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- Valve Types:
- Valve Names:
  - ECC83 (12AX7)
  - ECC82 (12AU7)
  - ECC81 (12AT7)
  - EL34
    The EL34 (6CA7) valve was originally introduced back in 1949 by Philips the parent company of Mullard.
    Among the first amps to use EL34 valves were the Marantz 2 (1955), Dynaco Mark II (1956), and the rare Pye Mozart, a single-ended 9-watt British unit from 1956.
    The EL34 valve’s popularity was sealed when Jim Marshall selected it for his JTM45 guitar amp in 1965. He went with it because it was cheaper and easier to get in England than the 6L6 he had used previously.
    That amp went on to become a standard for the British blues-rock sound. The EL34 tube also found its way into Hiwatt, Orange, and Laney amps, all made in Britain, as well as the popular Canadian-made Traynor brand.
    Although Philips no longer makes the EL34 tube, it is manufactured by Electro Harmonix, JJ Electronics and Sovtek which deliver top quality output tubes with stunning tone.
    Of course, many amplifier manufacturers rebrand these valves in their own name.
  - EL84
  - KT66
  - KT77
  - KT88
  - 5881
  - 6550
  - 6L6
  - 6V6
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Why Use a Valve Rectifier in a Guitar Amplifier?

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 23 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Stuart ukguitarampguy 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I'm a Berkshire based amp tech and have fitted literally hundreds of valves sold by Ampvalves. Always reliable and I get a personal servivce too if I have any queries. Very good company in my view.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Isabelle Worthington 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service , friendly and helpful very knowledgeable. Thank you so much amp now working as it should.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Anthony White 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely brilliant service from Ampvalves.co.uk
I will not hesitate to use this excellent company again.
Easy website to navigate, with valves arriving well packaged and on time.
Ampvalves provide a service I've not experienced for years. Try them. You wont be disappointed.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Steve 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. New valves arrived today from Ampvalves. Awesome. I loved the sound of my Victory V40 when I bought it new - and now it's even better. Great valves and superb customer service. Highly recommended.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Alex Fischer 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I recently purchased a replacement tube set for my Line 6 DT25 Head amp from Ampvalves.
The website is very user-friendly and makes it easy to find the perfect tube set for your amp.

Due to an error by the parcel service, my shipment did not find its way to me. After contacting the support, I was helped immediately and competently.

The quality of service was truly exceptional and exceeded my expectations. A special thanks to Barry Tyler. Hey Barry, you did a very good job.

The tube set arrived afterwards in excellent condition, exactly as described on the website.

The quality is remarkable. It’s well worth the money for their high-quality tubes. I highly recommend the tubes from Ampvalves.
Also, my amp gives grateful feedback with a wonderful fresh sound.

Alex from Switzerland
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Max Bevan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Will never buy valves anywhere else. Incredibly well set up website to find the correct tubes. Very well priced and very quick delivery. Will be recommending to everyone! Thank you!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   David Dawkins 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amazingly helpful, truly above and beyond with their customer experience. I was pretty stuck, through my own fault, and still they went the extra mile to get me back up and running. Thank you so much.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   kev herbert 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Cant fault them extremely helpful & prompt with delivery.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Steven Wilson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent place to grab your amp valves. Great choice of valves, amazing customer service and prompt responses to queries via email. I was unsure of the best valves to use for my amp and sound, they gave me great advice. When I ordered the valves I used the wrong delivery option and they even sorted that out for me. Highly recommended.
  
 
  
  
 
    Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

Rectifier valves are used in a large number of vintage and reissue guitar amplfiers.

For example the GZ34 (5AR4) rectifier from JJ Electronics.

This version of the GZ34 has a thick glass envelope and robust electrodes making it the perfect workhorse for those guitar amplifiers which use tube rectification.

Examples of guitar amplifiers which use the GZ34 (5AR4) rectifier tube are the Fender 66 Custom Deluxe and the Fender Pro Reverb and the Fender Princeton Reverb Reissue but there are many others. In fact it’s become quite chic to add a rectifier tube to a new guitar amplifier design. Guitarists love that ‘retro’ feel and sound!

Difference Between the GZ34 and the 5AR4.

That’s simple. There is none! They are just different numbering systems for identical valves.

Why Use a Valve Rectifier Such as the GZ34?

Good question. These are big, hot bottles which can easily be replaced by a few pence worth of silicon rectifier. In theory, the latter will actually do a BETTER job than the GZ34 rectifier valve. So there is obviously more to this than meets the eye. Why do designers still use valves in the rectifier section?

The first thing to realise is that the GZ34 is NOT in the signal chain. It’s there simply to change AC to DC. A process called rectification. But it still affects the sound of the amp.

The reason valve rectifiers like the GZ34 are still used is because of the way they behave when they receive a large signal. If the amplifier is loaded (say by hitting a heavy chord) the DC will ‘sag’ because the rectifier can’t quite keep up. There is a very small delay before it gets up to speed. In contrast a diode rectifier will barely sag. (sagging means the DC voltage drops before recovering.) Guitarists really like this sag effect, because it softens the attack at the front end of the chord or note.

And of course, back in the day there were no decent solid state rectifiers so valve rectifiers were the only game in town. There are still tens of thousands of vintage amplifiers out there which use GZ34 rectifier tubes and so they are still made and available.

So now you know!

If you want to replace GZ34 on your amp we recommend JJ tubes, click the link below to purchase.

Why Use a Valve Rectifier in a Guitar Amplifier?

Difference Between the GZ34 and the 5AR4.

Why Use a Valve Rectifier Such as the GZ34?

Related Products

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