EL-34 recommendations for Glaswerks?

[lv]

I'd like to try some EL-34 tubes for my 100 watt Glaswerks - any recommendations? I don't want to spend too much since I'm not sure I'll like the change.

Thanks

[les]

I'd ask Gary or Scott, since they have played around with them.

[Gary Brennan]

I'm using the NOS Siemens (RFT?), they sound very good, not too expensive for NOS relatively speaking.

gb

[ross]

I'm using the NOS Siemens (RFT?), they sound very good, not too expensive for NOS relatively speaking.

gb
Watch the plate voltage on the Siemens. 450 volts is about the max in my past but limited experience.

[riffmeister]

SED 'Winged C' are my favorite in a Marshall type amp.

[Frankenstrat2]

I have a quad of Siemens in my Glaswerks 100.
They are the most affordable NOS/NIB around. Mullards are pricey.
Honestly, while I think EL-34s give a different signature sound/response compared to 6L6s, I suspect more of the tone of the amp comes from the preamp tubes. That's where I spent the big money, for NIB BugleBoys and RCA Blackplates. Then on speakers.
To suppport this theory with an anecdote, when we were listening to RiveraToasters EL-34 Dumble at the Jersey Ampfest, it sounded a bit, well, dull. It had a quad of Siemans, just as my Glaswerks did. But the preamp tubes in the Dumble were of unknown origin and undetermined age. We swapped out V1 and V2 from the Glaswerks into the Dumble and it immediately came to life.
Try Siemens for power and pick up some really good 12ax7s for V1 and V2

[Gary Brennan]

Frankenstrat2,

I've got a BB in V1 and a Mullard 10M in V2. Where did you use the RCAs? Did you go NOS in all positions? Thanks,

gb

[Frankenstrat2]

Frankenstrat2,

I've got a BB in V1 and a Mullard 10M in V2. Where did you use the RCAs? Did you go NOS in all positions? Thanks,

gb
Hey Gary
Yup, I did. I think right now there is a BB in V1 and a blackplate in V2. Matched quad of Siemens. I sourced out matched pairs of low noise NIB BB's and RCAs 12ax7s just for this amp. I sent them to Gary when he was doing the upgrade to 100w and let him decide which way to tube it up. I understand he had a great time listening to his/my amp with such good old glass loaded in it.
I consider it money very well spent.
Choosing speakers is driving me crazy, however.

[Gary Brennan]

Barry, what about the V3-5 slots?

gb

[Frankenstrat2]

Um- the other half of the BB and RCA pairs. V5(?) is the reverb tube- not a 12ax7. Gary supplied it. Not NOS, since he said it does little for the tone of the amp.

[lv]

Thanks for the tips guys. I actually have mostly smoothplate teles, along with one rca for preamp tubes. My 6L6s are going bad, so I wanted to try out some el34s.

[gec78221]

Iv your Glaswerks is a 6l6 right? So, does this mean the Glaswerks can go from 6l6 to el34?

[Gary Brennan]

Iv your Glaswerks is a 6l6 right? So, does this mean the Glaswerks can go from 6l6 to el34?

yes, I believe 6L6GC, KT66/7581A, EL34, KT77, all will work fine (subject to max safe voltage- might not want to use a 5881 or 6L6GB)

gb

[scottl]

Brandon at Bludo likes the Groove Tubes Mullard XF2 recreations. That was what Laz had in Brown Suede Bludo that sounded so good.

[Gary Brennan]

Scott,

Can I pick your brain about biasing for the Glaswerks? I'll send a PM so as not to detour this thread.

gb