A fistfull of JJs

[ken361]

Re: A fistfull of JJs

I used EH power tubes they sound nice but dont last in the dsl maybe because the vibration,bias was 34 and 36 at the time and got hum sound on both sets. One set lasted 6 months and the 2nd 3 months. Now have the Tungsol biased cooler now on 7 months and going strong

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: A fistfull of JJs

I use regular JJ EL-34's because they're cheap, have the classic 34 compression at normal volumes, and I don't want more headroom on my XTC or Marshalls. Since my 50W Jubilee is higher gain, thus thinner, I use E34L's to fatten it.

I use Tungsol, Ruby, EH, or Shuguang pre's, depending on whatever sounds best in a particular amp. Anytime I get gift cards from music stores, I spend them on pre tubes, just to keep a good stock of them.

 

[JeffB]

Re: A fistfull of JJs

The description of the JJ EL34-IIs here and the delta you are looking for sounds similar to how I would describe EHX 6CA7s. Have you ever tried those before?

I have not. They were on my short list awhile back, but went with those KT77s. I still want to give them a whirl.

I use regular JJ EL-34's because they're cheap, have the classic 34 compression at normal volumes, and I don't want more headroom on my XTC or Marshalls. Since my 50W Jubilee is higher gain, thus thinner, I use E34L's to fatten it.

Good to know. The standard JJ34s don't get much love, so I was afraid to go there. I'm actually really starting to like these EL34IIs. They do a better job of pushing the DSL towards JMP/JCM 220x territory than the Mullard RI do. More dry. More crunchy/crispy. Like Captain Crunch without milk

 

[dystrust]

Re: A fistfull of JJs

Good to know. The standard JJ34s don't get much love, so I was afraid to go there. I'm actually really starting to like these EL34IIs. They do a better job of pushing the DSL towards
JMP/JCM 220x territory than the Mullard RI do. More dry. More crunchy/crispy. Like Captain Crunch without milk

I can second the JJ EL-34s. I just had a set installed and biased by Savage Audio, and my Jubilee sounds better than it has in YEARS.

 

[Demanic]

Re: A fistfull of JJs

I like JJ's. Period.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[JeffB]

Re: A fistfull of JJs

Looking forward to your post next week when you tell us how much they suck.

Well, it's been a few weeks and....

I'm having a hard time finding much love for the 803S..at least in this amp. Its decent as a Cathode follower- kind of gives the Tone Stack more precision. But I don't like it balanced or not in the PI or the gain stages. Again, maybe a different amp that needs tightening/cleaning up some filth, it may work better.

I went back to my New Sensor tubes for a few days and I found myself trying to dial out brightness/treble and simultaneously beef up the amp to no avail. They bring out the fizzies n the G12ms moreso as well. The DSL is just a bright and stiff amp. Needs some added warmth and "Vintage-ness", IMO.

I put all JJs back in, minus the 803s. Got a 83MG in V2, and 83S everywhere else. I have a new respect for the 83s when using JJs own power tubes. Still may give the standard JJ EL34 or the EL34L a whirl. But so far, liking the re-tube (minus the 803s). I can actually use my presence and treble controls now.

 

[The JEM Ghost]

Re: A fistfull of JJs

But so far, liking the re-tube (minus the 803s). I can actually use my presence and treble controls now.

Good to hear you like it JeffB!! That's the JJ's 83 working their magic, they are known for their warmth, and often used to tame bright sounding amps, and rightfully so if you ask me. Sure, I can imagine people not liking them because of they are after a more trebly sound, or because they are not in an amp that asks for their tone, but overall I think it's a shame that JJ's often are underrated!
Have fun playing them mate! :fingersx:

 

[dystrust]

Re: A fistfull of JJs

Good to hear you like it JeffB!! That's the JJ's 83 working their magic, they are known for their warmth, and often used to tame bright sounding amps, and rightfully so if you ask me. Sure, I can imagine people not liking them because of they are after a more trebly sound, or because they are not in an amp that asks for their tone, but overall I think it's a shame that JJ's often are underrated!
Have fun playing them mate! :fingersx:

+1 on being amp-dependent.

I don't care for JJ ECC83s in my Marshall Jubilees, either the Mini or 2555. They sound decent on the overdrive channel, but make the clean really dull and dead-sounding. I really like JJ EL-34s in both amps with a Tung-Sol in V1, EHX in V2 (CF), and Sovtek LPS in V3 (PI).

In my Jet City JCA22H OTOH, JJ ECC83s are absolutely perfect for taming the amp's bright and generally grainy tone. That amp doesn't have a clean channel, so perhaps it doesn't highlight the JJ's weakness.

 

[JeffB]

Re: A fistfull of JJs

+1 on being amp-dependent

That's absolutely the truth. It is so dependent on amp AND speakers. I cannot stand the JJ Ecc83s in the gain stages of some of my other amps like my old Orange OR15(s). There they contribute to extra darkness and too much thickness ( i.e. clarity goes down the drain) and make it sound more like a distortion pedal.

 

[JeffB]

Re: A fistfull of JJs

On a whim I found the magic combo for my DSL. Makes the mids sweeter, reduces the harsh, sounds bigger and sustains/blooms much better compared to the EL34s. It's like a Hi-Watt and a Marshall 1987 had a baby (which is the sound in my head, I think...)

KT77s
V1 803S
V2/3/4 83S

 

[dystrust]

Re: A fistfull of JJs

On a whim I found the magic combo for my DSL. Makes the mids sweeter, reduces the harsh, sounds bigger and sustains/blooms much better compared to the EL34s. It's like a Hi-Watt and a Marshall 1987 had a baby (which is the sound in my head, I think...)

KT77s
V1 803S
V2/3/4 83S

That's awesome. My magic combo in either Jubilee is definitely JJ EL-34s (not the II) with Tung-Sol V1, EHX V2, & Sovtek LPS V3. For the sounds I'm after, I love how the JJ EL-34 is like a best of both worlds hybrid of an EL-34 and 6550.

 

[allstarrme]

Re: A fistfull of JJs

I have a bunch of the gold pin jj 83's I need to try out, waiting for a sale so I can grab some kt77's too, I have jj e34l's in several amps.

I am tempted by the genelex gold lions too, but that price.