Which EL34's are you all using?

  • Thread starter Thread starter skullfxr
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blackie13 said:
As a long time RFT el34 user, I would never again get another NOS power tube set...
I don't think its worth it...
EH el34 is fine...and JJ E34L if you need more headroom is fine too...

I would definitly get more NOS preamp tubes...
Even the high gain monster 6505 can benefit from them...
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This is where I am too. A lot of it depends on the circuit and how hard you're pushing the power section. Perhaps a bigger difference with older Marshalls and similar. I still use the pre-war Ei tubes for V1 in my amps, but by and large they're amps that get the majority of their color from the preamp section. But I've also had really good results with the Mullard long plate re-issues, which is what I carry for spares if an Ei ever fails. The Ei tubes are also really solid in the PI position, but the current prod Sovtek long plates do so well that I haven't felt a need to use NOS tubes for the phase invertor.
 
blacknoizemachine said:
This is where I am too. A lot of it depends on the circuit and how hard you're pushing the power section. Perhaps a bigger difference with older Marshalls and similar. I still use the pre-war Ei tubes for V1 in my amps, but by and large they're amps that get the majority of their color from the preamp section. But I've also had really good results with the Mullard long plate re-issues, which is what I carry for spares if an Ei ever fails. The Ei tubes are also really solid in the PI position, but the current prod Sovtek long plates do so well that I haven't felt a need to use NOS tubes for the phase invertor.
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I just ordered an Ei 12ax7...
I always used a tungsram in V1...
we will see...
 
I think i dropped a quad el34bstr and funny how my vh4 sounded meh just bland and with a huge mids.... do you guys hear that as well?
 
blacknoizemachine said:
This is where I am too. A lot of it depends on the circuit and how hard you're pushing the power section. Perhaps a bigger difference with older Marshalls and similar. I still use the pre-war Ei tubes for V1 in my amps, but by and large they're amps that get the majority of their color from the preamp section. But I've also had really good results with the Mullard long plate re-issues, which is what I carry for spares if an Ei ever fails. The Ei tubes are also really solid in the PI position, but the current prod Sovtek long plates do so well that I haven't felt a need to use NOS tubes for the phase invertor.
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Real f91/f92 Mullard long plates from the 50’s are the voice of God.
 
I tried a quad of new matched Winged Cs many years ago, 2009 maybe? in my old Superlead and they sucked so bad. Horrible tone. bad quad of tubes? Perhaps.

I put JJ 6CA7s in and they sounded way better. As a matter of fact, they're the best sounding tubes for my amp.
 
Nigel said:
JJ KT 77’s are the way bro…it’s why Pete D ships ‘em stock, or at least did.
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I was the one that recommend KT 77 to Peter years ago. I believe he has been using them since then. They sound great in certain amps.

I was going thru my tubes last night and found two quad of =C= and bunch of other old EL34. Most of them singles. A few pairs.
 
stephen sawall said:
I was the one that recommend KT 77 to Peter years ago. I believe he has been using them since then. They sound great in certain amps.

I was going thru my tubes last night and found two quad of =C= and bunch of other old EL34. Most of them singles. A few pairs.
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I knew you were based, but WOW!
 
Groove Tubes EL34M's which are their attempt at copying old Mullard FX2 Dual Getters, but are much more reliable in my opinion and handle higher plate voltage better than other brands aiming to try and sound close to old Mullards. $119.99 a quad through Sweetwater.
 
Samhain said:
Mullard-EL34-Amperex-Label-Blackburn-Gt-Britain.jpg


I bought a quad of Amperex labeled Mullard XF-2's. They sounded fantastic but only lasted about 8 months.
Paid $300 so it wasn't too bad but the difference in tone between these and Russian EL-34's are minimal.
I won't buy NOS power glass anymore.
But i mostly run NOS preamp glass.
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A lot of that shit is fake. NOS dried up decades ago, just ask any reliable source.
 
John 14:6 said:
Groove Tubes EL34M's which are their attempt at copying old Mullard FX2 Dual Getters, but are much more reliable in my opinion and handle higher plate voltage better than other brands aiming to try and sound close to old Mullards. $119.99 a quad through Sweetwater.
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GT EL34M's are in my Marshall 2555x as well as a friend's original Jubilee. No issues. They make the amp come alive! Highly recommend. I bias them on the slightly colder side as I heard to get the best tone.
 
Beyond Black said:
Sounds to me like you need to order a new 100 watt! :poke:
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Ive had multiple Naylors starting from 97-98. There is something about them that sound consistent as in $ black plate RCA`s didnt sound any better than Sovtek 5881`s. Also the design of that amp/ super 60 will make any preamp plugged into the return of the amp sound like a Naylor
 
Had a brand new Tung-Sol EL34B redplate on me; need to get the refund or new pair on those. I'm trying out JJ EL34 IIs in my Splawn. Hearing really good things about those.
 
Racerxrated said:
I've never seen Tungsram EL34s...I love the pre tubes though.
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What are the tubes I got from you? Those are great. Much better than the tubes that were in my Friedman. The amp came alive and the pre amp tubes also changed the amp quite a bit, the clean channel became magnificent after the pre amp tube switch.
 
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