Shiva users and Winged C's

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What is everyone using in their Shiva Running EL34s now that SED are stopping manufacturing and the tubes out there appear to be lower quality?
 
Ruby EL34 BHT's is what Bogner himself told me he's going to be putting them in all the new Shivas and more of his ams. I've heard nothing but good things about them. And as many know, the Chinese are steppin up their game on pickup making. Even the Shug's (Chinese) preamp tubes are sounding great now days, just might be why many boutique makers like Bogner, Freidman, and Splawn are using Chinese tubes it their expensive $2000-4000K amps. You can either order a couple sets from CE Dist. A
and find the best matched set, or order from Dougs Tubes, he's pretty much king of the best screened, tested, and reliable tubes from Ruby.
 
My 20th Shiva has had JJ tubes since day one because I find this amp sounds and feels by far the best with JJs. Much richer, thicker, chewier and punchier wit all JJs. I use E34Ls and the punch and feel is insane! I bias at about 32mA.
 
am a chinese myself... but yet i have heard shuguang El34 that causes one of the electrolytic cap to burst in the supply section... was told that its a rebranded tube and we all know and trust rubys and GT etc for their quality screening and reliability... but still imo a chinese made tube still has ways to improve on their quality ... i could go chinese for 12ax7 but for power tubes i still dare not taking the risk... i still go for more reliable brands of tube like gold lion KT77 or new reissues ...
 
wow who told you that, about the power tubes? I was told from doug's tubes and KCA and Myles Rose - to buy the RubyEL34BHT for my Bogner XTC. I think all the new tubes out there are a problem right now but, these Ruby el34's are supposed to be very good. I do love the Ruby preamp tubes too.
 
I hated the Winged C EL34s. No balls or punch! The JJ EL34s and E34Ls kill them!

Been running JJ E34Ls for the last year with no issues, biased at 32mA.
 
I have been emailing Charlie at Bogner. They said the TAD EL34s are a good choice as are JJs. I tried the TAD, but I found it weak and lacking guts, just like the Ruby. I hate the Ruby EL34s. I like either the JJEL34, JJE34L and JJKT77 depending on my mood. The JJs handle the plate voltage as good as the SED and Ruby tubes. They sound much better as well! :)

Funny thing is, at the recent NAAM, most Bogners had JJ power tubes.

All my amps use JJs pre and power. I much prefer JJs in everything and they handle the plate voltage well. I emailed Bogner and they are fine with it as well.

The JJs kill the Winged Cs for tone and punch!!!
 
I actually found a matched quad of SED =C= EL34's of mine in our old bands jam house in my giggin backpack. They were brand new for my Mark V and took them to gigs as spears. These are from Dougs about 5 years when SED was THE SHIT. Everyone know what you buy now is the last of their defective, changed parts, or just not top QC in last 2 years. These DO blow away any modern EL34 and I think many will agree hands down. Not talking about the ones you got from Tube Repo in the last 2 years. the ones that were made when the company was still rock solid. Can't WAIT to pop these babies in some EL34 amps, especially the Shiva. Two pairs should last me a very long time!

Only way to buy the real deals now is the Black lables SED made around early 2000's. Cause I just dont trust the tubes after what all I heard about people getting bad tubes in the last two years.

Don't worry....the Chinese are working harder and smarter at this tube dilemma everyday and I think the Ruby (Chinese) Sino-Shug (ALL THE SAME) EL34's are the best current "evenly" tone'd tube out today. Ruby BHT's or Vavle Arts, all the same but robust and quality. Either that or drop $150 on some NOS EL34. Never liked JJ. Sounds too mushy and not tight enough. Not horrible though but not nearly as good as even the EH El34s.
 
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