Tube Rolling - Splawn Nitro

[PDC]

So, some time ago, I owned a 100 Watt Splawn QR and a Nitro. For reasons that aren’t relevant here, I opted for 50 Watt versions of each amp after Scott offered the ‘Fully Loaded’ versions with the Old/New switch and the Mid Cut/Boost Switch. I got the Fully Loaded QR first and was literally blown away. It just sounded so much ‘better’ than my older 100 Watt QR in every way. And with the switches, I could dial in the mids from very aggressive and traditional to very scooped and modern. It was, is and always will be my #1 ‘keeper’ amp. So after selling both 100 watt variants (QR and Nitro) and having such a great experience with the QR, I ordered a Fully Loaded 50 Watt Nitro. For some reason, I did not immediately ‘bond‘ with the new Nitro the way I did with the older 100 watt Nitro. The older one would literally do anything and everything from VH-II to Sykes Whitesnake and everything in between. The lows on the new amp were always a bit loose and difficult to control, and the mids always sounded a bit ‘boxy’ to my ears. So, today, I rolled multiple pairs of tubes through the new 50 Watt Nitro and set Bias for every pair. I found that this amp flat LOVES JJ EL34-II power tubes. (I am running EH Gold Preamp Tubes). After getting idle bias settled in at 33 (knowing that it will drift upward during loud playing) and firing her up, I was blown away. This amp has EVERYTHING my previous 100 Watt Nitro had plus so much more with the ‘Fully Loaded’ switch options. I practically couldn’t stop playing. Lows are super firm and articulate without being overbearing, mids are full without being ‘boxy’ and highs are smooth and glassy without being harsh or brash. I’ve gotta get some sort of representative recording of this amp uploaded. It kills. So, if you have an amp that you ‘like’ but do not necessarily ‘love’ - make sure you roll several sets of tubes through it before resorting to the auction block. That’s all I got for today.

 

[glpg80]

Cliiiiips

 

[311boogieman]

Yeah man.

You turned me onto the JJ EL34 II

I think they sound great in my QR (happens to be a half power = 50w) and we play different styles so that should tell you something.

Awesome man I think I remember you saying this was bugging you.

 

[PDC]

Yeah man.

You turned me onto the JJ EL34 II

I think they sound great in my QR (happens to be a half power = 50w) and we play different styles so that should tell you something.

Awesome man I think I remember you saying this was bugging you.

I ‘thought’ I had settled on the Groove Tube E34LS for the Nitro - which is pretty close to the JJE34L. It didn’t sound ‘bad’ by any means, but the amp just threw too much low end and there was something kind of ‘stale’ in the midrange that I just could not dial out. I really noticed these differences playing back to back with the QR. Also - to be clear - both my 4x12s are loaded with 20 watt G12EVH, which provide a bunch of speaker compression. I may find the Nitro with the E34Ls would be perfect with higher wattage, firmer speakers. But for the sounds I’m chasing now, the E34L was just compounding the low end that the Nitro already has and the EL34-II really lets the amp breathe.

 

[Zado]

I ‘thought’ I had settled on the Groove Tube E34LS for the Nitro - which is pretty close to the JJE34L. It didn’t sound ‘bad’ by any means, but the amp just threw too much low end and there was something kind of ‘stale’ in the midrange that I just could not dial out. I really noticed these differences playing back to back with the QR. Also - to be clear - both my 4x12s are loaded with 20 watt G12EVH, which provide a bunch of speaker compression. I may find the Nitro with the E34Ls would be perfect with higher wattage, firmer speakers. But for the sounds I’m chasing now, the E34L was just compounding the low end that the Nitro already has and the EL34-II really lets the amp breathe.

Yep, the JJE34L is overflowing with low end. I have those in my Yeti and I know how you feel, at times sounds like too much... Also, not sure if Groove version is somehow similar, but tho they are indee aggressive power tubes there's a softness in the highs that makes you feel like there's some bite missing. Curious to hear those EL34-II..do these have some more bark?

 

[PDC]

Yep, the JJE34L is overflowing with low end. I have those in my Yeti and I know how you feel, at times sounds like too much... Also, not sure if Groove version is somehow similar, but tho they are indee aggressive power tubes there's a softness in the highs that makes you feel like there's some bite missing. Curious to hear those EL34-II..do these have some more bark?

To me, the JJ El34-II is one of the few products in the world that actually lives up to manufacturer’s hype. When I think of most garden variety EL34s, I can hear limited and sometimes soft bass, pronounced and sometimes boxy mids, and somewhat strident or harsh highs. The EL34-II is the EL34, but ‘better’ - firm thump in the low end without being woofy, full mids without being boxy, and clear, glassy highs without being harsh. I am re-thinking everything I thought I knew about EL34 Tube variants. The JJ EL34-II just sounds fantastic in any / every head that I have rolled them through. And if you buy matched pairs and quartets from Eurotubes, they literally settle in within 1-2 mA of each other at idle bias.

 

[Bash_Man]

Bahhhh.. you guys are killing me. LOL. I've been wanting to try these JJ EL34-II tubes in my Nitro. Resisting the pay button right now. LOL