bungalowbill
Luckybastidologist
OK guys, I'm looking for the fattest and cleanest sounding EL 84s....for a reasonable price. What are your opinions?
EL 84s
- Thread starter bungalowbill
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Randy Combs
New member
Re: EL 84s
Newer made would be JJ's. Vintage would be GE's.
Newer made would be JJ's. Vintage would be GE's.
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: EL 84s
Lots of people seem to like the JJs, so I'll plus-one that.
- Keith
Lots of people seem to like the JJs, so I'll plus-one that.
- Keith
Yngwiestein
New member
Re: EL 84s
I've been using Mesa Boogie EL84 tubes in my Budda Superdrive 30 and they are fantastic. Very reasonably priced, $17.99/pair.
I've been using Mesa Boogie EL84 tubes in my Budda Superdrive 30 and they are fantastic. Very reasonably priced, $17.99/pair.
Fresh_Start
New member
Re: EL 84s
If you can find them, the Ei version of the EL-84 is warm but still clean sounding. JJs are darker and not as clear to my ear. My Blues Jr. lost some of its chime when I put JJs in. Don't even get me started on the Mesa EL-84s - that's what sent me off experimenting with everything else.
The Tube Store has the Ei tubes but you may be able to find them for less dough somewhere else.
Chip
If you can find them, the Ei version of the EL-84 is warm but still clean sounding. JJs are darker and not as clear to my ear. My Blues Jr. lost some of its chime when I put JJs in. Don't even get me started on the Mesa EL-84s - that's what sent me off experimenting with everything else.
The Tube Store has the Ei tubes but you may be able to find them for less dough somewhere else.
Chip
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: EL 84s
The JJ's are great for sure. TAD's seemed to have a bit higher headroom when I've tried them. The sweetest sounding new production tubes I've tried though were the Ei's. Don't get me started on the GT's, they are the same Russian tubes as the JJ's, but IMHO if you get the JJ's from Eurotubes they do a MUCH better selecting the best tubes from the batch. I've already had the stock GT's fail in my Dr Z and the replacements are starting to get noisey already....popped some JJ's back in and all of my problems went away.
The JJ's are great for sure. TAD's seemed to have a bit higher headroom when I've tried them. The sweetest sounding new production tubes I've tried though were the Ei's. Don't get me started on the GT's, they are the same Russian tubes as the JJ's, but IMHO if you get the JJ's from Eurotubes they do a MUCH better selecting the best tubes from the batch. I've already had the stock GT's fail in my Dr Z and the replacements are starting to get noisey already....popped some JJ's back in and all of my problems went away.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: EL 84s
You're going to hear some new threads from me, since I just spent hours hanging with the tube guru experience like nobody here has ever experienced. I spend the whole night getting drunk with Myles Rose.
He sat me down at a computer going over many graphs of tube stats. It's a night that many people only dream of.
I asked him about EL-84's, and despite his many years of NOS experience, he said JJ EL-84's are the clear choice. And for you my friend. That's the answer. Look no further.
You're going to hear some new threads from me, since I just spent hours hanging with the tube guru experience like nobody here has ever experienced. I spend the whole night getting drunk with Myles Rose.
He sat me down at a computer going over many graphs of tube stats. It's a night that many people only dream of.
I asked him about EL-84's, and despite his many years of NOS experience, he said JJ EL-84's are the clear choice. And for you my friend. That's the answer. Look no further.
S
supernosher
Guest
Hoss
Joyfulnoiseologist
wanmei1
New member
Re: EL 84s
The JJ's are not the clearest sounding but they're rich and full with a smooth transition to breakup and a lovely crunch to the distortion.
Money spent on NOS preamp tubes is really where it's at.
You'll get more of a change in sound from your preamp tubes than you will from the power tubes.
+!
The JJ's are not the clearest sounding but they're rich and full with a smooth transition to breakup and a lovely crunch to the distortion.
Money spent on NOS preamp tubes is really where it's at.
You'll get more of a change in sound from your preamp tubes than you will from the power tubes.
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: EL 84s
I've read through many of Myles' reports and that guy has forgotten more data that most of us will ever accumulate in a lifetime.
I've read through many of Myles' reports and that guy has forgotten more data that most of us will ever accumulate in a lifetime.
wanmei1
New member
Re: EL 84s
If your using a class AB amp with cathode biasing then no you don't have to,..... however it is a good idea for optimum life and power.
Some people have a variable resistor installed instead of the fixed resistor (s) so that the tubes can be tweaked.
Depends....
If your using a class AB amp with cathode biasing then no you don't have to,..... however it is a good idea for optimum life and power.
Some people have a variable resistor installed instead of the fixed resistor (s) so that the tubes can be tweaked.
bungalowbill
Luckybastidologist
Re: EL 84s
Thanks guys! I guess a call to Eurotubes is in order.
Thanks guys! I guess a call to Eurotubes is in order.
guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: EL 84s
You might try and find some NOS Mullards first...they retain the sparkle and have a nice meaty tone, but they do the "edge of freakout" thing REALLY well when they're cranked.
Thanks guys! I guess a call to Eurotubes is in order.
You might try and find some NOS Mullards first...they retain the sparkle and have a nice meaty tone, but they do the "edge of freakout" thing REALLY well when they're cranked.
bungalowbill
Luckybastidologist
Re: EL 84s
My amp gets banged around gigging every weekend...otherwise I would go the extra bucks if it was a recording amp.
My amp gets banged around gigging every weekend...otherwise I would go the extra bucks if it was a recording amp.
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