Best Tubes for Express

[Big Jim]

Hello folks,
The Express is doing pretty well but I've been running some pretty wheezed out EL34's in it. It's time to drop a new set in. I've heard some good things about the Groove Tubes EL34M mullard re-issues. I might have a line on some Siemens as well. Is there a new production tube that stands out for these amps? I know what I like in my Marshall Plexi clones, but these Trainwrecks are a different breed, much more reaction to tube selection. Is NOS the only way to go? if so what should I hunt for? Thoughts/opinions?
Jim

[selloutrr]

Tungram 12ax7 or ei pre-war 12ax7, NOS Groove Tubes preamp tubes
Seimen's , Telefunken, and NOS Groove Tubes seem to the brands of choice.

[billyz]

Go for the Siemens if you can get a matched pair, for the money they are great. RFT are good too. Some Mesa el34 are Seimens. I have found the Sovtek/electroharmonix 6CA7 to be very good as well, the big bottle one.

[KellyBass]

If you're poor (like me), Svetlana winged C's have served me very well. About 60 bucks for a matched pair.

I would love to try some siemens someday, though. I've heard they are THE tube for the express.

[Big Jim]

Yes sirs,
I saw some Siemens online for $140 a pair....kind of pricey. I seem to remember hearing Glen say on one of his videos that he was running the re-issue Groove tube EL34M in Orphan Annie. Maybe I'm wrong. I was wondering if anyone else heard that or has tried these tubes. I might have a line on some Siemens for less. If the chance comes I'll jump on 'em.
Jim

[gearhead]

I got Siemens from this guy couple years ago. Believe Allynmey does too:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-Siemens-EL34-Tu ... 2308068511

[Big Jim]

Thanx Gearhead,
Thats more like it!
Jim

[ampgeek]

Thats where I got mine as well.
VERY well matched and good sounding pair of tubes.
Dave O.

[Gibsonman63]

I just ordered a pair as well. I will be testing my new TW Express build in a couple of days. I have a set of NOS Siemens that I ordered from Mesa Boogie, but I figure I will keep the best sounding set in my Express and try the other in one of my Marshalls.

So tell me... I have two friends that spend entirely too much money on boutique amps, but don't want to spring for decent tubes to run in them. What's up with that?

[ampgeek]

Thats pretty funny Gibsonman.

They obviously don't realize that most of the amplifier is simply a "life support" system for the tubes!!

Dave O.

[Gibsonman63]

Hmmm. That reminds me of something similar but entirely inappropriate for this forum.

[redshark]

I think that back in the 80's when Ken was building express amps the current production tubes or at least what was being labeled at the time by groove tubes was Siemens power tubes and tungsram and Ei preamps and that is why he used those but I think that if it was his choice of NOS he would go for Mullard xf2 EL34's and diferent preamp tubes like mullard, amperex or brimar.
I kinda like tungsram or Ei but I have to say that those ones are too gainy. I think older tubes like mullard or amperex could be better if you want to get smoother sound although the challenge is the microphonics and that is why most people preferred tungsrams.

My opinion.

[PlinytheWelder]

Right now I'm running a Tung-Sol re-issue 12AX7 in V1, NOS Tung-Sol long black plate in V2, NOS Mullard CV4024 in V3. These are the ones that are available on Ebay in the $20 dollar range and are a screaming value. I tried a lot of tubes in V3 and always seem to prefer the CV4024/12AT7 in this spot. It just sounds better to me and I love the Mullard "flash"...

I tried a lot of NOS Sylvania, TS, RCA and GE in V1 but a lot of my older tubes are microphonic and V1 is brutal on revealing that. I have a whole bunch of TS RI's and found one that's pretty quiet, so for now it stays.

For power tubes, I've tried my "test" Svetlanas (EH) and they actually sounded pretty good but they bias up about 10mA apart...Ugh. Since I had some, I tried JJ KT-77's in it for the last 2 weeks and they sounded fine with a lot of headroom. really nice cleans out of these tubes.

As of yesterday I have some JJ E34L's in it with more mids than the 77's and earlier breakup. The amp really like these tubes, good stuff!!!

The amp also likes P90 pickups, but that's another story...

[guitardude57]

[quote="Gibsonman" Hmmm. That reminds me of something similar but entirely inappropriate for this forum.

Thats pretty funny Gibsonman.

They obviously don't realize that most of the amplifier is simply a "life support" system for the tubes!!

Dave O.

I saw an in here.....pretty funny, Dave and Gibsonman

Yeah.....if cactus had one............. we would be complaining about the needles.......

[paulster]

I got Siemens from this guy couple years ago. Believe Allynmey does too:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-Siemens-EL34-Tu ... 2308068511

I've bought loads of tubes from Bryan before. He's always been a good seller in my experience.