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previous: MikeZ of the readily available power tube... -- 6/1/2000 2:26 PM

Re: jcm2000 tube ques.

6/1/2000 5:49 PM
Peter S	Re: jcm2000 tube ques. For current production El-34's IMHO you cannot get a better tube than the Svetlana EL-34 both durability and tonewise. Tone is subjective of course, but I'm a big EL-34 enthusiast(strange obsession I know), and I have done some fairly extensive testing of all types of EL-34's. Of all of the ones I have tested, nearly everyone agreed(we used a number of different people's ears as part of the testing) that the Mullards sound subjectively the best for all applications(clean guitar, mild distortion, wild distortion, etc.). The Svetlana EL-34's are a very close approximation of the Mullards. They dont have quite the low end blast in a 100watt Marshall 1959, and the midrange is a little less pronounced, and a bit thinner, but overall these tubes came closest to the Mullards. The Siemens EL-34's in comparison to the Svetlana have a thin top end, a little harsher sounding when over driven and not nearly as much bottom and and lower midrange punch. The older flat top TESLA EL-34 tubes also are great if you can find some. If you can find some Mullards for a decent price, there is no substitute.

6/1/2000 5:49 PM

Peter S

Re: jcm2000 tube ques.

For current production El-34's IMHO you cannot get a better tube than the Svetlana EL-34 both durability and tonewise. Tone is subjective of course, but I'm a big EL-34 enthusiast(strange obsession I know), and I have done some fairly extensive testing of all types of EL-34's. Of all of the ones I have tested, nearly everyone agreed(we used a number of different people's ears as part of the testing) that the Mullards sound subjectively the best for all applications(clean guitar, mild distortion, wild distortion, etc.). The Svetlana EL-34's are a very close approximation of the Mullards. They dont have quite the low end blast in a 100watt Marshall 1959, and the midrange is a little less pronounced, and a bit thinner, but overall these tubes came closest to the Mullards. The Siemens EL-34's in comparison to the Svetlana have a thin top end, a little harsher sounding when over driven and not nearly as much bottom and and lower midrange punch. The older flat top TESLA EL-34 tubes also are great if you can find some. If you can find some Mullards for a decent price, there is no substitute.