EL34 Opinions Please

[Racerxrated]

Here's a thread on the GT EL34LS that talks about the tube construction change...older LS had bigger heat wings, and the newer ones are just rebadged JJ EL 34L.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=197017

And no, I haven't paid the markup for GT tubes. I only buy ANOS tubes nowadays, as they last as long or longer than new production. The last quad of LS tubes cost me 65 bucks. I pounded them in the Wizard I had, and they still kill it in my 2210.

My only point is, they're still a JJ-made E34L tube, plain and simple. I'm aware they have different heat wings, but they're still subject to the same "do not use", in a JSX. They're still the basic E34L platform, and draw more current. If your JSX is an early model with subpar SGR's, be my guest. Roll the dice. Been there, done that.

This said, they're still good sounding tubes. I just wouldn't put them in a JSX.

I still say OP should try JJ 6CA7's.

So you're saying the GT EL34 LS is a JJ EL34L?? Can't be...since they sound and look NOTHING alike. If you are saying it's a JJ made tube, fine. But it ain't no JJ EL34L.
JJ EL34 L..boomy, mud, crap in any amp I've tried them in. They suck. Can't stand those tubes.
Yet, the GT EL34 LS is KILLER in my amps, and sound very close to my sets of Siemens 34s. I don't believe for a second that this LS is any relation at all to the EL34 L. It's a different tube.
Another thread on this subject..
viewtopic.php?f=26&t=28984

 

[the4thlast1]

Hey Mosh I was just going through some power tube rolling in my Bogner Eclipse

The Chinese EL34bstr ( Ruby or Tad ) : These are the biggest and meanest sounding out of the bunch, the most lowend (still tight though) These have a somewhat dark overall sound , relaxed mids compared to the others , not harsh but a nice grind in the low mids. Really like them but I think these would work best with an amp that has a forward midrange and is somewhat lean on the bass so everything would balance out. Works great in the Bogner because it fits that description.

Gold Lion KT77 : Awesome sounding tube somewhat similar to the Ruby EL34 in that they are a bit dark and not very forward in the mids but are smother and have less bass , a bit more compression and a silky high end. These could possibly sound dull in the wrong amp but smooth out and amp that is aggressive.

JJ EL34 and KT77 : I will mention these since I just tried them in comparison. These two sets sound very similar to eachother. They have a lean lowend with a very forward midrange and are brighter than the other brands I tried today. but the KT77 as you would expect have a bit more bass and less mids ,once again they are very close. I would pick the KT77s over the EL34 when it comes to the JJs because the EL34 has very little bass, the least bass out of all the tubes I tried today. The KT77 are a bit more even and full. In the Eclipse I liked the Ruby and Gold lion tubes more but have liked the JJs in several other amps. They would work great in an amp that has a Big lowend.

 

[napalmdeath]

Here's a thread on the GT EL34LS that talks about the tube construction change...older LS had bigger heat wings, and the newer ones are just rebadged JJ EL 34L.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=197017

And no, I haven't paid the markup for GT tubes. I only buy ANOS tubes nowadays, as they last as long or longer than new production. The last quad of LS tubes cost me 65 bucks. I pounded them in the Wizard I had, and they still kill it in my 2210.

My only point is, they're still a JJ-made E34L tube, plain and simple. I'm aware they have different heat wings, but they're still subject to the same "do not use", in a JSX. They're still the basic E34L platform, and draw more current. If your JSX is an early model with subpar SGR's, be my guest. Roll the dice. Been there, done that.

This said, they're still good sounding tubes. I just wouldn't put them in a JSX.

I still say OP should try JJ 6CA7's.

So you're saying the GT EL34 LS is a JJ EL34L?? Can't be...since they sound and look NOTHING alike. If you are saying it's a JJ made tube, fine. But it ain't no JJ EL34L.
JJ EL34 L..boomy, mud, crap in any amp I've tried them in. They suck. Can't stand those tubes.
Yet, the GT EL34 LS is KILLER in my amps, and sound very close to my sets of Siemens 34s. I don't believe for a second that this LS is any relation at all to the EL34 L. It's a different tube.
Another thread on this subject..
viewtopic.php?f=26&t=28984

Everybody hears things differently, many would disagree with "boomy, mud, crap, suck". I'm just saying, it's still made in the JJ factory, with a few tweaks. Why do they both claim "15-20% more headroom". Coincidence?

And, back to my point of people hearing things different, every amp I've owned, (literally), sounded better when I yanked stock Chinese power tubes. Some rant and rave about Ruby EL34BSTR's, BHT's, and other Chinese variants, I hate them. My Splawn came with Valve Arts EL34's, and JJ KT77's were a huge improvement.

