Can We please get some new EL34 options?

  • Thread starter Thread starter crwnedblasphemy
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crwnedblasphemy

crwnedblasphemy

Well-known member
Or do I have to fork over mass cash for old stock? I swear I'm gonna start spinning glass! Rant over.
 
sah5150":1esq7nmv said:
Ruby EL34BSTR. Thanks me later…

Steve
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have them...well, have the Splawn labeled EL34-B(same thing). I do think they are decent, and if I was a manufacturer, would put them in my amps, but they seem a little like a 6L6 to me. Not in breakup, but in added bass, less mids. I did have one fart out on me in the last 2 months...Just saying these seem to be the only option nowdays. I know there are others, but New Sensor can kiss it, and JJ(been on their side before), I got a pair about a year ago from Eurotubes, and 1 crapped out in under 2 weeks. So they can kiss it too. :lol: :LOL: :lol: :LOL:

Now I see Telefunken is putting out the EL34-TK....which are cryogen JJs. Sweet....not! :doh: :thumbsdown:
 
MrScary5150":t0p4fdo3 said:
Try KT77's.
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I have tried the JJs...and i at first kinda dig them, even though they run pretty hot...but after about a week it seems I try and EQ things different and they just don't work for me. Now, the Gold Lions, never tried them. Pretty spendy...for a New Sensor tube.
 
I like the cheaper EH EL34s in my Marshall. Sound like a good EL34 - pretty balanced.
 
EH tubes in general are actually not too bad, especially for the price.
 
sah5150":14xdgp85 said:
Ruby EL34BSTR. Thanks me later…

Steve
Click to expand...


This. Every el34 amp that comes across my bench for a Retube gets either BSTRs or BHT's. Incredibly rugged and great tone.
 
...didn't realize the Ruby's were heavy bass and treble and scooped in the mids... glad I didn't try them, I almost pulled the trigger on a quad. I guess its back to JJe34L
 
lespaul6":39jpwhkt said:
...didn't realize the Ruby's were heavy bass and treble and scooped in the mids... glad I didn't try them, I almost pulled the trigger on a quad. I guess its back to JJe34L
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That's one guy's opinion who tried them in one amp. Don't take that as gospel. They're inexpensive enough to try for yourself in your own amps.

I just modded and retubed a DSL100 with them. They're killer.

 
thanks for the second opinion... what do you think of the Svetlana's, any good?
 
lespaul6":2c36786q said:
thanks for the second opinion... what do you think of the Svetlana's, any good?
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I'm not personally a fan of any of the New Sensor-made tubes. I stick with Ruby or TAD. Much of my criteria for choosing valves falls involves reliability, but reliability is not a trade-off for good tone either. I and other people are quite satisfied with the Ruby sound.
 
Here's what I've tried:

SED WINGED =C=
I used to think these were made of tits and honey and shit. Mostly because everyone else said they sounded great. I used them for years in my Diezel VH4, Ceriatone Chupacabra, Cameron CCV, and I tried them in my Peters Hydra. Obviously, the same tubes are going to sound different depending on the amp. But for the most part, these are pretty good. Kind of a heavy, greasy mid-range. Like eating a Philly Cheese Steak covered in p'tater tots and mozzarella sticks. Lows are a little loose/bouncy/flubby at times, probs from all the cholesterol. Highs aren't harsh. Kind of swirly. Throw them in a mid-heavy, harsh high-end amp like a Marshall and you get instant rock and/or metal depending on the amp model and boost. After trying a few other tubes, these are no longer my favorite though. Also, bias on these tubes over the last year or so (on many sets that I've used) has drifted all over the place in every amp I've used. Quality is shit. Especially now that SED is no longer around. I had a pair red plate in my Einstein a few months ago. They were like 2 months old at the time.

ELECTRO HARMONIX
These actually surprised me. I have them in my Peters Hydra at the moment. The bias is always rock solid. Low end is tighter than the SEDs. Highs are nice and articulate. Mid range isn't as greasy/smeared. Just a balanced all-around tube for a good price. Nothing stands out about them. But nothing really that bad, either. No complaints yet.

RUBY BSTR and BHT
I can't remember which was which. I've tried them both. I think the BSTR was the one that resembled a 6L6 sort of. Increased lows and highs. Glassy in the highs. But too much for my taste. If I wanted a 6L6 I'd just go buy some and shoot myself because 6L6s suck. I think the BHTs were the ones that can handle crazy high voltages/current like the SEDs. Or maybe it was the other way around. Either way, neither of these two versions gave me a tonal boner. So I dumped them. They're pretty clear, non-descript sounding tubes though.

JJ E34L
Can't remember. Had them in my Uberschall. I think they had a tighter low-end. And more headroom than other tubes. Other than that, they were pretty good. Maybe a little nondescript.

JJ KT77
Another one that's a bit of a mix between an EL34 and 6L6. But more mids than the other tubes listed above. Tighter lows. Highs on the JJs are a little subdued. These sound meaty and mighty and other words that start with M. Quality is pretty crappy though. Flakes of mica floating around inside the tube. Bias that doesn't hold. But they sound pretty good. Nothing like a 6L6, even though I just said they resemble them. They just have the dynamic range of a 6L6 in terms of low end through to the highs. Yeah that's right, this tube is a fucking contradiction. Sounds good in my Diezel.

