Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

Simon_F

Simon_F

Super Moderator
What EL34s would you guys recommend for a 1977 Marshall JMP 50w master volume head (2204)?

I'm currently thinking Svetlana Winged Cs, Mullard reissues or JJ E34Ls.

Any other candidates?

I'm not looking for the cheapest option, but I don't want to spend a fortune on NOS either.

Thanks. :)
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

For current production all the ones you names are great tubes...Im partial to the Mullard reissues myself but I also like the Winged C SEDs too (not the Svet's but the older SED tubes), also belive it or not the very low cost Electro Harmonix EL34EH tubes are nice as well...
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

I like the Winged =C= s, but if you can find them, try the RFT EL34s...AND ECC83s !

Kick a$$ in an old Marshall !!!! :bigok:
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

Im with Terry...you said no NOS but if you were to go with NOS tubes the RFT stuff is killer and pretty well priced IMO...Mike at KCA has some Siemens EL34's that were made by RFT and labeled Siemens for $105 a pair and his RFT 12AX7's are about $38 each...I know thats more cash that new tubes all around but those RFT's are gret tubes and will last a good bit longer than most all current production tubes, and when you look at $350-400 for a pair of NOS Mullards $105 sounds a lot better!
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

EXACTLY.....a local tube guy (Tubeman.com) turned me on to the RFTs.

The poor mans Mullard for sure !!! :D

They ain't cheap by any means, but boy do they rock.....& once upon a time, they were stock in Marshalls.


I bought some RFT EL34s off a dude on TGP, but he hangs here too....AdmiralB maybe....check with him :bigok:
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

I don't like the Svets, in any of my amps. I find them kinda stiff and lacking any kind dynamic richness. In the right amp, the EH 6ca7 ( big Bott) or EL34 sound very good. If your amp is bright however, it may be a bit to much in the top end. The have nice crunch, the 6CA7 have a real quick attack on the note, and a bigger bottom. It is essiential that you get EH from a good source, there are a lot of bad ones floating around, you definately want someone who burns them in. For my $$$, the Shuguang EL34b is a fantatic tube, big, round, and open. Wonderful bottom. I have them in my Stramp and Kelly heads ( replacing Svets in both of them) They are a cleaner tube, but sound beautiful. Might be the best built new tube going right now, plus they can handle plenty on the plates. Bargain prices too.

I had a set of RFT for a long time, they are darker and just a bit more polite, I liked them, but never loved them as many do. They have to be in an amp that is not too high on the plate voltage, as they are prone to failure if pushed to hard.
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

Thanks guys. Any thoughts on the Harma EL34 Retros?
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

Guitarist did a test on some Harma valves a while back. I'll see if I can find it when I get home.
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

I've always like JJ E-34L's in amps, and they're not expensive at all. They last a long time, and have full lows and glassy highs. Just an all around good sounding tube, and luckily they're still a bargain. Plus you can crank up the bias where the amps sounds best, and those tubes can handle all the voltage, since they're 10% higher headroom than EL-34's. If you definitely don't want more volume, just stick with the JJ EL-34's.
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

I had a 79 JMP MV and I finally settled with JJ EL34s. I did not care for the Svetlanas as much. I thought they were ok, but he JJs seemed to have a little more complexity in the mids and more presence in general.
I like the 12Ax7LPS Sovtek tubes in the preamp to. They were a bit cleaner than other tubes that I had in that head. The wrong preamp tubes can sound harsh in that amp.

Anyway, that's a nice Marshall, Simon! :) I hope you are happy with the tubes that you decide to use.
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

Simon, how do you find the amp sounds right now? What's in the amp currently?
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

Thanks everyone for your input! Plenty to choose from. :scratchch

Gearjoneser said:
If you definitely don't want more volume, just stick with the JJ EL-34's.
Click to expand...

I can certainly do without more volume. This is one freaking loud amp! Much louder than my Jubilee. I used to have a 2104 combo that I bought new in 1980. I used to play pub gigs with the pre-amp and master both on 6. If I did that with this amp I'd blow the windows out. :smack:

stevie_bees said:
Guitarist did a test on some Harma valves a while back. I'll see if I can find it when I get home.
Click to expand...

Thanks Stevie. Was it this one? :)
http://www.watfordvalves.com/pdfs/git276.rev_valves.pdf

Stevo said:
Anyway, that's a nice Marshall, Simon! :) I hope you are happy with the tubes that you decide to use.
Click to expand...

Thanks Stevo, I'm sure I will be. I haven't been playing this amp enough lately, but I had a long session with it yesterday. It had some old Teonex EL34s that were in it when I bought it - they are not well matched! I swapped in a pair of old Marshall-branded Svetlanas and it warmed up very nicely. Time to get some new tubes in there and give it the love it deserves!
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

wixedmords said:
Simon, how do you find the amp sounds right now? What's in the amp currently?
Click to expand...

It has a pair of Teonex EL34s that were in it when I bought it last year, but it sounded a lot better when I swapped in some used Marshall-branded Svetlanas. I currently have old Mullards in V1 and V2 and a Marshall-branded Sovtek (I think) in the PI.

Compared to my memory of my old 2104 combo it sounds a little harsh - I'd like to warm up the mids. I'm also finding that when the volume gets above 6 the distortion sounds over-saturated - hard to describe, but there's an edge to it I don't like. I don't remember hearing that in my old 2104. Hopefully it's just a case of getting the right tubes and bias.
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

Simon_F said:
It has a pair of Teonex EL34s that were in it when I bought it last year, but it sounded a lot better when I swapped in some used Marshall-branded Svetlanas. I currently have old Mullards in V1 and V2 and a Marshall-branded Sovtek (I think) in the PI.

Compared to my memory of my old 2104 combo it sounds a little harsh - I'd like to warm up the mids. I'm also finding that when the volume gets above 6 the distortion sounds over-saturated - hard to describe, but there's an edge to it I don't like. I don't remember hearing that in my old 2104. Hopefully it's just a case of getting the right tubes and bias.
Click to expand...

The SED Winged C's will give you some warm mids. If you went with the JJ's go with the regular EL34's, as the E34L's and KT77's move a little of their mids to the upper and lower registers. You can rarely go wrong with a Mullard, but it is pricey. Each of these tubes give it's own sound, and I am pretty fond of the JJ sound myself. You mileage may vary. Sounds like a great amp Simon. I'm jealous. :yell:

I think I would dump those Sovtek's in the pre for something warmer also, like a JJ ECC803S. A Ruby ECC83 is pretty creamy and middy if you can find one.
 
Last edited:
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

I've got a set of EH EL-34s in my 81 Park- same amp different color faceplate and tolex.
 
Re: Power tubes for 1977 Marshall JMP MV?

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I've ordered a pair of JJ EL34s - not the E34Ls, this thing is quite loud enough! I've used JJ ECC83s before and liked them a lot, so I have faith in the brand. I'll let you know how they turn out.

It's actually pretty tempting to buy a few of the others too and have a (noisy) shootout.... :scratchch
 
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