 

[skullfxr]

I like E34L's in my JSX. A little different but it kicks all kinds of ass.

Tung-Sol makes a great EL34, i have them in a few amps. IMO it's worth the price.

Thank you for the replies.

I have been sick the past couple of days and just got back to toob fiending this morning...


Bob at Euro-tubes published an article about not using EL34L's in a JSX because of screen resistors blowing or something. Don't know if there is any truth to this but it kind of made not want to go down that route. Any thoughts on that article?

I have ran them in there for quite a while I will do a little research. If you don't mind dropping that link I would appreciate it. Definitely trust him over me. Lol. But I have ran it hard with E34L's and had no problems.

Honestly it sounds so damn good if there is legitimacy to it, I will up the screen resistors in spec. It's worth it to me.

Does the same apply to KT77's? I thought they drew even more than E34L's.

 

[napalmdeath]

I like E34L's in my JSX. A little different but it kicks all kinds of ass.

Tung-Sol makes a great EL34, i have them in a few amps. IMO it's worth the price.

Thank you for the replies.

I have been sick the past couple of days and just got back to toob fiending this morning...


Bob at Euro-tubes published an article about not using EL34L's in a JSX because of screen resistors blowing or something. Don't know if there is any truth to this but it kind of made not want to go down that route. Any thoughts on that article?

I have ran them in there for quite a while I will do a little research. If you don't mind dropping that link I would appreciate it. Definitely trust him over me. Lol. But I have ran it hard with E34L's and had no problems.

Honestly it sounds so damn good if there is legitimacy to it, I will up the screen resistors in spec. It's worth it to me.

Does the same apply to KT77's? I thought they drew even more than E34L's.

KT77's work fine. It was said that Peavey upgraded SGR's in models past 2004.

 

[skullfxr]

So post 2004 is safe with E34L's? Right now just in case I am going to throw EL34's and do some more research. I am a bit spooked. I may just put better SGR's in it anyways.

 

[Ventura]

BTW, Where is everybody getting thier tubesfrom these days? I really have not bought power tubes in a long while, but I used to get stuff from Doug's tubes...

Usually www.thetubestore.com - Jon & Crew know their tubes, they're straight up no BS, and they've honoured prematurely blown bottles that weren't even warrantied... This may be because they know what I'm doing and I've used them for many years, but I've also heard from others that if something goes sideways, they're on it FAST.

And speaking of "fast", their delivery time is uncanny. As in..."fast".

 

[skullfxr]

i have never used doug's but i haven't heard anything overly great.

antique electric and tube depot i have never had problems with. i have bought likely over 100 tubes from tube depot, mainly new production stuff, mostly JJ and tung sol and haven't ever had a problem with a bad tube or a bad match. they are the cheapest for JJECC83's, and frequently have good sales on them.

if i go NOS and big bucks i recommend antique electric. i trust their testing and honest wholeheartedly.

saying that i have ordered a few NOS pres from tube depot and haven't had a problem, but i think antique electric has more of a solid reputation on NOS hence why i generally buy NOS there.

 

[Ventura]

Everybody hears things differently, many would disagree with "boomy, mud, crap, suck". I'm just saying, it's still made in the JJ factory, with a few tweaks. Why do they both claim "15-20% more headroom". Coincidence?

And, back to my point of people hearing things different, every amp I've owned, (literally), sounded better when I yanked stock Chinese power tubes. Some rant and rave about Ruby EL34BSTR's, BHT's, and other Chinese variants, I hate them. My Splawn came with Valve Arts EL34's, and JJ KT77's were a huge improvement.

And lest we forget the mighty PI tube and what comes before it. The phase inverter has changed the character of my powertubes in more instances than not. I'll be running X-brand powertubes, ya ya, cool, okay, start rolling different PIs and sometimes it goes to shit or shazam, same PTs.

It's alchemy man...those little bottles from the start of V1 right out the end of the last powertube all work in tandem.

As an aside - I've got a tech who's worked on some of my amps with troublesomely high pV rates and the last time was with a Rev.2, he plunked some EHX in there stating they were the most resilient to the extreme pV - I asked him about the "New Sensor all the same" concept and he said "same company, but slight variations in the bottles themselves". Fair enough, and this guy's worked on a lot of big name player's amps.

(Just before this posted I saw something about Doug's... I've heard Doug is hit and miss, and often gives great advice that is truly great, and at other times, gives great advice that's great in him levelling his inventories....ahem. I have bought from him, it was okay, I got what I wanted because no else had what I wanted, and that was that. But haven't used him enough to know for sure his level of consistency. Jon, OTOH, at http://www.thetubestore.com knows his glass and they've been 100% excellent for over 12+ years of me doing business with them).