Your Vote Please: Woodstock el34 or 6550

[Brandon]

I've started to hear some difference of opinion as to whether Jimi had EL34s in his amps at Woodstock, or 6550s, and various elusive photos of the back of his amps indicating certain tubes. Mostly I've heard el34, but I've heard a few people start to say that they have seen photos of the back of his amps and saw 6550s.

You guys did this poll for BOG, I think it's time to figure things out for Woodstock too

[basile865]

Theres really no way to tell unless there are pictures. Judging by sound of recording isn't accurate because the room effects the tone - playing outside like at woodstock sucks all kinds of frequencies out - not to mention any tweaking after the recording is done. I think chances are it was EL34's but thats just a guess. I know if the guys you know who say they've seen the pics of 6550's would be so kind to upload them everyone on the forum would be really grateful.

[Purplexi]

I can't honestly say I hear/discern any audible, power-tube, tone characteristics from Jimi's Woodstock sound. It feels like there's a lot going on, power wise, but even considering the reported 1969 west coast order receipt for a 6550-SLP retube, logic tells me he was using EL34's. Possibly a JTM "Black Flag" head along with a 68 JMP SLP/shared cathode mod head, or the 68 with another, newer SLP head, also EL34's and if any of his amps were 6550 loaded, this would be the chassis to run them.