EL34 suggestions

[gui_tarzan]

I'm refreshing my Traynor YBA-1A and it calls for 6CA7/EL34s. I've read the reviews on thetubestore.com and CE, but I'm unsure of what is the best mid-price tube for this amp. Do you guys have any suggestions based on your personal use?

[LeftyStrat]

The JJ 6CA7 is nice if you want something halfway between a 6L6 and EL34. If you want more bottom, the JJ E34L is nice. I haven't gotten around to trying the EH EL34 or the JJ KT77. I hear the JJ KT77 is nice.

Some people have reported reliability problems with JJ, but I buy them from Eurotubes in Portland and have never had a problem. They apparently have higher standards in what they reject, or either I've just been lucky.

I think Tube Depot offers a burn in option, which I would take if using them. Haven't compared prices between them and Eurotubes.

My preference is the E34L. But I'm a Strat player. With humbuckers it might be too much bottom.

[billyz]

I have been using the Tungsol el34b for a few years now . It has been very reliable and good sounding. Maybe a bit more towards the 6ca7 sound, robust.
For the last 9 months been trying the Mullard ri el34 and so far they have been preferred by my clientele . Sound wise they seem closer to the xf4 mullard than the tungsol. No failures yet. These are not the groove tube mullard ri ( which failed) . I just put a pair in a 67' jtm 50 and it sounded glorious.

[KellyBass]

I've had great luck and superb mids with Winged C's. I would think that a circuit like your YBA and these would be a great fit. The low mids especially growl like crazy.

[Leo_Gnardo]

I tried a batch of JJ KT77 a few years back, 2006. They worked just fine in a couple of rare Burman amps I was tasked to repair, also in my living room stereo Dynaco Mk II power amps from @ 1956. In some other amps - when driven past clipping they distort an an unpleasant way. And I could see the waveform clip in an unusual way on the scope, so it wasn't just my ears. Other than that, as long as they run below clip, no problem.

[rdjones]

That amp is calling out for Sylvania/ECG/Philips 6CA7s, you know, the "big bottles". ;->

rd

[wyatt]

That amp is calling out for Sylvania/ECG/Philips 6CA7s, you know, the "big bottles". ;->

rd

Yep. That's probably what came stock in there.

Plate voltage in the 1A is ~540VDC? What is the screen voltage? 500+? Might limit options for new manufacture.

[cbass]

I'm running a quad jj e34l's At around 530 vdc One took a dump immediatly The others seem to be hanging in there for now.
I'll keep my fingers crossed