Help me pick an EL34 type valve

[Keven]

Hello!

tax returns means BKP's and new power valve so i'm in the market for a pair of EL34 type power valves.

my amp is a traynor YCS100H2. usually runs on a quad of EL34's but i removed two tubes. it has a power switch that cuts plate voltage by half and increases plate current. same plate dissipation but i guess it gives it a browner sound? anyway, it makes the amp run at about 15-18 watts which is plenty of distorted power for me. (usual b+ is around 500V. ''half power'' switch makes it run at around 238-ish. i need to measure again with my bias-rite)

i like the sound it gives me on two tubes so I'll just buy a pair. I'm hesitating between three types currently.

the guy at the tube store.com recommended me a JJ KT77. I've been reading some praise about =(C)= EL34 as well. I'm a bit afraid they would be a bit too clean for my liking. Tung-Sol EL34's seem to be getting great reviews too.

i want mids. lots of it. even with the mid cranked on full on my amp and a post distortion EQ which boosts mids,(around the 500hz range) i feel like i don't have enough. the treble on my amp is also a bit piercing, i'd like something just as present, but with a smoother top end. since i run the amp at about 3/4th volume i do get the power tubes working a bit. it needs to handle bottom end too since i play with 7 and soon 8 string guitars.

what are your experiences? also, with this type of b+ voltage, do i still aim at 60-65% plate dissipation? (which would be a whooping Plate Current of 70ish mA instead of 25 ish at 500V) what's the trick behind that power switch? just a simple center tap at the transformer or does it make the tube run as a triode instead of a pentode?

thanks for the ever helpful success/horror stories as well :D

[sgmypod]

http://www.hotroxuk.com/groove-tube-el34m-10970-0.html
these are great great sound break up is very toneful
remake of the famed mullard x2 dual getters

[PhilKing]

I would stay away from KT77's!  They are the demon seed of EL34s and 6L6's and really don't sound like either. The Winged C's are great, and I've been using an old set of Groove Tubes in my Silver Jubilee for years - thay have a great sound.

[HTH AMPS]

http://www.hotroxuk.com/groove-tube-el34m-10970-0.html
these are great great sound break up is very toneful
remake of the famed mullard x2 dual getters

I've been meaning to try some of those and also the Mullard-labelled EL34s that have been available for a while now.

I'll be interested to hear your thoughts if you buy some.

[sgmypod]

http://www.hotroxuk.com/groove-tube-el34m-10970-0.html
these are great great sound break up is very toneful
remake of the famed mullard x2 dual getters

well worth the money....

I've been meaning to try some of those and also the Mullard-labelled EL34s that have been available for a while now.

I'll be interested to hear your thoughts if you buy some.

[Keven]

Groove Tubes are well regarded then? now you're getting me thinking.

and this certainly shows that so far thetubestore hasn't been very spot on in their recommendations.

it's a fight between groove tubes and winged c then. I'll have to shoot doug at doug's tubes an email to see what he thinks

[Denim n Leather]

Groove Tubes are generally excellent quality.

=C= is the closest to a modern-made Mullard you can find.

"Mullard" Branded Russian tubes are cr@p. This includes Electro-Harmonix, Tung-Sol and TAD (tho Chinese).

KT77s are terrible !!

Depending on how much space you have in your amp, you may wanna look into the 6CA7. It's a replacement for the EL34 that has a bigger bottle and a bit more bass push, and less of a midrange 'beam' from the the EL34.

[Keven]

what do you mean by less midrange beam? scoopier or less scooped? I'm mostly set on the winged c since it's the one i can get the easiest, but you more knowledge is power!

i have alot of space to spare too.

[Denim n Leather]

Cup your hands around your mouth and say something. That is an extreme case of midrange beaming.

[sgmypod]

Groove Tubes are generally excellent quality.

=C= is the closest to a modern-made Mullard you can find.

"Mullard" Branded Russian tubes are cr@p. This includes Electro-Harmonix, Tung-Sol and TAD (tho Chinese).
hang on the GTube  is a direct copy of the mullard x2 dual getter

KT77s are terrible !!

Depending on how much space you have in your amp, you may wanna look into the 6CA7. It's a replacement for the EL34 that has a bigger bottle and a bit more bass push, and less of a midrange 'beam' from the the EL34.

[_tom_]

Svetlana Winged Cs sound great to me.

[HTH AMPS]

don't buy any EH 6CA7s - I've got some and they're quite flat sounding and boring.  its like taking an EL34 and removing everything thats good about them.  the EH 6CA7 is a really dark sounding valve.

otoh, if you can find some NOS 6CA7s, you're talking a completely different kettle of fish.  I've got a pair of NOS Sylvania 6CA7s (yes, the same ones EVH is reputed to have used in his plexi) and they're a perfect blend of EL34 aggression and the bigger, tighter bass of a 6L6.

as for current production KT77s - the JJ ones sound just like their E34L (uninspiring, imo).

you might consider some KT66s to replace your EL34s; depending on the plate voltage in your amp.  they made your amp sound 'bigger', thats the only way I can describe it - they rule!

[Keven]

I pulled the trigger on a quad of Winged C's from my local amp tech. a pair for now, and a pair for later, since i have money to spare now and don't want to be stuck having to buy tubes when i'm broke!

thanks for all the advice!