harddriver
Well-known member
YUP!For all we know he somehow came upon a box/case of them for cheap/free and was like fuck yeah I'll just keep swapping these out until I run out...and a legend was born.
6CA7s vs EL34s. What do you think?
- Thread starter Rick Lee
- Start date
braintheory
Well-known member
Yes, those Telefunken EL34's are really great sounding, but all died fast IME sadly and even caused some trips to my tech for some amps. RFT's and Siemens though sound very similar and just as good imo and seem to be reliable. They're some of my favorite EL34's, especially for Marshall's more than other amps
I heard the Telefunken's can't handle as much plate voltage as other tubes, but I wouldn't know as I'm not that tech savvy
SpiderWars
Well-known member
I've got one Mullard, one Amperex Bugle Boy, and one Telefunken diamond-whatever preamp tube and they all sound horrid or are defective or something. I bought them all from the same dealer of NOS tubes many years ago. Along with some Brimar preamp tubes and Mazda 6V6s.
Just a bag of problems and shitty sounding tubes. So I was sort of immediately soured on all the hype of the vintage tubes. I've been through a ton of other JAN/etc tubes with lots of microphony/failures. But there are lots of really strong tubes. Like those Sovtek/Russian 5881s that aren't really 5881s. Or the Russian 6p14p for EL84s. Wish those fuckers would stop invading countries and get back to making tubes.
braintheory
Well-known member
That’s too bad to hear. I haven’t had issues with vintage preamp tubes so far, but have had some with powertubesI've got one Mullard, one Amperex Bugle Boy, and one Telefunken diamond-whatever preamp tube and they all sound horrid or are defective or something. I bought them all from the same dealer of NOS tubes many years ago. Along with some Brimar preamp tubes and Mazda 6V6s.
Just a bag of problems and shitty sounding tubes. So I was sort of immediately soured on all the hype of the vintage tubes. I've been through a ton of other JAN/etc tubes with lots of microphony/failures. But there are lots of really strong tubes. Like those Sovtek/Russian 5881s that aren't really 5881s. Or the Russian 6p14p for EL84s. Wish those fuckers would stop invading countries and get back to making tubes.
JAN tubes don’t always necessarily sound better IME. I love real US 5881’s and like a lot those Russian 6P14P’s/EL84’s
PDC
Well-known member
For a current production tube, JJ’s EL34-II is really hard to beat. I’ve rolled it through half a dozen amps, 50s and 100s, against EH, JJEL34-S, Siemens, and legit Brown Base Dual Halo Getter Teslas (not ‘JJ’).
My all time favorite EL34 variety tube is the Brown Base Teslas. I have a small stash. Certain amps really shine with the added depth and low-end punch of the JJ EL34-S. But the JJ EL34-II sounds fantastic in any amp I’ve tried them in.
Tungsrams were my favorits for many years in marshalls as well...
Then I tried the pschycodave recipe
V1 - Ei longplate
V2 - Chinese 12AX7
V3 - Ei longplate
I still use the tungsrams in my Engl Straight though...I like them in there...
braintheory
Well-known member
I didn’t like the Ei’s or Chinese as much as Tungsram’s (or Fivre), but it may depend a bit which Marshall you have
Jose style 2204...with Siemens EL34s
braintheory
Well-known member
Hm I guess I actually don’t really have currently any Jose style amps (as far as I’m aware, owned so many in the past though), but one modded 1979 JMP2204 that may have an Aldrich type mod
I like those tubes you mentioned, but didn’t find them as tonally complex/rich as my other preferred vintage ones and not as tight or crisp as Tungsram, but I guess it depends what you want in the sound. Have you tried ‘50’s Bugle Boys or RFT’s? Those are some of my other favorites, but Fivre in general I still like more
I have tried the RFT...very gainy tube but way too smooth for my tastes...
Ei gives more sag to the tone whereas the tungsram is tighter and crispier...works great on my engl straight...
SpiderWars
Well-known member
I’m not quite sure which ones I tried but they had way too much bottom end. I should try the II.
I also think it might matter if you are playing a non-MV amp vs a MV amp. With the non-MV amp you’re hearing the power tubes pushed into distortion but usually with a MV amp the power tubes are running clean. It stands to reason that each type of amp sounds better with different brands…or even tube type.
DanTravis62
Well-known member
Can barely tell a difference with the new ones especially.
With the old ones, slightly more lows, slightly less midrange kerrang; either can be dialed relatively close to the other with the tonestack if you have humbuckers with alot of low end.
I honestly use NOS and older tubes in general because of longevity, not sound quality. In most cases there's very little change in tone that can't be compensated for in other ways.
With the old ones, slightly more lows, slightly less midrange kerrang; either can be dialed relatively close to the other with the tonestack if you have humbuckers with alot of low end.
I honestly use NOS and older tubes in general because of longevity, not sound quality. In most cases there's very little change in tone that can't be compensated for in other ways.
Zado
Well-known member
If "too much bottom end" and "not enough power tube distortion" is the thing, then there's no chance the tube is other than E34L by JJ (not tha I'm aware of). It's a great tube to give some balls to otherwise anemic, high mid super focused amps, as it's also quite tight down there, but if you're playing anything that has a huge low end already it's just overkill. I'm not a huge fan of em in my Yeti.
braintheory
Well-known member
Yeah the RFT is quite gainy and part of why I like it. The Fivre’s also have some nice gain to them. I think they’re smooth in the uppermid and higher frequencies, but quite aggressive/unsmooth in the lower mids and tight and articulate. IME they can be great
For sag, my preferred tubes are ‘50’s Bugle Boy’s, Valvo’s, and Japanese tubes. From what I remember I think I liked the Mullard Blackburn’s better than my Ei’s. I agree in some amps tungsrams can be too crisp, not enough thickness, but in most high gains they’re usually one of my top choices. I can see it being perfect in the Engl Straight. I sold one of those last month. They would probably perfectly accentuate its uppermid grind
Last edited:
napalmdeath
Well-known member
This. The JJ KT77 is my favorite tube. They kick ass in everything. I've had them in Friedmans, Bogners, Engls, Peaveys, (they kill in the XXX and JSX), DSL's, and JVM's. There's other good tubes out there. My favorite EL34 is the Tungsol EL34B current production. It's unique in that it thumps like a 6L6, but blooms like an EL34 once you get the volume up. Great dynamics, harmonics, and crunchy. My experience with EH 6CA7's were in a Bogner Helios. They were punchy, indeed.
harddriver
Well-known member
I've been running 6550's in my 79 2203 since the mid 80's, those were GE6550A's in the amp stock, I then installed some GT6550A's from 87-89. I swapped them out to try EL34's in 1989 cause everyone then told me a Marshall isn't Marshall without EL34's. A local store tech recommended a Quad of original Gold Lion KT77's, I put them in and they sounded good after that I tried some other EL34's and I just wasn't happy with them. I then reinstalled my 6550's and I was happy again. It's all what your ears like and prefer.
I can see why guys like EL34's, I just have a preference for 6550's, 6L6's and 6CA7's and Sovtek KT88's after trying alot of EL34's numerous times.
Thanks for the post man.
I meant mids, not kids. Darn auto correct.
I also have a Bogner Shiva with KT88s that is great but I'm going to experiment with modding it for EL34s to see if I prefer it.
Honestly, I think I'm just a Bogner guy and an EL34 guy.
I've learned it's important to use what works for you.
For me, Bogner are not as aggressive as a Marshall or a Splawn but man I love the feel of my Bogner for leads. That's key for me.
Last edited: