Studio 10 Shootout | 6L6 vs EL34 | Blackstar 

6L6 for clean, EL34 for driven tones. Love blackstar.

Notice how the smile broke out as soon as he put the tele thru the clean channel on the 6l6 👍

To me, the 6L6 sounds glassier and a bit more precise in the top-end, but thinner overall. The EL34 lacks some of the 6L6 clarity but I love the more open and thicker breakup. Both are super cool amps, depending on the sound you're looking for. I went with the EL34s and I couldn't be happier with my amp! This was a great demo to showcase the difference in sounds across a wide spectrum of playing styles and guitars. Keep up the great work!

Awesome comparison and playing!

I've had the 6l6 for half a year now and have never once regretted it

the 6L6 cranked up with the boost has a very scooped sounding overdrive I'm super into it

I bought EL34 half a year ago. It was the best investment... I can't stop playing this. Really good amp. Boost sound of that thing is just incredible.

I bought the 6L6 a couple weeks ago and love the amp! Another Blackstar amp added to my collection. 😁

Awesome playing my friend!!!!

Both sound great. I gotta go 6L6, though. Great playing, brother! 👍🏻

I have the EL 34 with a V Type speaker in it. Just love it for cleans and the drive side can do a very convincing JCM 800 crunch..it is the perfect pedal platform but tasty all by itself.

What an excellent amp demo all the way around! Great job on this shootout! And by the way, these amps sound so good, I wish I could buy both of them! Awesome! - Glenn

I've had my studio 10 6L6 for close to a year now and absolutely love it. I would actually love to own one of the artist 15s or artist 30 as well I wish they'd bring them back. They were both great amps too.

Love that tele

You had a much bigger grin when playing through the 6L6

Blackstar amps are the best VFM amps and have awesome sound! Plus, they look great!

Great demo! Being a fan of so many Fender players, I expected to prefer the 6L6 but watching the demo I thought the EL34 was much nicer. Reminds me of the sound of a 70s Traynor.

ilove this guys playing good job black one all the way

Excellent playing and demo. Me = 6l6!!

So close to call, but I like the thump of the 6L6.

great amps, great concept, great review, and tones, but a strange thing - in all other demos with proper miking and similar guitar these amps do not sound that bright at all (even if miced at the center)! Do you have a very special microphone or some post-processing/EQ?

I bought the 6L6 and loved it so much that I just ordered the EL34.

Great shootout man! I was wondering if your recorded signal sounded as good as the room sound of the amps?

Loved the smile when you played the 6L6. It emerged a few times. I have this amp but the green KT10 version. Love it. I really want a Fender tone. I play single coils 80% of the time. I have a Celestion Blue in a 1x12 cab that would gladly be the load for the 6L6, the EL84 or the KT88, or do I mean AND? I bought the KT88 a year ago when they were on sale where the water is sweet and it is one of the best values in 40+ years playing electric guitar. Thanks for this comparison. I love both the British and the American voiced amps. If I end up getting this 6L6 amp too then I'll need a Jensen 12" too complete my mix and match palette.

I like 6l6s..but the el34s sounded more clear and defined

Great video! Does the American version support both 110v and and 220v mains?

Would love to see a review of the KT88 against these.

Great video! Any idea if this american version supports 220v mains or just american 110v?

My favorite is the black star

Going from EL34 to 6L6 it sounds like you're taking a blanket off the speakers. I like the 6L6. Want to buy a set to change my Bugera 333XL Infinium.

Came here wanting to like the 6l6 version and thinking its cleans would be superior but it really sounds muffled often while the el34 sounds better clean and distorted. The 6l6 seems most muffled blanket over amp sound with distortion and then with the cleans almost sounds too bright.

I own the 6L6 since yesterday. Really love it! Especially the emulated output. That gives you the same signal twice, so with the right cable, you can process them separately in your DAW. Really cool! One question though: Blackstar is proud to say that this output is for the first time put after the powerstage. I wonder what that matters, since it also works when the amp is on standby mode. What does it actually emulate, a cab or an amp?

For those hating on 6L6 as too bright, maybe fiddle that tone knob a bit 😉

please show settings when boosted.

Something weird about the mic placement. They sound very different from some other I saw. And this is from the company itself...

seems like you should really play them stacked together

I like the six l six tube

Man it seems hard to beat these for the $

I hear much more definition (especially on low strings and chords) with the 6l6's

To my ears through my stereo and through headphones it sounded like the 6 l 6 amp had a bigger soundstage to it..

Hello I really Like the EL34 ! but what's the best pedals Platform between these 2 please? Not for Tube Screamer but High Gain pedal and médium gain distortion on clean with the best headroom.

So is it just a difference in the power tubes? I've heard that the pre-amps are different.

I like the EL34. The 6l6 has to much noise/fuzz in the tone, whereas the EL34 is crisp and clear.

I'm strongly considering ordering one of these. But I'm curious, can it do low volumes well? I live in an apartment, so I gotta be careful.

I own the 6L6 but it was a tough choice

That was very predictable. Which is good: they're both doing what they should.

What are the speakers on each of this amps ?

Just bought the EL34. Should have it by the end of the week, we’ll see!

Before see the video i was a clear winner... 6l6 but after see the video i prefer el34... I prefer his warmer sound...

Are these loud enough for small gigs? I’ve got a Ht5r mkii. Love it but it won’t be loud enough for a new band I’m joining soon

i'm digging the 6l6, i just wish it came in black. hard to match it's color to my house's interior colors haha.

I’d sure like to hear a 335 through them.

6L6 more bright

Where is the KT88?

Hmm, this gentleman just sold me a Vox NuTube pedal the other day. I'm confused...

With the EL34 Version, Master at 12 O'Clock, how far on the gain can you go until it starts to break up using Les Paul on the Bridge pick up? You used the Middle setting. Thanks.

Kt88… anyone?

Lousy shrill tone from that brand of 6L6 tube used, was there nothing better? Vintage 6L6's didn't sound like that, thankfully. EL34 amp sounded better all around.

El34 starting to win me over. 6l6 just sounds harsh and compressed.

EL34 sounded better on everything. More round, warm, full, but also nice and chimey! 6L6 was thin and raspy...

Why do people moan about blackstars clipping then stick a pedal in front

Do not like either

This comparison is completely useless unfortunately. You basically only hear the difference between the speakers here. Do the comparison again with the same cab+mic position and then we're talking.