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Yellowjackets...any experience with them?!

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  • Yellowjackets...any experience with them?!

    seems like a cool idea?! wonder how well they really work!?



    "What are Yellow JacketsŪ?
    Yellow JacketsŪ Converters are a type of specialized adapters which permit the use of EL84/6BQ5 power tubes in place of 6V6, 6L6, EL34, and 7591 types.

    How do they work?
    They give you simple Class-A operation from any amp.Yellow JacketŪ Converters not only rearrange the pin locations of the tubes, but also provide the necessary current limiting on the screens and cathode as well as blocking the amplifier's grid bias voltage, while configuring the EL84 in a Class-A, Self-adjusiting cathode-bias circuit. In other words, there are no adjustments to make and no modifications necesary, you simply plug the Yellow JacketsŪ into the amp's output tube sockets, (in cathode-bias amplifiers) screw the ground wires under one of the output tube socket mounting screws, plug the provided EL84's into the Yellow JacketsŪ, turn on the amp and play.

    How will they change my amplifier?
    It's like getting a whole new amplifier! In Champ and Deluxe type amplifiers, the Yellow JacketsŪ output is smooth, strong and more even than with the stock 6V6s. When the Yellow jacketsŪ Converters are installed inlarger amplifiers intended for 6L6s or EL34 output tubes, the high plate and screen voltages are reduced as well as current limited to protect the EL84 and to drop output power. When a pair of Yellow JacketsŪ are used in a Marshall 50 watt or similar amplifier, the overall power drops to about 20 watts and takes on more of the character of an old Vox AC30. The distortion is smoother and more even and the output is both substantially reduced and more compressed due to the Class-A nature of the Yellow JacketsŪ. In a 100 watt amp like a Twin Reverb or Marshall 100, either two or four Yellow JacketsŪ can be used. If only two are used and the other two sockets are left empy, the output is dropped to about 20 watts. With four in place, the amp puts out about 40 watts and takes on a whole new warmth and richness.

    In the cases of the YJ7591 converters, the overall ouput power remains the same, but the sound becomes fuller and the extinct 7591 are replaced with common and inexpensive EL84 tubes. In old Ampeg Reverb Rockets and the like, you experience a warmth and sweetness that you could never get with the now unavailable 7591 tubes.

    Will they hurt my amp?
    No! Yellow JacketŪ converters are safe for all amplifiers and transformers. As all Yellow JacketŪ Converters internally limit voltage and current they put no extra strain on amplifiers' power and output transformers or internal components. Using the Yellow JacketsŪ in higher powered amplifiers actually reduces the strain on the transformers and internal components because it reduces the overall wattage of the system. Furthermore, the heater (or filament) current of the EL84 is lower than that of the 6L6, EL34 or 7591, so the Yellow JacketŪ will reduce the strain on the filament windings of the power transformer as well."
    Originally posted by jeremy
    God hates bad guitar tone
    GUITARS: Schecter Saturn, Takamine, Ibanez Mandolin
    AMPS: Traynor YCV40WR/KT77s, VHT Special 6, Marshall AS50R
    EFX: Line 6 G30, Fhusk CS-3, Emerson EM-Drive, Emerson Paramount,
    Keisman Earlybird, EB VPJr, Empress Tape Delay, Hungry Robot Lil Gazer

  • #2
    Re: Yellowjackets...any experience with them?!

    I had them. They worked great. I just didn't dig the sound of the EL84s in my amp (Crate Blue Voodoo).
    My songs....enjoy! (hopefully )

    http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=652921
    or for older stuff too, but slower downloads
    http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp...=301569&T=7414

    Originally posted by DankStar
    700 watts is ok for small clubs, but when you play with a loud drummer or at a medium-large sized venue, you really need 1,500-watts at least. no one should be left alive.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Yellowjackets...any experience with them?!

      it would kinda be an expensive experiment then huh?
      Originally posted by jeremy
      God hates bad guitar tone
      GUITARS: Schecter Saturn, Takamine, Ibanez Mandolin
      AMPS: Traynor YCV40WR/KT77s, VHT Special 6, Marshall AS50R
      EFX: Line 6 G30, Fhusk CS-3, Emerson EM-Drive, Emerson Paramount,
      Keisman Earlybird, EB VPJr, Empress Tape Delay, Hungry Robot Lil Gazer

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Yellowjackets...any experience with them?!

        You'd lose some cash if you don't like them, that's for sure. I got mine, and sold mine on ebay. Also bought two brand new JJ tubes from Eurotubes.