GOLD LION KT77
Not as thick or wide sounding as the JJs. But a more aggressive, snarly, pissed off mid range. High end is a tiny bit harsher-slash-kinda-glassy. I can't tell if the low end is tighter or looser than the JJs because I'm half deaf from rocking this bad boys. But definitely tighter than any EL34 I've tried. They can get a little gritty/grainy though if you're not careful. Careful of what, you ask? I don't know. Just watch yo'self. These tubes are pretty awesome, though. Probably a good replacement for the SEDs now.

RFT/SIEMENS EL34
I really want to try these. Anybody have experience with them?
 
ive been using ruby el34bstr for the past 5 yrs and el34bht for the past 18 months, i like them, mostly use them with a herbert or uberschall.
im also a fan of JJ E34L for my uberschall and kt77 for my vh4.
 
FourT6and2":1yl9vejt said:
Here's what I've tried:

SED WINGED =C=
I used to think these were made of tits and honey and shit. Mostly because everyone else said they sounded great. I used them for years in my Diezel VH4, Ceriatone Chupacabra, Cameron CCV, and I tried them in my Peters Hydra. Obviously, the same tubes are going to sound different depending on the amp. But for the most part, these are pretty good. Kind of a heavy, greasy mid-range. Like eating a Philly Cheese Steak covered in p'tater tots and mozzarella sticks. Lows are a little loose/bouncy/flubby at times, probs from all the cholesterol. Highs aren't harsh. Kind of swirly. Throw them in a mid-heavy, harsh high-end amp like a Marshall and you get instant rock and/or metal depending on the amp model and boost. After trying a few other tubes, these are no longer my favorite though. Also, bias on these tubes over the last year or so (on many sets that I've used) has drifted all over the place in every amp I've used. Quality is shit. Especially now that SED is no longer around. I had a pair red plate in my Einstein a few months ago. They were like 2 months old at the time.

ELECTRO HARMONIX
These actually surprised me. I have them in my Peters Hydra at the moment. The bias is always rock solid. Low end is tighter than the SEDs. Highs are nice and articulate. Mid range isn't as greasy/smeared. Just a balanced all-around tube for a good price. Nothing stands out about them. But nothing really that bad, either. No complaints yet.

RUBY BSTR and BHT
I can't remember which was which. I've tried them both. I think the BSTR was the one that resembled a 6L6 sort of. Increased lows and highs. Glassy in the highs. But too much for my taste. If I wanted a 6L6 I'd just go buy some and shoot myself because 6L6s suck. I think the BHTs were the ones that can handle crazy high voltages/current like the SEDs. Or maybe it was the other way around. Either way, neither of these two versions gave me a tonal boner. So I dumped them. They're pretty clear, non-descript sounding tubes though.

JJ E34L
Can't remember. Had them in my Uberschall. I think they had a tighter low-end. And more headroom than other tubes. Other than that, they were pretty good. Maybe a little nondescript.

JJ KT77
Another one that's a bit of a mix between an EL34 and 6L6. But more mids than the other tubes listed above. Tighter lows. Highs on the JJs are a little subdued. These sound meaty and mighty and other words that start with M. Quality is pretty crappy though. Flakes of mica floating around inside the tube. Bias that doesn't hold. But they sound pretty good. Nothing like a 6L6, even though I just said they resemble them. They just have the dynamic range of a 6L6 in terms of low end through to the highs. Yeah that's right, this tube is a fucking contradiction. Sounds good in my Diezel.

GOLD LION KT77
Not as thick or wide sounding as the JJs. But a more aggressive, snarly, pissed off mid range. High end is a tiny bit harsher-slash-kinda-glassy. I can't tell if the low end is tighter or looser than the JJs because I'm half deaf from rocking this bad boys. But definitely tighter than any EL34 I've tried. They can get a little gritty/grainy though if you're not careful. Careful of what, you ask? I don't know. Just watch yo'self. These tubes are pretty awesome, though. Probably a good replacement for the SEDs now.

RFT/SIEMENS EL34
I really want to try these. Anybody have experience with them?
Click to expand...
IMO the Siemens are just as good or better than the Cs in my Marshalls..very nice.
 
MississippiMetal":1ghcvusk said:
lespaul6":1ghcvusk said:
...didn't realize the Ruby's were heavy bass and treble and scooped in the mids... glad I didn't try them, I almost pulled the trigger on a quad. I guess its back to JJe34L
Click to expand...

That's one guy's opinion who tried them in one amp. Don't take that as gospel. They're inexpensive enough to try for yourself in your own amps.

I just modded and retubed a DSL100 with them. They're killer.

Click to expand...

I didn't say they were bad....I mean I have to eq a bit different to accent certain frequencies. I still use them.
 
pull the trigger on a pair of real Mullard el34's if you have the cash, it's night and day compared to new production. Anything up to the early 70's is still heads and shoulders above new production. Real Tesla and RFT are very good too!.
 
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