass added at all. When you hit the note on the g string in the who knows riff the EL34's sound somewhat hollow? hard to describe. Then the 6550's are more nasily or definately more protruding through. Now time to go compare to the real thing. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD!

basile865 · Post by **basile865** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:44 am

yea its still hard but im definately leaning towards the 6550s now in a bigger way than before. Two questions, the first is probably a dumb one.

1.) is it possible to run 6550's and el34s in the same amp?

2.) what about the possibility that he was running 6550's AND el34's that night, but just in different amps. One amp couldve blown some tubes and all they had on hand was something different than the other stacks had. One of those dumb luck, stumble onto something cool situations.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:03 am

1.) is it possible to run 6550's and el34s in the same amp?

Im doing it right now but you have to use a dual bias setup.

2.) what about the possibility that he was running 6550's AND el34's that night, but just in different amps. One amp couldve blown some tubes and all they had on hand was something different than the other stacks had. One of those dumb luck, stumble onto something cool situations

Its possible although still only the mic'd cab contributed to the recorded sound. But I dont think this would be the case though. That artical said they brought in all their gear and he fitted all ihs amps with 6550s. So I tend to think if it was the case either all his amps were using 6550s or none of them if he stopped. But its possible.

mathd · Post by **mathd** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:24 am

i guess he may have 6550 on one amps and el34 in the other, maby he like the mix

.

Also, how can we really compare the sound with newer recording.
when we ear to the hendrix record most people have an eq on there sound system, if the signal didnt already get equalized by the time from tape to cds etc.

Live playing, old record and newer record, it wont ever be same, or it will sound like on the record, or someone who have a really good memory for remember how it sounded live because it probably didnt sound the same, live and recorded. I do not know much about all this, it is just my guess.

To me, i do not bother searching how to tweak the amp or change this or this for get close to a artist sound. Well can tweak for get to a better tone for sure

.
I guess what he would have said back in the time would sound kinda like, Stop to care on the material and just play with soul and feeling.(Trough i cant talk for him lol just a guess)

Him just had powerfull soul/lot of feeling when hes was performing, and we can feel this just by listening to hes song.

Was just my trough.

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You Vote: BOG EL34 vs. 6550

Do you feel the Band of Gypsies tone is El34s or 6550s?