Damn it! Bluesbreaker + Yellowjacket content

[Guest]

Okay so I got to try the Yellow Jackets today (only at low volume though as I have it in my apartment).

I removed the original tubes, Sovtek 5881's. Then I was about to remove the spring thingy that secures the tube. I screwed the screws out to remove them... and heard when some parts fell into the chassis! DAMN... I didn'r realize until I opened it up that the screws also held the powertube sockets in place :smack: you should remove the holders by getting the springs loose from their holders not unscrew the holder from the chassis! So now I had a couple of small nuts that had fell into the chassis! Well, I had never put a screwdriver or any tool inside a tube amp before. But now I had to... luckily I got it fixed and I'm still alive!

Well after getting the tube socket screws back in place I finally got to plug the Yellow Jacket/JJ EL84 combo in.

First off, it didn't drop the volume much at bedroom levels. But I was already prepared for that so it didn't come as a big suprise.

Secondly it sounds different... but not in a bad way, and not voxy at all. At least not at low volumes. More life in the tone, more... well simply better. I guess this also is because the Sovteks aren't supposed to be really good tubes and on top of that they also needed to be replaced.

Now to the MAJOR BAD THING! These Yellow Jackets won't fit when putting the chassis back into the cab... I need the short version of Yellow Jackets, these are long versions :smack: :smack: :smack: NO no no... what to do now?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Damn it! Bluesbreaker + Yellowjacket content

First, that sucks...I didn't even think about the tube height...do they even make a short YJ? Is your Bluesbreaker one of the earlier reissues...those had a shallower than normal cab because at the time you couldn't get KT66's so Marshall decided to save on wood and make the cab a bit more challow then that had in years gone by?

As for the volume drop remember, the difference between 100 watts and 50 is only 3db and you dropped from around 30 to around 18 so you didn't loose much actual volume at all, and I tried to warn you that simply putting EL84's in your amp would not make it sound like a Vox...

If they make short YJ's are you gonna try them out?

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Damn it! Bluesbreaker + Yellowjacket content

TUBE HEIGHT is a huge issue with YJ's

Keep it in mind or look into anotehr brand. THD is such a good company I would rather you call them and ask if they make a short model.

Always keep in mind with YJ's that Reverb tanks also get in the way, in regards to this same height issue.

 

[Guest]

Re: Damn it! Bluesbreaker + Yellowjacket content

Yup, the make short versions of them as well. I knew it before but I thought I could cram the longer ones in there as well (wrong I guess) I don't really know what to do at this point... As I think it didn't make it sound worse at all I'd like to run it with YJ. So many benfits after all... No bias hassling, Cheaper tubes and Less wattage. I see all those as very positive things, at least for now!

Kinda wrote it the wrong way, I feared that it was going to become voxy sounding. Thank god it didn't Because I want it to be a Marshall And I knew it wouldn't do much to the actual volume for home use... but the benefits above still stands. Easier and cheaper maintaining.

I'll see what I do. Have to get these sold first if I decide to go for a pair of the Short Versions. Damn it sucks!

 

[metallicaxlxl]

Re: Damn it! Bluesbreaker + Yellowjacket content

cant you get them replaced? or have you had them for too long?

i wanted to try yj's with my traynor. ive always wanted to know what it would sound with el-84's.

 

[Guest]

Re: Damn it! Bluesbreaker + Yellowjacket content

I can't... I bought them used you see, but I paid half the price from what they costed new. So it was quite a good deal anyway :smokin:

I'm thinking of modding the cab to fit these in.

I could drill two "holes" in the front wood part that hold the speakers (can't come up with a word right now :blackeye: ), not holes but just drill a bit into the wood to gain some space for the two Yellow Jacket/El84's. It might work as they almost fit now. If I do a clean work it should look bad either (as that matters, to me at least )... I'll look into that later today.

A question though... just for curiosity?

What would happen if I actually drilled all the way through. The holes would still be behind the grill cloth, not visible from the front. But would it affect the sound?

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Damn it! Bluesbreaker + Yellowjacket content

MAN, THAT SUCKS!!!

You know, I didn't even think about the cab issue....mine was one of the bigger box versions & I had no issues.

Yeah, they get Voxy in a class A sorta way...wait till ya' crank it out; kinda Top Boosty... but keep the Marshall vibe going, which to me is still GREAT !

HHHmmmmmm....the small "hole" option probably wouldn't affect it tonally, but getting them properly aligned might be a pain.

Is building a head box out of the question?

Maybe go to the THD Forum http://www.univalve.net/forums_new/
and see if someone wants to trade the long ones for some shorties????

On the upside, atleast you dig the tone & it's not a TOTAL loss

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Damn it! Bluesbreaker + Yellowjacket content

If done neatly, I think boring two holes throught the speaker grill would look OK, if they are lined up, etc. It won't make any difference in sound.

Just take off the grill cloth first, bore the holes, paint them black, and put the cloth back it'll be OK. BUT... does that provide enough depth? If the little tip on top of the EL84 touches grill cloth, it's going to burn or melt.

On the other hand, consider looking for another full-depth enclosure. There are plenty of small builders selling reproduction Bluesbreaker cabs out there. That would allow you to use your YJ's, the 5881's, or any KT66's or EL34's you might want to try. I don't know what YJ's cost, so it's hard to compare prices between them and a new combo cab.

Gives you a chance to rethink your choice of tolex color, too.

 

[Guest]

Re: Damn it! Bluesbreaker + Yellowjacket content

Thanks! I'll probably go with the hole drilling method then as it will provide enough depth and won't touch the speaker cloth.

I paid 85€ for a pair of YJs with included JJ tubes. A new cab costs from Tubeampdoctor.de, almost 400€... which is more than half of what the amp costs. I could of course build a new cab myself, but I don't have the time and inspiration to do that right now

I'll report back to you on how it turns out!

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Damn it! Bluesbreaker + Yellowjacket content

No option of perhaps pulling the sockets entirely up and into the chassis and laying them down in there and securing them vibration free? But then again the heat! the tube swap effort! ampmaker.com do a 18watt head cab though, and combo

 

[Guest]

Re: Damn it! Bluesbreaker + Yellowjacket content

Yey! I modded the cab with two square holes in the front yesterday. So now it fits the Yellowjackets! :banana:

I'll get some photos of it as soon as I get a camera.