Express Power Tubes...

[Paul-in-KC]

the plates on the regular Siemens have four large punch holes. This tube looks more like an Amperex (maybe RFT?) with the small punched plate..

Thanks 2tone - they were purchased from a large UK eBay seller (Langrex) that has top feedback and does accept returns, so I don't think they are a big risk - but will cost some time and hassle if they aren't legit.

They seem to have a big supply of them, which may also be a bad sign (from a certain point of view).

I'll let you know what I think after I get them - though I have nothing to compare them against (as far as NOS Siemens tubes).

-Paul

[redshark]

This is the one you want.....

[Paul-in-KC]

I assume that "hole pattern" identifies RFT tubes.

Are there any other NOS tubes that will produce the TrainWreck Express sound?

Thanks again.
-Paul

[2tone]

lots of good Euro tubes will...all give a different vibe... XF2 Mullards..are always good. I have also really liked a pair of metal based EL34's!!!!. The Telefunken with the plate shield are very rich in harmonics too...Amperex's are good...But the Siemens that were stock have freat mids and hard to beat for sound/price ratio...

[Paul-in-KC]

I got some more info from Langrex regarding the NOS Siemens that they are selling.

James Rhodes (the Proprietor) says that they have had these in stock for 20 years +/-.

He believes that the tubes were made by Tesla in the early 90's and were boxed and branded later by Siemens.

He is perfectly willing to give a full refund if I'm not happy with them - so, you can't beat that.

Now - I'll just have to wait until they get here and see what they sound like.

-Paul

[Paul-in-KC]

Another update.

Looks like I should have some RFT's for comparison.

I found one source in the US and one in the Ukraine (eBay).

I should get tubes from the US source next week.

The Ukraine sourced tubes are estimated to arrive sometime in the first half of May.

I don't have high hopes for the NOS Siemens tubes from Langrex - but, we will see (actually hear). Will be nice to have some RFT's in hand to compare with.

Anyone know of any suppliers in the US with any of these?

They seem to be very scarce.

-Paul

[overtone]

Wahoo!...
Can someone have a look at these and tell me if they are RFT or other?
...

other and not sure which, but the base is distinctive,
I only have two EL34s with bases like that but,
the bases are brown and the tubes have double getters,
no idea of the branding. One says Marshall.

There is a German tube site "ask Jan first" with a huge run down on the history of the EL34 and if I remember correctly he states that Siemens never made their own EL34. They always rebranded.

I feel that you are being asked to pay a steep price in the USA for the RFTs. But the market decides what it can bear and they are/were a fine tube.
My opinion is skewed anyway because I am near the original source. They keep on popping up here.

Best, tony

[overtone]

here is an image I posted once before showing the RFT bases compared to XF2 type

[Paul-in-KC]

...I feel that you are being asked to pay a steep price in the USA for the RFTs. But the market decides what it can bear and they are/were a fine tube.
My opinion is skewed anyway because I am near the original source.

They keep on popping up here.

Tony - thanks for the info and pics.

Let me know if any of those RFT's pop up there that would like to see America

I'd love to show them around (from inside my amp of course).

-Paul

[Reeltarded]

Last week or the previous, there were around 20 quads and 20 pairs on 'Thee Ebay".

[Paul-in-KC]

Last week or the previous, there were around 20 quads and 20 pairs on 'Thee Ebay".

Miles - I ordered one of those pair. So - now only 19

But I couldn't find any that appeared to be unused and matched. Mostly used.

The pair that I bought are coming from the Ukraine and the seller did claim that they were new unused, but did not comment on the matching.

The reason I was inviting Tony to send tubes is that it sounds like they are more common and less $$$ there. Plus, I think it's my duty as an American to welcome any great sounding, foreign born power tubes in to my house.

-Paul

[Reeltarded]

Oh wow. Just checked and the seller I saw was bought out!

They were $150 matched pairs NOS, don't remember where from, but I thought was Cawlifornia. There are some good deals on there today, I need to go take another look.

I wonder how these JJ 6ca7s fare in a Wreck. I bought 2 quads from Steve around Christmas and I like em. Inexpensive too.

[overtone]

F.A.B. Paul,
have taken note and will see what I can do.
Just sent a mail off to enquire if there are any left for you from the last batch that popped up.
I am not a tube dealer, I just let them find me.

Another tell-tale sign of a RFT EL34 is a dimple in the glass top.

Wondering about the Siemens in TW: as Siemens EL34s were always re-branded - are we sure that the RFT "Siemens" is the EL34 KF used?
Is that the one that came in the originals?
I have seen some other very tasty looking Siemens 34s that look a bit Dutch,

best, tony

[Paul-in-KC]

Overtone/Tony,

Thanks very much!

From what I have seen, read, and heard - I believe that the NOS Siemens EL34's that KF used were RFT. But I am relatively new here - so my sense of that doesn't carry much weight.

I also believe that he used a variety of tubes (for multiple reasons - such as suiting a customer's taste).

I want to try the RFT EL34's in my clone to see if they will bring the tone closer to the two original Express' that I have heard.

Thanks again!
-Paul

[paulster]

Ken did use the RFT/Siemens tubes. They are easy to recognise by the slim tubes and the dimple in the top.