NOS Siemens vs. SED Winged C EL34s

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs' started by telewacker, May 25, 2005.


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  1. May 25, 2005 #1
    telewacker

    telewacker Supporting Member

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    The NOS tubes are about twice the price, still about the third of NOS Mullards though. I'm using the SEDs now in my Guytron (4xEL34), and I'm wondering if the Siemens are worth the extra $$. The thing about the Guytron is most of the OD comes from the EL84s in the first stage, so it mostly a question of the clean sound of these NOS tubes. Noticeably better then the Winged Cs? Anyone have any opinions?

    Also the amp is run at least an avereage of four hours a day, so tube life is an issue too. Thanks in advance.
     
    telewacker, May 25, 2005
    telewacker, May 25, 2005
    #1
  2. May 25, 2005 #2
    Ed DeGenaro

    Ed DeGenaro Supporting Member

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    My personal preference is Siemens 34s to any new 34. The one new 34 I actually like are the Chinese EL34B.
     
    Ed DeGenaro, May 25, 2005
    Ed DeGenaro, May 25, 2005
    #2
  3. May 25, 2005 #3
    telewacker

    telewacker Supporting Member

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    I got the Winged Cs at the behest of Guy Hedrick, the amps designer. The improvement over the Sovteks that were in there was like night and day, although I'm sure they were played out. I guess I ought to thrown down and buy the Siemens and hear for myself.
     
    telewacker, May 25, 2005
    telewacker, May 25, 2005
    #3
  4. May 25, 2005 #4
    aleclee

    aleclee TGP Tech Wrangler Staff Member

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    My favorite bang for the buck "EL34" is the EH 6CA7. Its cleans are wonderful and they only run about $25/pair.
     
    aleclee, May 25, 2005
    aleclee, May 25, 2005
    #4
  5. May 25, 2005 #5
    telewacker

    telewacker Supporting Member

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    Well the Siemens are on the way I'm $137 poorer. Fortunately I can write off all this stuff! :D
     
    telewacker, May 25, 2005
    telewacker, May 25, 2005
    #5
  6. May 25, 2005 #6
    riffmeister

    riffmeister Gold Supporting Member

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    Not in my book. The SED's are an extremely good sounding tube, IMO.
     
    riffmeister, May 25, 2005
    riffmeister, May 25, 2005
    #6
  7. May 25, 2005 #7
    Red Planet

    Red Planet Member

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    I've got the SED's in my Lonestar good tubes.

    The Siemens are myles above any current made Tube though.

    I may have to bag me a quad of em. Where di you get em and how many did you get?
     
    Red Planet, May 25, 2005
    Red Planet, May 25, 2005
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  8. May 25, 2005 #8
    telewacker

    telewacker Supporting Member

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    I got them from Angela's. I bought one quartet.

    Interesting variety of opinions. I'm really curious to hear them now.
     
    telewacker, May 25, 2005
    telewacker, May 25, 2005
    #8
  9. May 25, 2005 #9
    SQUAREHEAD

    SQUAREHEAD Supporting Member

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    Siemens are my fav's too!!
     
    SQUAREHEAD, May 25, 2005
    SQUAREHEAD, May 25, 2005
    #9
  10. May 25, 2005 #10
    Greggy

    Greggy Member

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    Ditto on the Chinese EL34B. Put one in my Allen Class Act, bright and clear, but not brittle. The Svetlana EL34 is also a winner in the Allen. Just ordered a bunch of new production el34s and these 2 were the best.
     
    Greggy, May 25, 2005
    Greggy, May 25, 2005
    #10
  11. May 25, 2005 #11
    Gearhead

    Gearhead Member

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    How are the the EH 6CA7 and the Chinese EL34B when in overdrive - both preamp and power tube distortion? I like El-34 cleans, but find myself in some level of overdrive up to distortion 80% of the time.

