Feature Roundup of the 24 Best Guitar Amp Heads with EL34 Tubes
This is a curation of the best, high-quality amplifiers that use EL34 tubes in the power amp section. We've stuck to brands that are well-known and high-end, many of which are boutique and built/wired by hand. Notable brands include Marshall, Mesa/Boogie, ENGL, Orange, and more.
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1. Marshall JCM800
A classic amp known for its high-gain British tone, often associated with classic rock, hard rock and metal.
2. Marshall 1987X 50-watt Plexi
Legacy Marshall with a vintage voice, 2-channels, and simplified control scheme.
3. Marshall JVM410H
Heavy, though flexible tone with a ton of control and some modern amenities.
4. Marshall DSL100HR
More affordable tube amp head from the DSL series with 2 channels, speaker emulation, and a versatile gain range.
5. EVH 5150 Iconic Series EL34
British voiced EL34 tubes in the power amp, in a two-channel amp head with some modern edge.
6. EVH 5150III 50-watt EL34
Brown sound, modern crunch tube amp with three channels and EL34 power amp tubes.
7. ENGL Amplifiers E670FE Founders Edition
High-powered, 100-watt modern-voiced amp head with four EL34 power tubes, five channels, and tons of modern digital features.
8. Bogner Ecstasy 100-watt Tube Head with EL34s
Three-channel amp head with 4 EL34 power tubes and both British and American tone qualities.
9. Bogner Helios Eclipse
Hand-wired with 3 channels and EL34 tubes in the power amp. Modern tone lean.
10. Bogner Uberschall MK2
Highly-customizable tube amp head with two channels and EL34 power tubes.
11. Blackstar St. James 50-watt Tube Head
Simple, 2-channel tube amp with a wide range of gain levels, a USB connection and Cab Rig output.
12. Tone King Royalist MKIII
Vintage, British style tube amp head with built-in attenuator, and a line out.
13. Friedman SS-100v2 Steve Stevens Signature
Steve Steven's, 80's style signature tube amp, built by hand in the United States.
14. Friedman Butterslax Bill Kelliher Signature
High-power tube amp head with 3 channels, designed by Mastodon's Bill Kelliher with an articulate distortion style.
15. Friedman BE-100
High-gain British style tube amp with 3 channels and a flexible control scheme.
16. Friedman Small Box 50
50-watt amp head, similar in tone and style to the Marshall Plexi.
17. Friedman Runt 50
Two channels and more of a vintage profile, but with some modern tweaks like an emulated XLR line out.
18. Orange Rockerverb 50
Versatile tone profile, 2 channels and power attenuation.
19. Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Very modern tube amp with a ton of flexibility, 2 channels, and selectable channel modes.
20. Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier
Heavy, very modern tube head with 3 channels, and tons of control (expanded version of the Dual Rectifier).
21. Laney Black Country Customs Ironheart IRT60H
Tube amp head with 3 channels and a lot of modern amenities including wattage attenuation.
22. Hughes & Kettner Triamp MKIII
150 watt amp head with 3 programmable channels and a massive amount of customization.
23. Victory Amplification The Sheriff 100
British style tube amp with 2 channels and low power mode.
24. Victory Amplification VX The Super Kraken
Two channels with selectable modes and a heavy gain profile with some modern amenities.
These tube amps are all curated based on well-known, high-quality guitar amplifier brands and all including EL34 tubes in their power amp circuit. If you have additions/suggestions or corrections, feel free to submit them in the comments section below.
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Written by Guitar Chalk on Amps & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Amps & Roundups
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