Back to 5881s...

  • Thread starter Thread starter EWSEthan
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3 Mile Stone":2c0kuet8 said:
I did not think so at all. I found the E34L to be about is dead as it gets. I could not get them out fast enough. If you dig the EL34 go with it! And heck try 'em all that is the real beauty of the system. Seems like the trick will be to find a clean module that works well with EL34's. I'm sure it's doable. My Bassman sounds pretty good with 'em. I bet a Vox would work too.
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Actually same problem I had. I couldnt get a good enough clean with EL34s. The EG5 sounded pretty good with them, but the Bassman and TD were the real problem. They're just so much better for me with the 5881s. I mean, basically everything sounds better to me with the Tung-Sol 5881s but the biggest difference is in the cleans / mid gain for me.
 
EWSEthan":2mua3u6p said:
3 Mile Stone":2mua3u6p said:
I did not think so at all. I found the E34L to be about is dead as it gets. I could not get them out fast enough. If you dig the EL34 go with it! And heck try 'em all that is the real beauty of the system. Seems like the trick will be to find a clean module that works well with EL34's. I'm sure it's doable. My Bassman sounds pretty good with 'em. I bet a Vox would work too.
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Actually same problem I had. I couldnt get a good enough clean with EL34s. The EG5 sounded pretty good with them, but the Bassman and TD were the real problem. They're just so much better for me with the 5881s. I mean, basically everything sounds better to me with the Tung-Sol 5881s but the biggest difference is in the cleans / mid gain for me.
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Agreed! Matt we are tone brothers from a different mother haha.
cheers
Ross
 
For some reason the E34Ls didn't last to long in my MOD,they didn't sound that great.The el34m sounds pretty good,but nowhere near the tone from the 5881s tung sol that is.But the E34Ls and 6L6gc in my RT sound incredible together in stereo.As Tommy said:That is the beauty of the MOD,gotta love it!I do.... :D
 
I am assuming the tubes I am testing are the "re-issue" tung sol 5881s?

There is an interesting review on http://thetubestore.com/tungsol5881.html

They said this and this is interesting and I agreee about the guitar volume knob thing! I was amazed at how I could use my guitar's volume to go fcrom old classics to modern metal with clarity and never touching the amp's gain. Maybe I'll give them another try. I haven't used them highere than bedroom levels so I am probably not being fair.

"The overdriven tone is thick but articulate and just gets fatter the harder they are driven. Dime your amp and then use your guitar's volume and tone controls to dial in just about anything you want."

What do they mean by "driven hard" gain or volume? Are they saying to dime the master or dime the gain?
Personally I always find the guitar's volume to be most useful to adjust for various gain levels, not necessarily volume.

Okay, so regular EL34s are better than E34Ls? I used the SED EL34s live and had no problem with clean tones. That is weird you guys had problems....in fact I had the channel volume low enough that I still had plenty of room. Big thing with me is the response on the high gain modules like the MHG. With the Tung Sol 5881, I hated the high gain tones or even with the gain rolled off. The tone became sterile and stiff to my ears, not fun to play. Reminds me exactly of what I hate about 6L6 tubes. I like an amp to feel alive and be thick and chewy, rich...not stiff or thin. That was my impression of the 5881s. :no: That is why I am an EL34 man. ;)

Not sure....I see my friends band all the time. He runs a Marshall on the high gain channel for his three set cover night and just uses the volume knob for variation. He uses EL34s and sounds great.

I am not arguing......just going with what satisfies and makes me want to play.
 
richedie":3q7z50u9 said:
I am assuming the tubes I am testing are the "re-issue" tung sol 5881s?

There is an interesting review on http://thetubestore.com/tungsol5881.html

They said this and this is interesting and I agreee about the guitar volume knob thing! I was amazed at how I could use my guitar's volume to go fcrom old classics to modern metal with clarity and never touching the amp's gain. Maybe I'll give them another try. I haven't used them highere than bedroom levels so I am probably not being fair.

"The overdriven tone is thick but articulate and just gets fatter the harder they are driven. Dime your amp and then use your guitar's volume and tone controls to dial in just about anything you want."


Okay, so regular EL34s are better than E34Ls? I used the SED EL34s live and had no problem with clean tones. That is weird you guys had problems....in fact I had the channel volume low enough that I still had plenty of room. Big thing with me is the response on the high gain modules like the MHG. With the Tung Sol 5881, I hated the high gain tones or even with the gain rolled off. The tone became sterile and stiff to my ears, not fun to play. Reminds me exactly of what I hate about 6L6 tubes. I like an amp to feel alive and be thick and chewy, rich...not stiff or thin. That was my impression of the 5881s. :no: That is why I am an EL34 man. ;)

Not sure....I see my friends band all the time. He runs a Marshall on the high gain channel for his three set cover night and just uses the volume knob for variation. He uses EL34s and sounds great.

I am not arguing......just going with what satisfies and makes me want to play.
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Sorry if anything was missleading but I was being honest and my MOD rips ass with the 5881s in it,BEST tone all around for me,I'm loveing it! :D
 
No problem dude...I just thought you liked the EL34s more than you did. So are the E34Ls still better? I couldn't tell from your comments.

Also, did you read all my comments? I had some questions about the 'drive' comments and also that I may need to try driving the amp more....gain or volume? Did you see my comment son the volume knob.

