Advice on EL34's

[the boogie man]

It's time for some new tubes in my JMP. Anybody recommend any modern tubes? I was also thinking about getting some NOS Siemens EL34's (mesa).

I am currently running some Telefunken pres'

thanks

[johniss0001]

I swear by shuguang el34b in all my vintage amps. Loud proud with lots of headroom and they sound big and I like big sounds in my amps. The el34b is not a true el34 so I would look at the el34A. I will say the el34B can handle higher voltages than a standard el34 and they are rated over 30 watts per valve if memory serves me correct.

Winged C are another fantastic valve (not used them personally)

People dig jj e34ls I don't had bad experiences with them I have had 1 quad die in less than 5hrs and the other quad started to go microphonic

[54strat]

Lots of people like Winged C...until they doubled their price a couple years ago. I used them for a few years and liked them a lot. Then I tried the new JJ big bottle 6CA7 and so far those are doing great!

[demonufo]

I was also thinking about getting some NOS Siemens EL34's (mesa).

Hey, if you can get a supply of genuine STR450 Mesa EL34's (RFT) then I can highly recommend them. Mesa were always pretty good at testing their tubes, and the RFT's (Siemens were just a rebrand of RFT EL34's) are pretty darned rugged. There are a lot of not-so-great later RFT's about, and the Mesa STR450 is one sure-fire way of avoiding the crap-shoot if you can get them.

I find Telefunken pre's a little sterile for my tastes, especially in V1. Good solid phase inverters though.

Failing the RFT's, I'd go winged C for EL34's, despite the cost. They do seem to last longer than other modern tubes too.

[Setneck]

You may also try to find some NOS Tesla '33' or '37'. Hard to find them in good price but they sound great IMO in Marshall circuits. They were stock tubes before the factory was closed. I use them for recordings (=C='s for everyday use).

Regards, Andy

[master keeper]

I swear by shuguang el34b in all my vintage amps. Loud proud with lots of headroom and they sound big

I find them a bit too flat sounding for my taste. I'd go for some nice '70s RFT (the ones you call siemens). They're not overly expensive for old stock tubes and they do sound better than anything of modern mfg.

[stef]

JJ EL34 (not 34L) - very reliable so far (6 months biased hot with the dime'd amp)
eh6ca7 - I have a new quad, didn't try them yet. Judging from the clips here they sound really good, maybe the best sounding modern tubes...

[Hthomas]

I really dig the ruby el34bstr's. Switched to them from JJs

[Big Mike]

Nos Siemens (RFT) or Tesla brown base from Tube Tramp or Gregg Levy are my choices.

The new 'mullards' aren't too shabby all things considered, anxious to try the Tungsol ,but for the dough, the Siemens and Tesla last much longer and sound great. (Tesla being brighter)