Popped in some EL34s lastnight. NOW we're talking!!!

[RockStarNick]

So lastnight, I did my first tube-swap in my Mod50. I threw in some Winged =C= EL34s that I have.

And I finally feel like the Mod50 *feels* 100% right to me now.

It's funny, because I know alot of the people on this forum don't LOVE the EL34s. Hilly HATES them...

But for me, every amp I've ever owned since I was 15 had EL34s in it. A Carvin X100B, a Marshall JTM60 combo, a Marshall JCM2000 TSL, and most recently, I've been playing a Bogner Shiva EL34 for the past 6 years before I got the Egnater Mod50.

Now, do 5881's *sound* different? Totally. They have a better top end, better bottom end, and overall more clarity. But it's more the *feel* of the EL34s that I'm used to. That midrangey honk, hazy top end, and stiff attack... I popped them in and was like "Yeeeeeah, NOW we're talkin!"

Just goes to show one man's trash is another man's treasure in the Tube world.

 

[jmgman69]

So lastnight, I did my first tube-swap in my Mod50. I threw in some Winged =C= EL34s that I have.

And I finally feel like the Mod50 *feels* 100% right to me now.

It's funny, because I know alot of the people on this forum don't LOVE the EL34s. Hilly HATES them...

But for me, every amp I've ever owned since I was 15 had EL34s in it. A Carvin X100B, a Marshall JTM60 combo, a Marshall JCM2000 TSL, and most recently, I've been playing a Bogner Shiva EL34 for the past 6 years before I got the Egnater Mod50.

Now, do 5881's *sound* different? Totally. They have a better top end, better bottom end, and overall more clarity. But it's more the *feel* of the EL34s that I'm used to. That midrangey honk, hazy top end, and stiff attack... I popped them in and was like "Yeeeeeah, NOW we're talkin!"

Just goes to show one man's trash is another man's treasure in the Tube world.

Better or different is all up to you I love EL34s to,but these amps just rock!!!!

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

I only hate them cause they fail! Just ask Stricklin who installed some new 34's and the tube was so bad it blew up the board in his MOD 100.

 

[jmgman69]

I only hate them cause they fail! Just ask Stricklin who installed some new 34's and the tube was so bad it blew up the board in his MOD 100.

We need pics of this

 

[jmgman69]

Maybe not,it might be to painful!!Kinda like the drinking and driving videos in drivers ED.

 

[MkIV]

Strange - I've been playing amps with EL34's for the last 15 years and never had any problems with bad tubes (yet)...

Do I need to say that I to am a sucker for EL34's...

 

[MkIV]

I only hate them cause they fail! Just ask Stricklin who installed some new 34's and the tube was so bad it blew up the board in his MOD 100.

We need pics of this

Yeah like we say on the swedish guitar forums: No pictures - it never happened!

 

[Superunknown]

Jeff is certainly correct....the SED 34's killed my circuit board. I was running Ruby 34's in my MOD100 for a a few months and decided to replace them....needless to say, it didn't work out.

On a brighter note...many many thanks to Jeff and Bruce for making my amp perfect again These guys set the bar for customer service IMHO.

Todd

 

[jmgman69]

Jeff is certainly correct....the SED 34's killed my circuit board. I was running Ruby 34's in my MOD100 for a a few months and decided to replace them....needless to say, it didn't work out.

On a brighter note...many many thanks to Jeff and Bruce for making my amp perfect again These guys set the bar for customer service IMHO.

Todd

These guys are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!So,did you stick them old tubes back in

 

[aeroic]

Jeff is certainly correct....the SED 34's killed my circuit board. I was running Ruby 34's in my MOD100 for a a few months and decided to replace them....needless to say, it didn't work out.

On a brighter note...many many thanks to Jeff and Bruce for making my amp perfect again These guys set the bar for customer service IMHO.

Todd

I wanna see pictures! I had a set of 6550s blow up in my VHT 2/90/2 once, but the glass just cracked and made a nice bright blue light. No damage fortunately to my power amp. That's the only set of power tubes I've ever had break in 17 years of playing.

