SED Winged-C EL34's = overrated

[lunchbox]

After reading extensively about pre and power amp tubes I just had to get some of these 'Holy Grail' of EL34's, the SED Winged-C EL34. What a disappointment.

I have a Laney GH50L and TAD EL34B-STR's come stock in it. These are really big bottled tubes with big plates and getter. Especially when compared to the SED's side by side. The SED's look small compared to them.

The SED's lose a lot of the bass and low mids while really pushing the upper mids and highs, but not in a good way, IMO. They sounded good crunchy, but also bad fizzy when I pushed the master volume. Kinda just noisy. I don't understand what the big deal is with these.

The big TAD's on the other hand have a bunch of tight bass, really smooth mids all the way across, and crystal clear top end, but no fizziness.

Just thought I'd share.

 

[GeeJay]

Strange how things turn out isn't it?

I swapped out TAD EL34's for Svetlana EL34's in my Blackstar HT-40 and it is now less fizzy and less harsh than it was before.... With the original TAD tubes, the amp was just unbearable at band level and very nearly went on eBay, but loading some winged C Svetlanas saved the day. It truly sings now, night and day difference.

 

[Cygnus X1]

Did you get it biased?

 

[David Corrales]

Very interesting. I've read about them as well but find they kind of pricey so I've passed so far.

Maybe they react better on Marshall amps (in contrast to Laney)?

 

[lunchbox]

Strange how things turn out isn't it?

I swapped out TAD EL34's for Svetlana EL34's in my Blackstar HT-40 and it is now less fizzy and less harsh than it was before.... With the original TAD tubes, the amp was just unbearable at band level and very nearly went on eBay, but loading some winged C Svetlanas saved the day. It truly sings now, night and day difference.

Which TAD EL34's did you have in there? The TAD site shows three different versions. The one's I have, EL34B-STR, are bigger in size than the SED's and other TAD's.

Did you get it biased?

No. I've read quite a bit about this and there seems to be a 50/50 opinion about re-biasing when using the same tube type (switching EL34 for EL34). Some say it makes a difference, others say it's a techie myth.

At this point I'm just going to keep the TAD's and run with those. Then I won't need to re-bias (if that's the problem).

Very interesting. I've read about them as well but find they kind of pricey so I've passed so far.

Maybe they react better on Marshall amps (in contrast to Laney)?

Could very well be, though I've read posts from guys with GH50/100L's that seem to like the SED's. They just didn't work for me. A lot of the Marshall guys do like them though. I'd like to hear how these TAD's sound in a JCM800 or DSL. I've only ever heard the smaller bottle EL34's in Marshalls.

 

[qpHalcy0n]

EL34's need to be pushed pretty hard to bring out their true character. My experience with them outside of non-master Marshall's has been pretty non-conclusive. You really need to get that thing loud to see them smooth out and bring out their true character, which is how they clip.

Now, biasing is not an "opinion-based" thing. You need to at least check it. In theory if you buy sets of matched tubes and replace them of the same "grade", you may be okay. However, you NEED to check the bias on those things at the very minimum.

 

[GeeJay]

Sorry, I don't know which version of TAD tubes were fitted. They were the stock tubes fitted by Blackstar, so nothing special I guess. Sounded good enough in the store to bring it home, but in the practice, just too aggressive. Actually painful.

 

[sonar]

No. I've read quite a bit about this and there seems to be a 50/50 opinion about re-biasing when using the same tube type (switching EL34 for EL34). Some say it makes a difference, others say it's a techie myth.

Gotta love the internet.

There's no "myth" about tube bias.

 

[Cygnus X1]

Well...there is self adjusting fixed bias and then there is cathode bias which is generally very forgiving.
Most are still fixed, with adjustment needed most times.
This is one of those amps.

There is a bias switch to switch between 5881/6L6CG...and EL34.
But still a trim pot to fine tune it.
You'll achieve optimum tone by getting it right.

 

[Deus Vult]

the winged c el34s that power my YJM are the tits. Delicious plexi tone.

 

[lunchbox]

Gotta love the internet.

There's no "myth" about tube bias.

There is a bias switch to switch between 5881/6L6CG...and EL34.
But still a trim pot to fine tune it.
You'll achieve optimum tone by getting it right.

Yep, you can ask a yes/no question and get 50 answers. That's the internets.

I'm going to take it in anyways. Since I've been switching tubes around the amp has developed a hum when standby is off. Transformer maybe? I'll have it biased when I get this prob fixed.

Still, just from what I heard in my simple testing, I don't think the SED's have the balls of the TAD's. Even if I get it biased. I will give it a try however.

 

[Splattle101]

bump

WTF are you going around bumping half a dozen threads for? One word does not a contribution make.

How's that post count goin' for ya?