Thinking about re-tubing my Roadster

[ElectricTurkey4369]

I can't make up my mind...

Tung Sol EL34B's
SED EL34's or
RUBY EL34BSTR's

any opinions and advice is appreciated

 

[b0nkersx]

I don't know much about the SED, but:

I think the Ruby EL34 is the same as a Mesa EL34, and
The Tung Sol EL34B has a pretty solid low end, especially for an EL34.

 

[KH Guitar Freak]

I love the Winged C 6L6s in mine...

 

[screamingdaisy]

I didn't really like the set of Tung Sol EL34s I had. They weren't all that EL34 sounding... which can be a good or bad thing I suppose.

SED EL34s have generally been considered the best new production tubes for the last number of years.

I think Mesa's EL34s are still EHX, although I could be wrong as I don't have one handy to do a comparison with.

I have Mesa EL34s and SED EL34s on hand, and honestly, I like both.

 

[iceman]

Nothin to compare against but I have no complaints with Mesa branded el34s. Cleans are still great ch3 is much better IMHO

 

[ElectricTurkey4369]

I didn't really like the set of Tung Sol EL34s I had. They weren't all that EL34 sounding... which can be a good or bad thing I suppose.

SED EL34s have generally been considered the best new production tubes for the last number of years.

I think Mesa's EL34s are still EHX, although I could be wrong as I don't have one handy to do a comparison with.

I have Mesa EL34s and SED EL34s on hand, and honestly, I like both.

I emailed doug at dougstubes and he said Mesa EL34's are Sovteks. The Ruby's are Shuguang's

 

[screamingdaisy]

I have Mesa EL34s and SED EL34s on hand, and honestly, I like both.

I should add...

When the SED's were cheaper I thought they were a nice upgrade on the stock Mesas. Now that they're more than double the price, I don't think they're quite that good.

That said, I do have both (SED and Mesa), and I do feel that both sound good.

 

[ElectricTurkey4369]

I have Mesa EL34s and SED EL34s on hand, and honestly, I like both.

I should add...

When the SED's were cheaper I thought they were a nice upgrade on the stock Mesas. Now that they're more than double the price, I don't think they're quite that good.

That said, I do have both (SED and Mesa), and I do feel that both sound good.

Well that definitely puts things in perspective. I'm thinking I may give the Ruby's a go.

 

[espboogie123]

I've tried a good amount of 34s. I ended up keeping the SED winged C el34s as backups to my SED winged C 6l6s. The sed 34s sounded killer in my past Peavey JSX.

 

[Neptical]

Winged =C= are definitely my favorite new production tubes. They really do sound to me alot like the older NOS Tesla's that I have, which are also favorites of mine. Totally recommended.

 

[TremoJem]

SED =C= all the way.

I have two Tremoverbs.

One has new SED =C= 6L6s over the Mesa stock and it is getting really sweet.

The other has SED =C= EL34s and after only two hours of play it is sweet already over the stock Mesa tubes.

I might just trade the 6L6s for the EL34s, but I am going to swap tubes between amps to see if it makes any difference.

I thought I was a 6L6 guy until I heard the EL34s. But Robert Hull at TubeDepot SWEARS that the 6L6s will shine at 100 hours of play.

I have to call him and bring him up to date on the comparison of the two different output tubes to get his feedback.

I will let you know.

There is already a thread that deals with the "burn-in" issue of tubes so please do not respond to that here, thanks.

http://www.grailtone.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=53882

 

[ElectricTurkey4369]

SED =C= all the way.

I have two Tremoverbs.

One has new SED =C= 6L6s over the Mesa stock and it is getting really sweet.

The other has SED =C= EL34s and after only two hours of play it is sweet already over the stock Mesa tubes.

I might just trade the 6L6s for the EL34s, but I am going to swap tubes between amps to see if it makes any difference.

I thought I was a 6L6 guy until I heard the EL34s. But Robert Hull at TubeDepot SWEARS that the 6L6s will shine at 100 hours of play.

I have to call him and bring him up to date on the comparison of the two different output tubes to get his feedback.

I will let you know.

There is already a thread that deals with the "burn-in" issue of tubes so please do not respond to that here, thanks.

http://www.grailtone.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=53882

I might give the SED EL34's a go. Im really tempted to try the 6l6's. I haven't had much experience with 6L6's other than the stock ones i had in my old single recto which were terrible...

 

[Neptical]

SED =C= all the way.

I have two Tremoverbs.

One has new SED =C= 6L6s over the Mesa stock and it is getting really sweet.

The other has SED =C= EL34s and after only two hours of play it is sweet already over the stock Mesa tubes.

I might just trade the 6L6s for the EL34s, but I am going to swap tubes between amps to see if it makes any difference.

I thought I was a 6L6 guy until I heard the EL34s. But Robert Hull at TubeDepot SWEARS that the 6L6s will shine at 100 hours of play.

I have to call him and bring him up to date on the comparison of the two different output tubes to get his feedback.

I will let you know.

There is already a thread that deals with the "burn-in" issue of tubes so please do not respond to that here, thanks.

http://www.grailtone.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=53882

I might give the SED EL34's a go. Im really tempted to try the 6l6's. I haven't had much experience with 6L6's other than the stock ones i had in my old single recto which were terrible...

Both the Winged =C= EL34 and 6L6 are top notch.

 

[TremoJem]

O.K., so I talked to Robert Hull at TubeDepot.

Robert said that the EL34s are very easy on the ears, and that it is not a surprise that I quickly recognized they have a great sound.

They allow the guitar to shine because they work in the frequencies most suitable for guitars.

The definition of the mid-range and it's concentration in that area is what makes them perfect for guitar.

The 6L6s are lacking a bit in the mid-range and have more of a low and high range.

I will say that both sets of tubes are very articulate and your ears will have to adjust (maybe that is the burn in...LOL).

I am already making adjustments to the tone controls on my amps to compensate for the change from used Mesa tubes that I replaced with these new SED =C=.

I am really liking these tubes.

 

[droptrd]

The SEDs are great but not worth the price anymore.

My new favorite tube in my Tverb is the Ruby BHT. Great price. They really brought my tverb to life

I tried the Tung Sols years ago in a Rev G and I didnt like them. I always used the JJ E34L in that amp. I recently picked up a set of Tung Sols again and put them in my Mark III - They sound really good in that amp. Much better than the JJs I had in there.

 

[TremoJem]

Interesting.

Where did you get the Ruby BHT?

Why do you no longer the SED line?

What type of sound are you after?

What type of music do you play?

Do you have any experience rolling preamp tubes for your Tremoverb?

I am ALWAYS looking to gain knowledge from Tremoverb owners who have paved the way and have experience with rolling tubes.

It saves me time and money...I think? LOL

 

[screamingdaisy]

JJE34Ls are also a great option for Rectos. They're similar in the mids to an EL34, but retain a lot more of the bottom end.... so you don't get that thin/wimpy response that some Rectos have when you stick a regular EL34 in them.

That said, I can't give any Roadster specific advice on either of those options as I only ran my 2 channel with those tubes.