Groove Tubes - EL34 Mullard x2 Copies - Am I Crazy?

MrBuhl

So I have the Dodd amp all hooked up, and have been giving it a good listen, (review to follow once I really let it sink in) - plus I'm having some work done, which I hope will let me do a form of A/B with the McCormack/Audible Illusions combo... but that's another story for another day. Anyway - the Dodd arrived with a set of the Reissue Mullard EL34's, and a set of National's that as far as I can tell - go back to the amp debut with Russman.

Long story longer, two of the Mullards appeared to be toasty, and my B&K tester confirmed shorts in each, so I used the Nationals, which sound very good. Rather than just grab two replacement Mullards, I did some research, and found a set of the EL34L-S Groove Tubes (Slovakia made) that Brent Jesse speaks fairly highly of on clearance sale at Guitar Center.
I picked up a quad in 9 hardness. Supposedly an exacting copy of the X2 NOS Mullards exclusive to GT.

I have to say, they sound damn fine, of course they're new and still burning in but I have about 60-80 hours on them and they just seem to get better. I definitely think they're an improvement over the Nationals. More airy highs, and much more controlled bass extension, in general, the amp already makes crazy liquid guitar sounds, like it's coming straight from the amp - so I don't notice as much of a change there, but the highs are clearer and the bass better/tighter for sure.

Anyway - wondering if I'm crazy to think so I guess - AND while Guitar Center is clearing them out ($107 a quad shipped) if I should pickup a backup set. Methinks so for that price I can barely get into a set of the reissue Mullards that get mixed reviews. Maybe I just don't know what I'm hearing but they really sound sweet to me, especially given the low entry price.

heiney9

First off Groove Tubes is/was great at the marketing hype. There typical stock is no different than other Russian/ or JJ sourced tubes since they come from the same production line and are rebranded and hyped by Groove Tubes.

That being said they and some others in mid 90's were marketing the last of the JJ Tesla tubes before the company was bought out and subsequently the original plant was destroyed by NATO (or so the story goes) and they started making looser quality tubes.

If you in fact have those EL-34S's they are very nice tubes! They handle higher plate current and are more robust than a typical EL34. The glass tubes are very thick and the envelope is a little fatter than a typical EL34. The bass is much deeper and the mids are more fleshed out and the highs are silkier than later (poorer) made EL34-S's by JJ.

They are like a Winged =C= El34 on steroids

I have a pair marked as Siemens, but they are clearly the late version of JJ Tesla's before the demise of the original Tesla tube company. I still have them even though I don't currently have an EL34 based amp.

I'd have to see very close up pics's to know for sure. But if the glass is stout and thicker and slightly larger as well as the top of the envelope being flatter rather than rounded with a dimple, those could be the ones.

Nice tubes.

H9

heiney9

I would pick up a back-up set if you find you like them that much. You may never find the exact same tubes again despite the branding being the same.

I have an overseas source for the Siemens I bought years ago, but I think they will be more $$$ by the time you factor in conversion and shipping.

If you ever get a chance to get a quad of Winged =C= EL34's at a decent price, those are my favorites. Since the St. Petersburg plant has been reapportioned, sadly they are no longer made so the prices have tripled or quadrupled.

H9

madmax

I like to go with something different each time I re-tube something, always a little more exciting.

heiney9

Are the plates welded or stapled?

My source after conversion has the tubes for $40.25/ea NOS

He has Winged =C= EL34's for $36.46/ea. NOS

heiney9

Scratch the above the EL34's I have been talking about and own from are the E34L not "S".

I'd need to see a picture to know what you might have.

MrBuhl

Thanks H9 - at work now - so all I have is the stock pick from the site - and the blowup added - these are the L-S ones definitely - for whatever that's worth. I can take pics of the actual ones when I get home tonight though.

That's an amazing deal on Winged C's from anything I've seen!

MrBuhl

@madmax - that's the approach I've been taking with the 12ax7's in the MLP (not when I retube, but rolling to try different sounds/stuff). It's always interesting to hear what the differences are - some I like, and some I obviously from the start don't!

heiney9

This is the tube I was talking about.....maybe it's the same tube as the "S" in the GT line. GT doesn't make tubes......they are a re-brander.

Remember there are only 3 plants making all tubes so even though they all have different brand names and to a small degree different model numbers, they really are all similar across all the different labels. TAD is a re-brander and his tubes are exactly the same as GT's tubes since they come from the same place. All these manufacturers give the illusion they are different, but they aren't.

https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/T-E34L-S-MP-GT

MrBuhl

So - sorry @H9 - good tube? Or the JJ?

heiney9

Within those 3 production plants, they are making a few variations of the same tube types. Saratov Russian plant makes the EH EL34; Tung Sol EL34 and Mullard EL34 among others and they are all slightly different, but come from the same place.

H9

heiney9

MrBuhl wrote: »

So - sorry @H9 - good tube? Or the JJ?

You didn't over pay. I don't have direct experience with current GT tubes. I just know the Siemens I bought several years ago were the last production of JJ - Tesla when they made stellar tubes. I did a lot of research on the Siemens I have.

They appear to be the same construction, but I have no idea of the materials or workmanship of the GT's.

I'm with MM, look for something different to keep things interesting. But be aware, most of the current production EL34's only vary slightly since they are made at the same 3 tube plants (Russia, Czechoslovakia, China).

If you want the link for the Winged =C= let me know, I will PM it to you.

MrBuhl

Please! I would be in your debt on the Winged =C=!

MrBuhl

So just as a matter of interest - snapped these tonight which are labeled slightly differently than pictured (premium moniker and tube type vertical vs horizontal) the envelope seems heavier than the Mullard one and there is no dimple at the flat spot on top. Looks like stapled though or maybe very fine spot weld at best.

F1nut

MrBuhl, try the 6CA7 black Treasures.

MrBuhl

Thanks guys!

^^ I fully intend to Jesse!^^ They're in the "Daddy has to unload some gear first" portion of the budget - at $300+ a quad they're a little more extravagant than these. Hopefully by the end of the year I will swing a set though.

MrBuhl

@xcapri79 it's interesting - they don't actually list the EL34L-S in their reference guide. There's an EL84L-S but no 34. Cool reference guide though, thank you.