So what are great sounding EL34's and 12ax7's these days?

DaveFx · Post by **DaveFx** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 1:52 pm

I know this rehashing an old issue, but what are some good EL34's and 12ax7's?
I've been using the Sovtec EL34WXT's for awhile and I guess they sound pretty good, but not having been in the position to compare other brands, and I'm getting ready to re-tube my plexi re-issue, and wanted to try something else.

Any thoughts are appreciated,

Thanks in advance... Dave

flemingmras · Post by **flemingmras** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 1:55 pm

The JJ E34L is the ube of choice for me and most of the players on this forum.

They make a EL34 and an E34L. The difference is the more aggressive midrange character with the E34Ls. WAY COOL! I won't use any other!

Jon

DaveFx · Post by **DaveFx** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 2:05 pm

Do you mean Tesla?

Post by **VelvetGeorge** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 5:46 pm

JJ and Tesla are the same company now.

George

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 6:07 pm

DaveFx wrote:I know this rehashing an old issue, but what are some good EL34's and 12ax7's?
I've been using the Sovtec EL34WXT's for awhile and I guess they sound pretty good, but not having been in the position to compare other brands, and I'm getting ready to re-tube my plexi re-issue, and wanted to try something else.

Any thoughts are appreciated,

Thanks in advance... Dave

Another avid JJ fan here. I have E34L's and 12AX7S tubes in my SuperLead. No other way!

rjgtr · Post by **rjgtr** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 9:58 pm

I think the best sounding EL34s are made by SED and JJ. It's really a matter of personal taste. The JJ EL34 model is best if you want early break up. The JJ E34L model is best when you want the most clean headroom. The SEDs are somewhere in between with a nice warm sound.

For 12ax7s, I think the best made today are from JJ, Ruby (Chinese - no kidding) and my favorite is the Groove Tubes GT12AX7-M. In a Marshall I tend to like the combination of GT12ax7-Ms with JJs. In my DSL 401 I use 2 and 2. In my 1987x I use one GT in V1 and JJs in V2-3.

white room · Post by **white room** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:36 pm

I like the JJ E34Ls for there tight and focused mids and they have a little more low end than the JJEL34s and they are louder as well.

I switch back and forth between the two just because I think they both have unique qualities. Right now they are the only tubes I will use because the EL34s seem to come really close to the sound of the stock Teslas that came in my SLP R/I back in 93. They break up early and have a nice,warm tone to them.

I finally got a chance to just sit down and play last night since I put the 68 board in my amp. I swapped back and forth from a set of older Svets, JJEL34s and JJE34Ls.. The nice thing about this 68 PTP is that you can really hear the difference between the sets of tubes. The Svets and JJEL34s gave a Judas Priest early 80s type of sound and the E34Ls had a kind of late 60s tone to my ears, which I prefer. I have always liked the JJE34Ls but I love them now with this new PTP board.

BTW: These Sozo caps are a night and day difference to the caps on the PC board. They are sweet.

Metropoulos Forum

So what are great sounding EL34's and 12ax7's these days?

So what are great sounding EL34's and 12ax7's these days?

Re: So what are great sounding EL34's and 12ax7's these days