QUIZ!! What kind of tube is this? came stock in my Herbie

  • Thread starter Thread starter mad-axeman
  • Start date Start date
M
mad-axeman
New member
Hey everyone,

As you may or may not have read in my previous post, the time came to re-tube my Herbert for the first time. It was purchased new in 2006, and is the older version (no external bias points).

I went ahead with Peter's recommendation of the SED =C= EL34s, and don't actually like them as much as the originals. The problem is, I don't believe they were Ruby EL34s as is the common perception; they obviously look like Tube Amp Doctors. I guess they're EL34s as well but I can't find them anywhere by searching for TAD EL34s.

If anyone can identify this tube for me, and tell me where I can purchase them, I would be extremely grateful!!!


IMG_2757.jpg
 
mad-axeman":24nlh8c3 said:
Hey everyone,

As you may or may not have read in my previous post, the time came to re-tube my Herbert for the first time. It was purchased new in 2006, and is the older version (no external bias points).

I went ahead with Peter's recommendation of the SED =C= EL34s, and don't actually like them as much as the originals. The problem is, I don't believe they were Ruby EL34s as is the common perception; they obviously look like Tube Amp Doctors. I guess they're EL34s as well but I can't find them anywhere by searching for TAD EL34s.

If anyone can identify this tube for me, and tell me where I can purchase them, I would be extremely grateful!!!


IMG_2757.jpg

EL34B-STR Chinese/Shuguang. You can get it from Magic Parts. They also
have a more reliable version with the same sound: EL34BHT
 
Damn, one step forward and one step back! :lol: :LOL:

Peter, I can't find those anywhere, and Magic Parts doesn't ship to customers, only dealers.

What to do, what to do?
 
Doug @ Doug's tubes said that that picture is of a 6L6 for sure, not an EL34. He says they carry the Ruby 6L6GCM-STR which does indeed look identical to my old tube.

Obviously Peter knows what he's talking about, but so does Doug. Who's right here? Doug stated that the pin count is a dead give-away, with my tube having 6 pins, ruling out an EL34 right off the bat. He states that 6L6s have 6 pins (like mine) and that EL34s have either 7 or 8.

I must agree that my tube does look exactly the same as this:

ruby6l6.jpg


Peter, what do you say? I'm also a bit confused regarding your suggested bias settings for the EL34s and 6L6s. How can the bias range be the same since they both have different plate dissipation? Using the weber bias calculator would yield different ranges for the 2 different types of tubes, would they not?

Stu
 
Sorry, but we never used 6L6 on stock Herberts.
This is an EL34BSTR, if I´m not drunken.
 
Peter Diezel":38tganck said:
Sorry, but we never used 6L6 on stock Herberts.
This is an EL34BSTR, if I´m not drunken.


Doug stated that the pin count is a dead give-away, with my tube having 6 pins, ruling out an EL34 right off the bat. He states that 6L6s have 6 pins (like mine) and that EL34s have either 7 or 8.

Peter, what do you say? I'm also a bit confused regarding your suggested bias settings for the EL34s and 6L6s. How can the bias range be the same since they both have different plate dissipation? Using the weber bias calculator would yield different ranges for the 2 different types of tubes, would they not?


Doug also stated that using 6L6s was unusual for Diezel too! He asked if I bought it new and I did indeed. I bought it from Eddie's Guitars in St. Louis, MO. I spoke with them and they insist that they never change tubes out and haven't sold any used Herberts.

I am soooo confused
 
Thats a Chinese 6L6(Shuguang/Sino, Ruby, Mesa str440, tall bottle TAD, blah blah blah), the holes in the gray plates are round, in the EL34B's the holes are rectangular as well as the whole getter structure on top of the EL34B is much more massive(bigger "wings" on the structure on top of the plates). What may have happened is Eddies may have special ordered it for someone and they wanted 6L6 instead but backed out of their order. Something happened between them getting it and you recieving it, Nathan and the guys at Eddies are standup people so I'm sure they're telling you the truth. Who knows maybe the original tubes broke in travel and that's all Salwender had to replace them with at the time, I dunna?

Later on,

-Nick
 
Hey Nick! Thanks for your response.

I agree 100% with your assessment. You and Doug both brought up the same points actually. Seems pretty clear that they are not EL34s at this point.

Nathan suggested calling Salwender to solve the mystery of my 6L6s, and I did leave them a message to call me. But regardless of their origination, I did really like them, so I ordered 6 new ones from Doug.

My thoughts on the SED EL34s were that they sounded OK with rhythms but the leads were a bit thin, and not as warm and round as I had with the 6L6s. Hopefully these new tubes will yield the tone I'm chasing.

Will keep the forum posted on my results.

Stu
 
It seems that I´m ready to get glasses. Just compared it
with the EL34´s and saw that I´m wrong, sorry. If it has
6 pins it´s sure that it is a 6L6.

Btw, give the new EL34BHT a try !
 
Peter Diezel":sn20ylum said:
It seems that I´m ready to get glasses. Just compared it
with the EL34´s and saw that I´m wrong, sorry. If it has
6 pins it´s sure that it is a 6L6.

Btw, give the new EL34BHT a try !

I spoke with the folks over at Magic Parts, and someone will be calling me on Monday to try to get some of the EL34BHTs into my hands.
 
 
Back
Top