        The Blue Voodoo is a finicky amp though. My guitar tech said I probably wouldn't like the sound, but stubborn ol me had to see for myself. I've heard people who rave about these in Marshalls. I think it's the 6V6 designs like my amp and Fenders that don't like the EL84s. I think.
        My songs....enjoy! (hopefully )

        http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=652921
        or for older stuff too, but slower downloads
        http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp...=301569&T=7414

        Originally posted by DankStar
        700 watts is ok for small clubs, but when you play with a loud drummer or at a medium-large sized venue, you really need 1,500-watts at least. no one should be left alive.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Yellowjackets...any experience with them?!

          I used a pair in a Marshall DSL 50. Sounded OK, but not great. They would be worth it if you were doing alot of studio recording, as they do change the sound of an amp, giving you more options.

          My DSL sounded better with the stock EL34 tubes.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Yellowjackets...any experience with them?!

            I've got a pair ....they sounded good in some amps/not so good in others.

            When I traded my UniValve away for a Hiwatt, I gave the guy a bunch of tubes & the 1 YJ I had & he gave me a pair of 6CA7s & 2 YJs.

            They worked very well with the Hiwatt BTW.....

            Yeah, a semi-pricey experiment, but you can always get rid of them if you don't like them. You won't get BRAND NEW prices, but a fair price is better than collecting dust!


            If you get an amp you wanna try them in, let me know....you can try mine out before dropping the cash on some
            Last edited by PUCKBOY99; 12-23-2005, 04:27 PM.

            Guitars: Frankinstein TeleBird/Classic Vibe Esquire w/BG-1400/Martin 000-28EC
            Amps: 3rd Power Dream Solo 4 '68 Plexi/Port City Wave 2x12
            FX: Skinpimp Faceplant/Skinpimp 3OD/Flyin' Dragon


            https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/fa...wn/id786464154
            http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/seanhanley

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Yellowjackets...any experience with them?!

              thanks bro...i may take you up on that offer one of these days!
              Originally posted by jeremy
              God hates bad guitar tone
              GUITARS: Schecter Saturn, Takamine, Ibanez Mandolin
              AMPS: Traynor YCV40WR/KT77s, VHT Special 6, Marshall AS50R
              EFX: Line 6 G30, Fhusk CS-3, Emerson EM-Drive, Emerson Paramount,
              Keisman Earlybird, EB VPJr, Empress Tape Delay, Hungry Robot Lil Gazer

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Yellowjackets...any experience with them?!

                I had a pair when I owned my Bivalve. They worked great and I discovered I don't like el84's.
                PRS McCarty Korina loaded w/Godwoods
                PRS Custom 22 loaded w/Dragon IIs
                GJ2 Shredder loaded w/Habaneros
                Rivera Knucklehead 55 Reverb/Blackstar HT-1/VHT Special Ultra 6
                Avatar 2X12 loaded with V30 & G12H30
                various pedals

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Yellowjackets...any experience with them?!

                  I used em in 2 amps

                  I used em in a MESA HEARTBREAKER where I mixed it with 6L6's. It worked GREAT! I like the thickness it gave the mid signature. It was like a nice tweak that gave a 6L6 amp the "british" feel I wanted. Added nice harmonics and it really had that vox-y feel. With the half power switch it gave me a nice rich poor man's BUDDA at 18-20 watts.

                  On the MARSHALL, it took all the balls from the Marshall and made them kinda Vox-y and really creamy. I like my Marshall Plexi to be a Plexi. NOW here is the killer, MIXED WITH EL34's IT WAS WAYYYYY HARSH IN THE MIDS. The El34 Marshall is middy enough. With the EL84's MIXED, it lost bottom, got a weird harmonic overtone over the top that I didn't dig compared to the real thing, AND it had HARSH mids.
                  1973 Les Paul Standard
                  1973 Marshall Super Lead 100

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Yellowjackets...any experience with them?!

                    IN my experience, they can make a poor sounding amp sound better sometimes, but they didn't seem to help much for amps that have been modded to dial in a particular sound. I use them in a JCM 900 Dual Reverb which has a poor Marshall sound IMO. The YJs make it Voxy like "O" says and the amp usable in the studio. They sound pretty good also in my 80 50W JMP, but don't sound so good in my 77 Super Lead which was modded with a PTP board and extra 12ax7 for gain. They also didn't do much for my Splawn modded Marshall. KInda fun to mess with though and give you a different sound dimension to experiment with.
                    "Should vos exsisto scelestus ut vegrandis quod pallens , EGO precor everto contamino vestri animus quod vos may teneo haud pacis in is terra."
                    sigpic

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