    As far as NOS EL-34s, you might want to try the Teslas (the one's from 12-15 years ago, NOT the current JJ/Teslas). They're in the 100 per matched pair arena, and I love them. They are just so warm, yet crisp, when pushed.
     
    Gearhead, May 25, 2005
    Gearhead, May 25, 2005
    #11
  12. May 25, 2005 #12
    aleclee

    aleclee TGP Tech Wrangler Staff Member

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    The EH 6CA7 is very articulate when pushed (definitely not muddy) but doesn't crunch quite like the EH EL34L.
     
    aleclee, May 25, 2005
    aleclee, May 25, 2005
    #12
  13. May 26, 2005 #13
    Blueser

    Blueser Member

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    Just be careful with the Siemens. I heard that they don't handle higher plate voltages. I thought I read somewhere that they top out at just under 500 plate volts. I was told that a Bogner Shiva would burn them up.
     
    Blueser, May 26, 2005
    Blueser, May 26, 2005
    #13
  14. May 26, 2005 #14
    Igneous

    Igneous Supporting Member

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    Brimar are comparable too. Someone just sold like 8 quads on ebay. Wish I had cash.

    I personally went from sed's (which I like better than any EH(supposed both "mullard" design)- to The New sensor mullard clones.

    They look identical to my sevts(same factory even, I think) however, sound waay different. Ive never tried NOS but these are plentifull in supply and I dont have to worry about burning them in like I do my select Ax7's.

    They sound 3d in nature with a cool mid hump. Very worth it. Give em a try. You wont be disappointed.

    :dude

    cheers-IG
     
    Igneous, May 26, 2005
    Igneous, May 26, 2005
    #14
  15. May 26, 2005 #15
    sampleinajar

    sampleinajar Member

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    I am with Ed D. here, and I would pick the Siemens over any new El34. That said, the SEDs are quite nice. I much prefer the older SEDs to the regular EH tubes. Haven't heard the "new mullards" yet or the EL34B that Ed mentioned. I have some JJ E34Ls that I just purchased, but haven't tried yet. Many rave over this tube too.

    Cheers,

    Steve
     
    sampleinajar, May 26, 2005
    sampleinajar, May 26, 2005
    #15
  16. May 26, 2005 #16
    adrenalinejunky

    adrenalinejunky Supporting Member

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    +1 they're Definitely worth the money IMHO.
     
    adrenalinejunky, May 26, 2005
    adrenalinejunky, May 26, 2005
    #16
  17. May 26, 2005 #17
    Igneous

    Igneous Supporting Member

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    Any info on the chinese? I couldnt find any...
     
    Igneous, May 26, 2005
    Igneous, May 26, 2005
    #17
  18. May 26, 2005 #18
    Roodboy

    Roodboy Supporting Member

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    Is the Chinese tube you are talking about the Ruby EL34BSTR?
    If so I have 'em and love'em in a Marshall TSL 122 great crunch and good bass thump. Kind of a modern tone, but then again thats what the TSL gets.
     
    Roodboy, May 26, 2005
    Roodboy, May 26, 2005
    #18
  19. May 26, 2005 #19
    '63-Strat

    '63-Strat Guest

    While I've heard the same thing, I've got Siemens in my XTC-C and have had no probs. SQUAREHEAD uses 'em in his xtc too and the plate voltage is definitely higher than 500. Apparently Siemens were the original EL34s Reinhold used in the XTCs and then moved to Svets due to availability (and cost, I'd assume).
     
    '63-Strat, May 26, 2005
    '63-Strat, May 26, 2005
    #19
  20. May 26, 2005 #20
    sabbath90

    sabbath90 Member

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    my favorite new production el34 is the JJ e34l. i find those to outstanding in my framus. it's my only el34 based amp that runs el34s though (all my marshalls run kt88s now) so maybe its just that amp. might wanna give em a try anyway...they're cheap.
     
    sabbath90, May 26, 2005
    sabbath90, May 26, 2005
    #20
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