SED Svetlana "Winged C" el34s

cream123

JustAskinologist
Hey there. I was wondering about these el34s. How do they sound? Are they reliable? Do they keep the el34 growl even when at a lower level? Based on other tubes what you give it overall (out of 10)? What EQ area does it emphasize? My 6l6s just burnt out and i'm looking to try something new. I'm using a Boogie Nomad 100

thanks
-Marc
 
Re: SED Svetlana "Winged C" el34s

It may be worth a try to use EL-34's, if your amp has a bias switch for them.

However, the Nomad, and most Mesas, are really built around the 6L6 tube, and it's possible that the amp sounds better with them. The Nomad has quite a bit of compression, and EL-34's could possibly make it more compressed. Just my 2 cents.

If you can, try both types and find out instantly what you like. It'd help if someone you know has an extra quad of EL-34's sitting around, just to try them out first.
 
Re: SED Svetlana "Winged C" el34s

I can't comment on their EL34's but their 6L6's are amazing...for EL34's I love NOS Mullards which is what I use but they are very pricy...if you don't want to spring $350 or so for a set for the NOS Mullards I like the reissue Mullards and to be honest the Electro Harmonix EL34 is not bad at all!
 
Re: SED Svetlana "Winged C" el34s

It may be worth a try to use EL-34's, if your amp has a bias switch for them.

However, the Nomad, and most Mesas, are really built around the 6L6 tube, and it's possible that the amp sounds better with them. The Nomad has quite a bit of compression, and EL-34's could possibly make it more compressed. Just my 2 cents.

If you can, try both types and find out instantly what you like. It'd help if someone you know has an extra quad of EL-34's sitting around, just to try them out first.

I never thought about. Thanks for the advice. I'll do that before i buy


I can't comment on their EL34's but their 6L6's are amazing...for EL34's I love NOS Mullards which is what I use but they are very pricy...if you don't want to spring $350 or so for a set for the NOS Mullards I like the reissue Mullards and to be honest the Electro Harmonix EL34 is not bad at all!

Thanks for the other suggestions as well.
 
Re: SED Svetlana "Winged C" el34s

Go to www.watfordvalves.com and read their tests on various tubes. The Winged C Svetlanas are supposed to be excellent.

yeah, i did that but they also said the "retro" valves were good. i did some research on those and they were just rebranded tubes you could get on ebay for $20. therefore i don't particularly trust their reviews. they seemed in depth though.
 
Re: SED Svetlana "Winged C" el34s

Winged C Svets are as good as you're going to get for a modern production EL-34, they're all I use and a perfect mate for my Bogner Shiva.
 
Re: SED Svetlana "Winged C" el34s

I personally find them a bit hard and a bit bright, with less dynamic response. Although it depends on the amp. I prefer both the EH EL34 and big Bott 6ca7 offerings( which tonally reminds me a cross of a 34 and a 6l6, it definately brings the note forward vs the more compressed delivery of a standard 34.) The EH EL34 has better crunch than the Svets, but you need to get them from a good supplier, otherwise reliability is an issue. I have a couple sets going on a couple years in two of my Traynor heads.

For a slightly different flavor, the Chinese EL34b, is an amazing sounding tube, more open, round full bottom end and a strong yet warm top. Not as much crunch, but they sound fantastic in two of my other heads.



terry_kilgore2003@yahoo.com Terry Kilgore AKA Tube Tramp is the best tube guy on the net as far as I am concerned. He has no ties to any specific manufacturer, so he sells with his ears. You shoot him a note with your tonal wants and he will deliver the goods with perhaps the best price on the net. He turned me onto the EL34b tube, long before they hit the streets... Seriously great guy, player and set of ears, well worth shooting him a note.
 
Re: SED Svetlana "Winged C" el34s

terry_kilgore2003@yahoo.com Terry Kilgore AKA Tube Tramp is the best tube guy on the net as far as I am concerned. He has no ties to any specific manufacturer, so he sells with his ears. You shoot him a note with your tonal wants and he will deliver the goods with perhaps the best price on the net. He turned me onto the EL34b tube, long before they hit the streets... Seriously great guy, player and set of ears, well worth shooting him a note.

This may make me sound stupid, but is this the same Terry Kilgore that was in David Lee Roths band?????
 
Re: SED Svetlana "Winged C" el34s

prefer both the EH EL34 and big Bott 6ca7 offerings( which tonally reminds me a cross of a 34 and a 6l6, it definately brings the note forward vs the more compressed delivery of a standard 34.) terry_kilgore2003@yahoo.com Terry Kilgore AKA Tube Tramp is the best tube guy on the net as far as I am concerned. He has no ties to any specific manufacturer, so he sells with his ears. You shoot him a note with your tonal wants and he will deliver the goods with perhaps the best price on the net. He turned me onto the EL34b tube, long before they hit the streets... Seriously great guy, player and set of ears, well worth shooting him a note.

Thanks for the tips; I'll e-mail Terry soon here. the 6ca7 is sounding pretty good to me right now as its got a good price and it won't compress my amp as much. I sort of like the sound of the 6l6s in my Nomad but I want to try some el34s out, just to explore the option
 
Re: SED Svetlana "Winged C" el34s

Thanks for the tips; I'll e-mail Terry soon here. the 6ca7 is sounding pretty good to me right now as its got a good price and it won't compress my amp as much. I sort of like the sound of the 6l6s in my Nomad but I want to try some el34s out, just to explore the option

The EL34b, also brings the note forward. It really has its own voice, which I personally find refreshing...
 
Re: SED Svetlana "Winged C" el34s

Every now and then I read a post that just hits home. This one sure does, as I went through the same thing your going through. I own a Nomad 100 1-12" combo. Great little amp that I use for jamming around, and on occasion, use it with a 4-12 cab.

I've tried a bunch of EL-34's, including Winged C's, Sovteks, JJ E34L, and some Peavey tubes made in China. Didn't care for any of them.
The best tube I've found is the JJ 6L6. Just seems to work in this amp. Keeps the lower end tight, while still offering up some nice highs.

Will have to agree with other posters that the Nomad has some compression, and tends not to work the best with EL-34's.
 
Re: SED Svetlana "Winged C" el34s

Every now and then I read a post that just hits home. This one sure does, as I went through the same thing your going through. I own a Nomad 100 1-12" combo. Great little amp that I use for jamming around, and on occasion, use it with a 4-12 cab.

I've tried a bunch of EL-34's, including Winged C's, Sovteks, JJ E34L, and some Peavey tubes made in China. Didn't care for any of them.
The best tube I've found is the JJ 6L6. Just seems to work in this amp. Keeps the lower end tight, while still offering up some nice highs.

Will have to agree with other posters that the Nomad has some compression, and tends not to work the best with EL-34's.

got ya. thanks for the great info. i think i'm gonna play it safe this time and go with a quad of 6l6s.


thanks
-marc
 
Back
Top