E34Ls

[Dr.Mavashi]

well I just got to play my AOR wich is back from P&J and and re-biasing for the new set of E43Ls .... I dont know it feels like that tighter low end definition comes with some weird tone altering of the rest of the amp .... like too compressed? I dont know, what about your experience with these tubeys? Do they need to be broken in ? Thanks.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: E34Ls

Well EL-34's are not just EL-34's.
They all sound differntly.
Besides the amps trannies also have alot to say in this game!
Dunno most of my amps uses EL-34s...plenty of headroom and only compresses when I play...LOUD!

Get used to them is more like the thing here!
P'S I do not like when techs set the bias too hot, I dislike that sound alot...way too undefined for me, I like them at more sensible currents!

 

[barbarianbrute]

Re: E34Ls

interesting rid. can you tell me what you mean about biasing hot and sensible currents? does that mean that there is some kind of tolerance or range of acceptable bias settings for each kind of tube?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: E34Ls

Well the trend is to set the bias hot...cooking the dam-n tubes...but to me it just sounds undefined and chords are about useless!!
I like my bias set cold, letting the amp have some headroom to work with!
And tubes are defently not what they used to be either!
I like TAD EL-34B-STR...those are consitent and seems to hold up pretty well!

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: E34Ls

Rid,
The tech said he biased to it about 30 ... ?

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: E34Ls

interesting rid. can you tell me what you mean about biasing hot and sensible currents? does that mean that there is some kind of tolerance or range of acceptable bias settings for each kind of tube?

Bias is dependent in many cases on what the tube's job is, but for most applications it's at a design spec center.

IIRC Jeff Seal said that Marshalls sound best with the EL34s biased at 34mA.

Luke

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: E34Ls

And Jeff does not like too hot bias either, if I recall correctly!

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: E34Ls

And Jeff does not like too hot bias either, if I recall correctly!

No!! I think his words to me were "overbiasing is the death of tons of great tubes".

Luke

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: E34Ls


That sounds about right...hehe

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: E34Ls

Rid,
Maybe its the break-in that's needed?

 

[JLagoon]

Re: E34Ls

I use EL34L in my VHT2505 with the Mesa TriAxis preamp. The sound is clear. The clean sound is glassy, and the distortion sound is articulate and aggressive.

Rawr

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: E34Ls

I use EL34L in my VHT2505 with the Mesa TriAxis preamp. The sound is clear. The clean sound is glassy, and the distortion sound is articulate and aggressive.

Rawr

Yep that's what I've gotten them for .... you know what maybe I just need to crank them up, I've played at the bedroom volume really attenuated with Mass. So ....

 

[JLagoon]

Re: E34Ls

mm, maybe, bedroom sound with my setup sounds different too. The cranked sound sounds muuuuuch better.

I am fortunate to be able to crank my power amp around 2 o'clock position at the rehearsal place.

Rock on

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: E34Ls

I like JJ's in all my EL-34 amps.
In the Bogner, I have the EL-34's set at 35-36mA
In the Jubilee, the 2 E-34L's are whacked up to 38-40mA, but I don't care because it makes the amp have major balls.

I have no way to bias or test the Matchless, since it's a fixed bias and the sockets have some big metal retainer around them, so the bias tool won't fit in there. I'm assuming it's cooking the hell out them because Matchless amps chew through tubes and run hot.
That amp is all about power amp gain anyway.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: E34Ls

I like JJ's in all my EL-34 amps.
In the Bogner, I have the EL-34's set at 35-36mA
In the Jubilee, the 2 E-34L's are whacked up to 38-40mA, but I don't care because it makes the amp have major balls.

I have no way to bias or test the Matchless, since it's a fixed bias and the sockets have some big metal retainer around them, so the bias tool won't fit in there. I'm assuming it's cooking the hell out them because Matchless amps chew through tubes and run hot.
That amp is all about power amp gain anyway.

Yeah, but mine AOR has E34L not EL34s now. This is from Bob at Eurotubes.

E34L
Factory description: Gold plated control grid for improved fidelity. Special plate alloy improves plate dissipation as compared to the standard EL34 resulting in stable performance at higher power levels.

My observation: This tube has about 20% more head room than the standard EL34 and it also has a deeper, tighter low end. The E34L is also a bit punchier and more aggressive than the standard EL34 which makes it a Great tube for Matchless, Bogner, Carvin, Peavey and all Marshall amps. I have them in one of my old SUNN heads. Incredible sound! The E34L and the JJ KT77 are the only EL34 type tubes that I have found that will stand up to the 700 plus plate volts found in the Musicman HD 130 amps.

EL34
Factory description: Gold plated control grid for improved fidelity.

My observation: This tube is as close to an NOS Mullard as you can get although I have to given mention to the Svetlana EL34. It’s very good but I like the way the JJ tubes break up better. They are very smooth and have the biggest low end of any current production EL34. I still prefer the JJ E34L for most applications simply because of it's extended low end and the fact that it's tighter and punchier.

Well I think I got my answer, duh .... "Special plate alloy improves plate dissipation as compared to the standard EL34 resulting in a stable performance at higher power levels" I guess having MV on only 2 and maxing attenuation on Mass is not gonna make them shine exactly .....

 

[marvar]

Re: E34Ls

Don't forget that the EL-34Ls is a 30 watt tube.
Most other EL-34 tubes are 25 watts.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: E34Ls

Don't forget that the EL-34Ls is a 30 watt tube.
Most other EL-34 tubes are 25 watts.

So does that mean for a 50 watt amp? and Masslite attenuation? thanks.

 

[wixedmords]

Re: E34Ls

No such tube as the EL34L, it is an "E.......34.......L". It is also not out of Bob's realm at Eurotubes to stretch the truth a bit.

Your problem is that you bought Bob's "rumatiz medicine" Dr. M. I am not a fan of all JJ's in the pre. Too dark and usually too middy.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: E34Ls

Wixed,
I actually like JJs in the pre, I've changed pre before power section. I dont know maybe E34Ls are better cranked higher .....

 

[wixedmords]

Re: E34Ls

When you change your power tubes, you have to be willing to go back and test different preamp tubes. You have changed the equation with different power tubes, you have to be willing to buy a few different preamp tubes and try each in different positions. Same thing with a speaker change, if you change the equation, you have to be willing to fine tune it.

The easiest way to solve this is to go back to a new set of the tubes you had before. After reading plenty of your posts over the past year Dr. I question if change is your thing. You like your AOR a certain way, and you had found that. Go back to what works for you.