 

[RockStarNick]

Hmm... I had some SED winged =C=s in my Shiva for a LONG time. Never had any problems.

I'm guessing that biasing them conservatively might help from meltdowns?

 

[EWSEthan]

Hmm... I had some SED winged =C=s in my Shiva for a LONG time. Never had any problems.

I'm guessing that biasing them conservatively might help from meltdowns?

I really thought the TS EL34s I tried the other night sounded horrible. No presence, just an undefined, muddy mess. I never heard my MOD 50 sound that bad. I thought I was playing a Crate.

You better bring an extra set of tubes to the gigs tonight and tomorrow with the ridiculous failure rate of 34s. I mean you should always bring an extra set in general, but I know you like to bring the bare minimum. A second guitar is a good idea too.

 

[jmgman69]

I still like the GT E34Ls and JJs and I run them HOT!!!!No explosions or meltdowns But the 6550s still RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Perttu]

So lastnight, I did my first tube-swap in my Mod50. I threw in some Winged =C= EL34s that I have.

I also got a pair couple days ago...but I don't know if I dare to try them, thanks to Jeff...

I don't want to take a risk blowing up my MOD50.

 

[richedie]

So lastnight, I did my first tube-swap in my Mod50. I threw in some Winged =C= EL34s that I have.

And I finally feel like the Mod50 *feels* 100% right to me now.

It's funny, because I know alot of the people on this forum don't LOVE the EL34s. Hilly HATES them...

But for me, every amp I've ever owned since I was 15 had EL34s in it. A Carvin X100B, a Marshall JTM60 combo, a Marshall JCM2000 TSL, and most recently, I've been playing a Bogner Shiva EL34 for the past 6 years before I got the Egnater Mod50.

Now, do 5881's *sound* different? Totally. They have a better top end, better bottom end, and overall more clarity. But it's more the *feel* of the EL34s that I'm used to. That midrangey honk, hazy top end, and stiff attack... I popped them in and was like "Yeeeeeah, NOW we're talkin!"

Just goes to show one man's trash is another man's treasure in the Tube world.

I AGREE!. I love EL34s and that is what I use. I have the TS EL34s and they are the BEST I have found for my MOD 50. The thickness and tone is unreal. I tried Tung Sol 5881s, JJ E34Ls, SED EL34s(which are also great).
I tried all night to get the kind of singing thickness I wanted running TS 5881s, but leads sounded too thin. Popped in the TS EL34s.

 

[RockStarNick]

Another testament to the fact that Rich and me share the same set of ears!

I've tried out Matt's B-MAN and SL2, and while it was *close*, it just wasn't the tone I was hearing in my head. And then, boom, tried it with EL34s. THERE IT WAS.

 

[richedie]

Yea Nick, according to Matt - we play Crates! I love my Crate modular amp.

 

[aeroic]

Thanks Matt . I like my TS "Crate" EL34B's! Must be those nasty V30s you play through!!!!

 

[3 Mile Stone]

I really liked the Tung Sol EL34 B.

U have no idea what the B stands for but they are a bit brighter for better cleans.

Currently running VERY old 5881. They sound off the charts awesome. Like a whole new amp. Some guy on eBay has been unloading his stock. He goes by "Startbastard" if you are interested. I've got a set of General and another set of Tung Sol from the sixties. The General sounds so good I refuse to take it out. His prices are very reasonable too.

 

[aeroic]

I really liked the Tung Sol EL34 B.

U have no idea what the B stands for but they are a bit brighter for better cleans.

Currently running VERY old 5881. They sound off the charts awesome. Like a whole new amp. Some guy on eBay has been unloading his stock. He goes by "Startbastard" if you are interested. I've got a set of General and another set of Tung Sol from the sixties. The General sounds so good I refuse to take it out. His prices are very reasonable too.

Me too. I really like the TS EL34Bs, TS 5881s and my Svet 6550s