Telefunken`s in a Wreck clone?

[59model]

Anyone try them? If so how do they stack up against the rest? I`ve used them in my 2Rocks and Fender`s with great results, but wondering how they`ll work in my 1st Express clone. I found a great supplier of them at www.oldhifi.com as he sells the ribbed plates for $30 and the smooth plates for $35 with a guarentee. I also got a couple GE labeled Mullard EL34`s matched for $100.

[philmanatee]

I prefer a smooth plate in V2. Phil

[59model]

In my 2Rock and Fuchs I do the same Phil, and I use the ribbed plate in V1 since it is less prone to microphonics when using high gain. But to be honest, I really haven`t found a difference in tone between the ribbed and smooth plates when using tubes of the same value. But for $5 more, it`s just nice knowing it`s there IMHO.

[philmanatee]

I think I've got a Mullard in V1 and a Bugle Boy in V2 or vise versa. Phil

[gearhead]

Tone is always subjective, but do you think the Express/Liverpool is more of a tele or a mullard type of amp?

From a typcast standpoint, I always think of Marshall=mullard and Fender/TR=tele.

[908ssp]

I found the Telefunken removes too much crunch it is too smooth and dark. The Mullard has better distortion crunch and top end. I like the Telefunkens in Fenders and Boogies and have set ear marked for my Glaswerks amp.

[Jackie Treehorn]

I think the telefunkens are probably my least favorite preamp tube. They are extremely bland sounding! I really don't understand why they are so highly regarded.

But, to each their own!

[59model]

I can understand why some people wouldn`t like the Tele`s. For an amp like a Fender with the brittle high end, it tames it down a bit. For a 2Rock or Fuchs, or any Dumble type, folks are looking for that smooth and not crunchy sound. In a Marshall they stink, LOL! I don`t want no smooth in my Marshall either! I`ve never tried any real Wrecks, so I just heard that they have a lot of highs, so I thought it may tame it a bit. From what I`ve been reading here, I guess the high end is what these amps are all about. I got a lot to learn since this will be my 1st Wrck type build I`m doing. My 2Rock Ruby may have been close, but I have nothing to compare it to, so I`m excited about getting this amp up and running and would like to get it right the 1st time. Geeez, did I just say that?.....impossible, LOL!

[Jackie Treehorn]

I like the GE long plate when I want to lose some top end fizziness in high gain preamps. I think they were stock in Fenders, also. They're a touch darker and don't seem to lose detail in the midrange like the telefunkens I've tried. For the wreck style amp, the mullards just seem to work the best, to me. Really complex mids! Lots of detail!

[59model]

Thanks Jackie, I`m running a GE in V1 of my Fuchs ODS30 now. Great tubes. I also just bought some JAN Philips 12AX7WA`s which I used to use in my Boogie`s and my Bogner`s, so I may try them as well. Big fat mids from those too. I ran out of my stash of Mullards unfortunately. I`ll be getting some as soon as David gets some in though. Too bad the GT Reissues had so many problems. I got a few Tung Sol Reissues. Ever try them compared to the Mullards?

[mac0611]

I feel the same about the teles. I haven't found an application that I like them in yet myself. I have an RCA 7025 in V1, and GE 12AX7 medium black plates in V2 and 3 of my wreck clone. I am extremely satisfied with the results of these tubes. I have 2 mullards, but I love them so much in my JTM45 clone that I'm going to try and aquire a few for the wreck.

[philmanatee]

I was going to try a Mullard again in V2 after reading all the posts, but after playing it through a few different cabs with a few different guitars I decided I've got it exactly the way I like it right now. Mullard V1, Tele smooth plate V2, Bugle Boy V3. I went through a lot of different combos when I first set it up, including Mullards all the way and a GE swapped into all the positions. I only like the tele in the V2 position and definitely Mullard is the tube for V1 IMHO. Eventually I'll build another express just to try all the cool substitutions and changes to the circuit you guys have come up with, but for now I've got mine how I like it and I know what it's going to do at a gig. I will say I haven't heard an el-34 yet that will touch an old stock Mullard or Amperex, but I haven't tried too many. I love seeing what other people are doing with their expresses. Thanks for all the great info . Phil

[lastwinj]

I think the telefunkens are probably my least favorite preamp tube. They are extremely bland sounding! I really don't understand why they are so highly regarded.

But, to each their own!

because they last for 30yrs. had some 1955 telefunkens, tested under, but sounded just fine. also they are very neutral sounding.

germ