Which EL34 for RV50

[Ronnie Robinson]

Ok so my Power tubes in my RV50 are 3 years old and I think well past their best, so Ive been considering which brand to replace them with - this is the first time I've done so.

Ive used EHX EL34s before in my Rocker and thought they sounded great so thats certainly a consideration but Im intrigued by the Tungsol Power Tubes - is anyone using those? if so what do you think?

Ive used Harma and JJ EL84s in another amp but never EL34s. Both sounded good but the JJ E34L is advertised as a 'high grade' option but is still the cheapest at about £4 a tube less. Is anyone using either of these

If you've replaced your tubes in your RV which brand was your favourite?


If I was going to make a decision, at the minute I would probably go with the Harma's or just because Im curious , the Tungsol

Cheers

[Bensnake]

I've always had JJ's in my guitar amps. Never experimented with different brands as I've done in my hifi amps. I talked to the tech who's fixing my RV at the moment and he always uses EHX and I said "fine, go for it if tube swapping is needed". Maybe I'll regret that... Well, we'll see.

[MikeD]

I've always had JJ's in my guitar amps. Never experimented with different brands as I've done in my hifi amps. I talked to the tech who's fixing my RV at the moment and he always uses EHX and I said "fine, go for it if tube swapping is needed". Maybe I'll regret that... Well, we'll see.

That'll be interesting....we're gunna be needing an update when it gets back

[Bensnake]

Actually I don't think that the brand of the power tubes have such an impact on the tone. It's more of a quality/reliability thing. Or?

[Ronnie Robinson]

Actually I don't think that the brand of the power tubes have such an impact on the tone. It's more of a quality/reliability thing. Or?

Yep I think that's probably true I really am nit picking here....!

[MikeD]

Actually I don't think that the brand of the power tubes have such an impact on the tone. It's more of a quality/reliability thing. Or?

You tell us when you get it back......If I had any spares worth changing to I'd tell.....just some old tubes from my black star that I have for spares (changing to Jj's in that really made a difference though)

[thejay]

I can't speak to EL34s for Tung sol but I have used 12AX7s and EL84s, they were great. Nice and articulate, great color... Used them in my mesas.... I know the mesa guys swear by the TS EL34Bs

[S&m freddy]

I have been using Groove Tube EL34Ms for the last few years in my Cornfords. They are Chinese made and are based on the Mullard dual getter design. Sound great and have been very reliable. I think the effect of power tubes depends a lot on the amp design....ie a Marshall Plexi derives more 'tone' from the power section than a lot of modern designs....which are all pre amp.

[pedecamp]

Its been said that the most to get out of tonal shaping in a tube amp is done through preamp tubes but in my experience power tubes make equally as much a difference. I have a small collection of tubes and found that Chinese tubes like the Shuguang are really toneful and recently tried the Telefunken Black Diamond which I was very impressed with. I haven't tried the Tungsol but know a lot of people that have and love them. Sino I heard is another good one from people that have done comparison testing. Winged =C= are good but out of production and pricey at this point so I wouldn't bother. So those are the good, now on to the bad. EHX, Sovtek and GT in my opinion are sort of bland sounding tubes so I wouldn't recommend them. And the last tube I would put in an Orange would be a stock JJ (EL34, E34L, or preamp tubes) due to their dark characteristic, Orange already having a dark characteristic of their own, it would not be complimentary in my opinion.

So Ronnie, out of your original poll choices, I'd be interested in what you thought of the Tungsol in your RV.

[Ronnie Robinson]

Thanks for the comments


Yep winged C s are good and I have used them a few years back in another amp and now, as you say, are in my view are too expensive.

I don't think Orange will agree about JJ tubes, certainly they came in EL84 in both my Ad30 and my TT HW, but I think unless some major discount occurs with one of the UK valve suppliers I'll most likely try the tungsol.

[Hubaxe]

After using various ones, I know stick with the JJ EL34 (on my CARVIN, and the Orange).
I don't know if they are better, but I like the clear powerful dynamic they deliver.

[S&m freddy]

GT EL34Ms are not bland. They are probably one of the best stock tubes still in production. Just saying

[pedecamp]

GT EL34Ms are not bland. They are probably one of the best stock tubes still in production. Just saying

I liked GT EL34M very much until I compared them with Telefunken and Shuguang which sounded way more full of life and not as dull. I still like my GT and use them, but I just found something I like better.

[Randy Bass]

It would be hard for everything that Groove Tubes sells to be bland relative to the rest of the market since the vast majority of their offerings are simply relabeled JJs, Sino/Shuguangs, and New Sensor models.

[jontheid]

I liked GT EL34M very much until I compared them with Telefunken and Shuguang

AFAIK the EL-34M is made by Shuguang from parts supplied from the USA.
The EL34B is made by Shuguang from all Chinese parts.
EL34B = excellent all round tube.
You are not the first to say that the EL34B sounds better than the EL34M (if indeed that is what you are saying!).

. . . and what do you mean by 'Telefunken' - actual Telefunken made tubes (funken expensive) or relabelled RFT tubes?