Ruby EL34BHT?

[dehughes]

Has anyone tried this tube yet, and specifically, can anyone speak to its differences/similarities with the EL34B-STR? I really like the STR version, but am curious about the BHT....

[Roe]

I havent tried but but heard that it is very rugged although not very el34 sounding

[dehughes]

I havent tried but but heard that it is very rugged although not very el34 sounding

Good to know. Thanks. I want EL34, not "ish". I'll stick with the STRs for now....

[coolidge]

Wing =C= EL34's crush the Ruby BHT in tone. I tried both and that was my opinion. So I shipped this plexi I custom built to the UK and had a top amp tech their check it out for shipping damage and bias it before I would let the artist fire it up. I sent them both sets of tubes, Wing =C= and Ruby BHT's. He and the artist said it wasn't even a contest, the Wing =C= won easily on tone.

The BHT can take 560vdc on the 'screens' which is why I wanted to give this tube a try, the Marshall was pushing 495vdc on the screens. Plate voltage isn't really an issue with most tubes as most of the EL34's out there are rated for 800vdc on the plates, its the screen voltage to watch. A bunch of EL34 tubes are only rated 400-450vdc on the screens. Wing =C= and this Ruby BHT are both rated higher, 500vdc and 560vdc.

By the way the artist has punished those Wing =C= tubes, even blew speakers in a 4-12 cab and they are still going strong a year later.

[dehughes]

Nice. Thanks coolidge. Have you tried the STR variant, by chance?

[Roe]

screen voltage isn't the only problem since the 100w marshalls run the el34s too hot: with a 1k7 load the voltages should be 420v max, not 460-530v like marshall used. this will often lead to redplating when running hard, a cold bias at idle wont help much. I've had problems with the winged Cs redplating in highvoltage 100watters

[dehughes]

I think the voltages should be good, as I'm only seeing 420vDC on the plates at most, being as I had the low voltage PT installed. So far, I'm really, really liking the STRs in my Germino Classic 45...they sound GREAT.