Trying EL34's again. Need suggestions.

[Nitrobattery]

Thinking about trying EL34's again. Looking for something tight and percussive with a smooth top end. I've tried Tung-Sol EL34b's in the past and really liked them. Anyone else have any suggestions? They'd be going into a boosted 3 channel Triple Recto.

 

[dearco19]

What about the Mesa EL34 tubes?? Have you tried or heard something about them?? I'm about to buy 2 duets but this is my first time. I have used only the TAD's EL34B STR and sounds great at high volume (gigs). Also I have read that the Mullard tubes kick ***! Check the reviews in the following link:
http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/Mullard/Mullard-EL34

 

[Nick Lehman]

When I bought my 97' Triple Rec it had Ruby EL34's in it. I loved the tone so much that I never I tried 6L6, also partly due to the colder bias on the 6L6 setting. Of course mine is a two Channel so there might be a slight tonal difference.

Two months ago I was looking into changing the power tubes and called up Eurotubes. I told them i wanted el34 tone but with more balls. Turned me onto the KT77, & I will never look back. Turned it into a monster!

6 of them cost me about $130 but worth every penny. They will give you the right grade to get you amp running hot like it should be.

Right now I am just using the power section though. I use An orange th30 but tap the loop and run it into the return on the Mesa. So i get orange tone with 150 watts of pure muscle. Its heaven, boosted and put through a marshall 1960 with v30/t75 x pattern. Use a cheap agile 7 string with a duncan distortion, tuned to drop b.

Sounds so close to Downs tone but with a bit more low end.

JJ KT77 for the win!

 

[MuntedFunkster]

+1 on the KT77s!

I revalved my Series 1 Road King with a quad of SED Winged C 6L6GC, and a duet of Genalex KT77s for the EL34 sockets.. I run a pair of 6L6 and a pair of KT77s on the red and orange channel in vintage and modern modes ... monster tone! \m/

 

[ryjan]

+1 for the Mesa tubes.
I just bought a matching quad of both 6L6 and EL34 Mesa tubes from Sweetwater and the EL34's make my Roadster track a lot faster and tighter.

 

[bandit2013]

Gold Lion KT77 are incredible tubes if you get then selected for the bias of your amp. I have a quad I use in my Mark V, they are pricey though and nearly cost as much as SED =C= EL34's. SED =C= EL34 were tops in my RA100 but supply is limited due to out of production. I decided to buy my last set and hope they perform as good as the one's I have now. (beware that there are many places selling 2nd quality for the same price) Also note: SED EL34 tubes use a larger glass bottle (actually same size as the GL KT77), larger than typical EL34 but smaller than a 6L6.

I have heard good things about the Tung Sol el34B but have not tried them myself. Not yet anyway.

Ruby EL34BHT will sound similar to a 6L6GC. I have a quad that I tried out in my RA100, not bad but not great either (just does not compare to the SED =C=.) However, I may give them a shot in the Roadster since the overall tone of that amp is quite different than the Mark V or RA100.

I have tried Tung Sol 7581 (basically used them up in the Mark V but they still in good working order) not an EL34 type but they did sound great in the Roadster. I may consider the Tung Sol EL34B sooner or later.

From left to right, Ruby EL34B (same diameter of 6L6 tube, also taller), KT77, SED=C=, EH, Mesa.

 

[bandit2013]

Don't waste your time with the Ruby EL34BHT, they did not impress me in the Roadster.
Best options would be Mesa EL34, KT77 or SED =c=EL34. So far I have yet to discover a tube that is better than the =c=.

 

[bandit2013]

Recently got a quad of Mullard EL34 for my RA100 and so far I am loving them.

 

[Jorn218]

I would like to try =C= EL34's but haven't they stopped making glass?

 

[Elpelotero]

yes. You can however find some in some online tube stores for $$$, or go on eBay. It's also the same tube as the Mesa Str 442, which is out of production but can be found on eBay at times

 

[Jorn218]

Whoa these people are smoking some major crack asking those prices. Recent production tubes in similar price ranges of real Mullards? I guess I don't need to try them that bad. I could understand maybe $125-150, but $489? nyet!!!

 

[Shemham]

You could order TAD EL34-SVT tubes. They're relabelled Svetlana Winged =C= and you can have a matched quartet for ~$200.