Also, I haven't had the amp above bedroom levels with the 5881s.
 
richedie":3lhligjj said:
No problem dude...I just thought you liked the EL34s more than you did. So are the E34Ls still better? I couldn't tell from your comments.

Also, did you read all my comments? I had some questions about the 'drive' comments and also that I may need to try driving the amp more....gain or volume? Did you see my comment son the volume knob.

Also, I haven't had the amp above bedroom levels with the 5881s.
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Rich: bias at 34 and play with volume at 2 or 3 oclock on the master. Thats what "driven" means, to really get the volume up to push the tubes. To me the 5881s sound best for bedroom volumes as well compared to other tube types, but really come alive at louder volumes. I mean, everything sounds better louder when it comes to tubes. Also, back the gain off as you turn the master up. The louder you are, the less you need!
 
Guys, thanks. I will give them more time before deciding....but in the end I may just be an EL34 guy. Some tubes "do it" for each of us.....

I know my ears perked up when I reinstalled the EL34s the other night. Right now, the 5881s are back in....but we live in a condo so cranking much past 9 o'clock is not happening this weekend. LOL!
 
richedie":1v4yznuh said:
Guys, thanks. I will give them more time before deciding....but in the end I may just be an EL34 guy. Some tubes "do it" for each of us.....

I know my ears perked up when I reinstalled the EL34s the other night. Right now, the 5881s are back in....but we live in a condo so cranking much past 9 o'clock is not happening this weekend. LOL!
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Gotta get that master up man!Things start happening :D
 
To me that explains it. You don't really star hearing the mids cook like a EL34 on the 5881 until it starts reaching the point where they are doing something. I could see how at bedroom levels the EL34 would present earlier low mid frequencies allowing you to hear what you enjoying. When you get to stage volume is when you start to hear the Tung Sol come alive.
 
3 Mile Stone":2wfkemvm said:
To me that explains it. You don't really star hearing the mids cook like a EL34 on the 5881 until it starts reaching the point where they are doing something. I could see how at bedroom levels the EL34 would present earlier low mid frequencies allowing you to hear what you enjoying. When you get to stage volume is when you start to hear the Tung Sol come alive.
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Yup my master is at 12:00 noon when bedroom playing and that is loud hahaha. But I am in a house not a condo. At stage I put it at about 1:00 or 2:00 depending on PA and that is the magic dial area for sure
 
richedie":1qkzwkct said:
No problem dude...I just thought you liked the EL34s more than you did. So are the E34Ls still better? I couldn't tell from your comments.

Also, did you read all my comments? I had some questions about the 'drive' comments and also that I may need to try driving the amp more....gain or volume? Did you see my comment son the volume knob.

Also, I haven't had the amp above bedroom levels with the 5881s.
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Richie,if for any reason you do not like thew 5881s,I have a brand new of GTEL34m tubes with maybe an hour of play,we could swap :D
 
Bottom line is I need to enjoy my amp at all levels. At home, the master stays low and even some basement jams. Heck, on stage I didn't even get it to noon! We played a small club with the volume low so i like that thickness form EL34s at all volumes. I don't want to rely on cranking the amp all the time. I am just an EL34 man! :D I notice it as soon as I plug in. :)
I have had amps with KT88s and 6L6s and felt the same.
 
richedie":39d179tk said:
Bottom line is I need to enjoy my amp at all levels. At home, the master stays low and even some basement jams. Heck, on stage I didn't even get it to noon! We played a small club with the volume low so i like that thickness form EL34s at all volumes. I don't want to rely on cranking the amp all the time. I am just an EL34 man! :D I notice it as soon as I plug in. :)
I have had amps with KT88s and 6L6s and felt the same.
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Cool at least you have narrowed it down to the EL34 factor. Now you have to wade through the masses of EL34s to find the perfect pair haha. Keep us posted I would love to hear what you discover.
 
I LOVE what EL34s do for me but I want a deeper bottom so I have a set of JJ E34Ls on the way.

Then it is on the preamp tubes! Haha! Should I mess with the preamp tubes in the head or just modules?
 
The tubes in the head have no effect on the tone...its all done in the module.
 
richedie":1hm0rol0 said:
I LOVE what EL34s do for me but I want a deeper bottom so I have a set of JJ E34Ls on the way.

Then it is on the preamp tubes! Haha! Should I mess with the preamp tubes in the head or just modules?
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Richedie you will prolly like the E34Ls out of all the EL type tubes I tried they were the best but then again i dig the 5881s and you did not haha. My taste may be different and you may hate the E34Ls haha.

Let us know
 
Always thought the Tung-Sol 5881s weren't rated for 500v plate voltage and what are you guys biasing at?
 
JKD":olc4tjqh said:
Always thought the Tung-Sol 5881s weren't rated for 500v plate voltage and what are you guys biasing at?
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I heard that but I haven't had a problem yet :D I run them at about 34/35mv
 
jmgman69":g6mz74gi said:
JKD":g6mz74gi said:
Always thought the Tung-Sol 5881s weren't rated for 500v plate voltage and what are you guys biasing at?
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I heard that but I haven't had a problem yet :D I run them at about 34/35mv
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WOW..so biased just like a 6L6 too...gonna have to try some now :D
 
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