Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: sgmypod on October 06, 2009, 08:47:30 PM

Title: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: sgmypod on October 06, 2009, 08:47:30 PM

Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?..please help

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: Pete24v on October 06, 2009, 09:30:56 PM

JJ or Svetlana Winged C from Hotrox in Nottingham.

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: MDV on October 06, 2009, 09:34:44 PM

I quite like the JJ, but my experience of EL34s is far from extensive; only had one such amp.

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: Will on October 06, 2009, 10:19:01 PM

In my experience, JJ's are a bit sharper, and Svet winged C's are grainier. What is the amps natural characteristic? and what sound are you looking for?
FWIW I prefer the JJs in my old JMP master Vol

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: Twinfan on October 06, 2009, 10:46:53 PM

Quote from: Pete24v on October 06, 2009, 09:30:56 PM

JJ or Svetlana Winged C from Hotrox in Nottingham.

Couldn't agree more.  That's what and where I'd be looking if I still had any EL34 amps  :)

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: Matt77 on October 06, 2009, 11:19:57 PM

The 2 Mullards I'm about to put on e-bay. No idea what condition as I have no testing kit but one appears unused  :)

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: Oli on October 06, 2009, 11:20:55 PM

Regular Svetlana for me, eBay the place :)

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: HTH AMPS on October 07, 2009, 12:13:57 AM

Winged-C- are the best current production EL34s, imo.

You would be best off spending a little more and finding some old stock Siemens EL34s - REALLY nice.

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: JamesHealey on October 07, 2009, 08:15:40 AM

Groove Tubes EL34M
Winged =C= EL34
JJ/Tesla EL34 (NOT E34L this is a different tube that sounds poopy)

that's the order for me in terms of quality of tone, I buy from hotroxuk.

I personally buy NOS Mullard XF2 Dual Getters from a friend in canada who has over 100 of them stock piled.

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: Dmoney on October 07, 2009, 09:41:34 AM

I use jj when I change. But right now my soldano has winged c and my uber has ruby el34. Maybe I got those mixed up. Anyone tried kt77 in el34 amp?

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: sgmypod on October 07, 2009, 09:44:30 AM

twinfan what valves you have in your amps at moment

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: _tom_ on October 07, 2009, 09:44:50 AM

Winged Cs improved the sound of my Laney quite a bit, less fizz and graininess.

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: sgmypod on October 07, 2009, 09:52:07 AM

is there just one type or more winged c's

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: _tom_ on October 07, 2009, 11:33:06 AM

Mine are Svetlana I think.

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: Twinfan on October 07, 2009, 05:13:05 PM

Quote from: sgmypod on October 07, 2009, 09:44:30 AM

twinfan what valves you have in your amps at moment

Relic Deluxe - JJ 6L6s and JJ ECC83s
Orion - Shuguang and Golden Lion KT-66s, JJ ECC83s
M45/100 - Shuguang KT-66s, (old) Mazda and (new) Tungsol ECC83s
M45 - Shuguang KT-66s, JJ ECC83s

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: sgmypod on October 07, 2009, 07:39:10 PM

have some gt kt66hp....whats sound differences between el34's and these say

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: Twinfan on October 07, 2009, 08:35:18 PM

KT-66s are much warmer, especially at lower volumes.  They're smoother too.

EL34s need to be wound up otherwise they sound a bit harsh and cold.  They're great cranked though, really punchy and cutting.

All in my opinion of course!

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: sgmypod on October 07, 2009, 08:41:14 PM

tried the kt66 but running way too hot on this bias circuit...the mullard el34's yeah sound great when pushed

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: HairyChris on October 08, 2009, 10:21:02 PM

Winged Cs in my Diezel.

Blew the a**e out of the TADs that I replaced. Lots of balls & great for gainy stuff.

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: hunter on October 12, 2009, 06:54:48 PM

My experience:

=C=s are great tubes for all things rock

I love the Ruby EL34BHT in my XTC

The New Sensor Mullards are so - so (they sound a bit boring)

NOS RFTs are awesome, but they can be bright in a bright amp

JJKT77 are over hyped. I don't like them at all.

Bottom line:
For a bright amp with very high plate voltage, EL34BHTs from Ruby are a good match (and their matching is top).
Everything else, I would go for =C=s. For matching, quality and support I buy from Dougstubes in the US.

Special tip from Larry (Larry's amps): The =C=s sound almost like a real good NOS tube, when thy are biased hotter (78-82%).

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: jimh on October 12, 2009, 11:12:44 PM

Hotrox and Watford Valves are the places to be when buying valves.  Speak to Derek at Watford Valves,  seriously knows his onions.  If you describe your amp he'll point you towards some decent valves suited to what you are trying to achieve.

Jim

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: sgmypod on October 13, 2009, 02:54:17 PM

have gone for the Groove tubes el34m supposed to be a good copy of the mullard x2 dual getters....

Title: Re: Best (not silly priced)EL34's and were to buy?
Post by: sgmypod on October 14, 2009, 12:16:45 PM

These el34m's are exactly what I wanted articulate..and break up sweatly