Siemens vs. Mullard EL34 for an Orange!

[soulohio]

I got my Orange OR120...now I need some tubes. The 4 bottles I have in there are nothing special. So starting with the power tubes, I understand that Mullards are the stuff of dreams and Siemens are almost as good. What would you put in an Orange OR120 and why? I am only using 2 tubes right now because I run thru a Dr. Z Airbrake and I don't want to melt anything. So I could be looking at 2 actual tubes purchased. The thing is, i am not playing out but the Orange OR120 with all 4 valves running may sound better? Let me hear your thoughts lads!

[Blue Strat]

If you're running the Airbrake with only 2 (out of 4) tubes, hopefully you've taken the new 2X output impedance of your amp into consideration.

Both types of EL34s are fine. The Siemens "cave in" and break up sooner than the Mullards.

[soulohio]

well...since Orange don't get no love i will update my own post.

UPDATE: I put a Mullard 12AX7A in V1 and a Telefunken 12AX7 in V2...still, the amp wasn't happening. Then I unplugged the Airbrake. Now we are talking! Man, it doesn't*sound* a whole lot different but it does *feel* different and the amp has more grind and sings. Now, what about them power valves?

[brad347]

original or reissue? Just curious.

[soulohio]

i believe the amp is an OR120 circa 1994. that would make it a reissue but the info i got here at TGP says that these are pretty much exact to the 1970's OR's. These were produced when Gibson owned Orange...so that's why my Les Paul sounds so good pumping notes into the hi input...

[Carol-AnnAmps]

The East German Siemens are very different from the West German.
Most of the ones that are being advertised recently are most definately East German origin from the 80's. These are very different from the 'originals' so to speak. They sound pretty decent, but don't last too long at higher plate voltages, above 460 or so.

There are also a great many Siemens marked tubes that were actually produced in Mullard factories.
As an apprentice I spent time at the Philips factory in Blackburn and learned from the Mullard guys just how incestuous the whole tube supply chain was. I read many descriptions from specialist tube dealers that directly contradict information I gained directly at source. I guess the NOS boom, the internet and armchair experts are too be blamed for that.....

[jcs]

slim bottle rft/siemens as they are often referred to, are slim bottle with dimples in the top of the tube.

fine tubes with nice breakup and harmonics,but yes the pv limit appears to be 475 or so but it depends on screen volts too.

i love rft el34 in many amps, sometimes they are mushy down low but overall fine for 60s-70s style blues rock and they do help soften up a stiff/sterile amp overall.

mullard el34 (real ones with the xf codes) are outstanding but only as good as your circuit-speakers guitar etc,they wont bring magic to a crap amp and guitar imo.