Svetlana EL-34 how do you like them ?
- Thread starter JMP/HBE
- Start date
ErikH
Well-known member
When I had my JCM 900 MkIII head, that's all I used in it for a long time. Great tubes. But, I eventually changed to JJ EL34's and JJ 12AX7's and it sounded way better. While the Svetlana's are good, IMO, JJ's and Marshalls are like peanut butter and jelly. They just go well together.
JMP/HBE
Well-known member
Im done with JJ products forever, way too many problems.
So many JJ issues that ive not ever had that many tube problems with all other tubes combined in 40 years than the JJ's the last 13.
If they could/would ever step up their game in reliability & QC they could be a decent company but they do not.
But what do you expect from an Eastern Block European company.
And with 40+ year old Marshalls i ain't taking that chance.
Only takes one tube meltdown to destroy the magical Dagnall output transformers.
So many JJ issues that ive not ever had that many tube problems with all other tubes combined in 40 years than the JJ's the last 13.
If they could/would ever step up their game in reliability & QC they could be a decent company but they do not.
But what do you expect from an Eastern Block European company.
And with 40+ year old Marshalls i ain't taking that chance.
Only takes one tube meltdown to destroy the magical Dagnall output transformers.
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NegativeEase
New member
They were my favorite for 20 years. even and smooth -and consistent from tube to tube.
I haven't used them the last 2 cycles because of availability and break up rating needed at the time -but I still bought Russian
I haven't used them the last 2 cycles because of availability and break up rating needed at the time -but I still bought Russian
beaubrummels
Well-known member
I've had a quad in my JCM900 SL-X for quite a long while. Sound pretty good/ok, but not nearly as good as the Tesla's that were in there when I bought it. The Svetlanas in mine are a bit sterile clear and even. The Teslas were warmer, smooth with break up, made it sound like an older Plexi; instant AC/DC, which is what made me buy that amp in the first place.
NegativeEase
New member
Hey Beau -remind me -which EHX plant is Tesla? and whats the GT designation -is it -R? I think Svetlana is -S?
If Tesla is the -R designation (Thats what I have in right now) -I love the shit out of them.
ErikH
Well-known member
Yup. While I liked the Svetlana's, The JJ Teslas simply sounded better in my 900 MkIII. Sometimes I miss that amp but my back doesn't.
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
JMP/HBE
Well-known member
GT designation is :
R : Russian
C : Chinese
S : Slovakia
JJ's are made in Slovakia which used to be the Tesla factory but Tesla & JJ are not the same in quality or manufacture.
Those are the only countries making tubes since early 1980's.
Gtrjunior
New member
Are you talking about the Winged C variety?
The pic from the op is not them. That pic is the current production Svetlana, which sent nearly as good.
ErikH
Well-known member
Good point. Winged C are the ones I'm thinking of, and have used.
Gtrjunior
New member
I had a quad of those a while back. I actually think I still have them somewhere. I had bought a JVM that had them installed. I believe they were factory installed.
In any case I wasn’t sure how old they were so I swapped them out for a set of Ruby.
I’m pretty certain that I kept the quad....they are probably in my tube bin.
NegativeEase
New member
Yeah, I haven't bought Svetlanas in maybe 15 years -as I still have a few sets in boxes but I was looking for later breakup and moved GT-R with a cleaner rating >7 most of my Svetlana were in thre 4-6 range which GT-R doesn't tell me which brand -but if I looked at them closely I could certainly tell -I'll do that later tonight.
I used to have all of this kind of stuff memorized 20 years ago -because I was really keeping up with Tube varieties.,...... but haven't thought much about it lately.
I know the Chinese tubes were bright and I avoided them because to me it sounded more attacky and harsh.
ColeJustesen
New member
The Svetlana EL34s were my favorite EL34, as they sound like an excellent EL34. Nothing bloated, good compression and the right amount of sparkle. My new favorite are the JJ EL34-II tube. The bass is firmer than the Svetlana (while not exaggerated like an EL34B or as firm as the E34L), while still having the EL34 characteristics we all love. I am certain you will be happy with the Svetlana set.
Cole
Cole
Ascension
Well-known member
The real Svetlana Winged C EL 34 I love the New Sensor ones are just OK.
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Leon Of Late
New member
I almost bought a set of these. I bought the Tung Sol EL34B for my DSL40C. If I don’t like them, the JJ II’s are my next purchase. I like an EL34 that isn’t too dark with good sparkle on the top, good smooth mids and nice full lows, but not tight and aggressive like a 6L6.
ColeJustesen
New member
The Tung-Sol set has that bigger low end, kind of a like a marriage between 6L6 and EL34s. They sound good. When I bought my TriAmp MkII they came with it. I make sure they were biased appropriately before pulling them, and they were biased appropriately. However, I put in the JJs and I was happier with the response. They had similar mids to the Tung-Sol set, but I feel the top end is a bit more sparkly. The bass was more composed too, not as big but more solid. I think the Tung-Sol is good too, but I would take the Svetlana set over them, and the JJs over the Svetlana set.
I am certain you will like the Tung-Sol in the DSL. I was a huge fan of the JCM2000 DSL I had, but I never used the red channel (I didn't like the gain structure and amp response). The green channel with the crunch button at proper volume is a magical sound, and I know the extra thump you are going to get with the Tung-Sol set will sound great with that channel.
Cole
I am certain you will like the Tung-Sol in the DSL. I was a huge fan of the JCM2000 DSL I had, but I never used the red channel (I didn't like the gain structure and amp response). The green channel with the crunch button at proper volume is a magical sound, and I know the extra thump you are going to get with the Tung-Sol set will sound great with that channel.
Cole
Gtrjunior
New member
You might like the JJ 6CA7 then.
Aggressive, nice smooth mids and a nice upper sparkle.
I’ve got a set in my Blackstar HT-20 and I love them.
