El-34 and EL-84

[Kane17]

What are the differences in these tonally?

I just got a Valve Jr and am curious. Are they by chance inter-changeable?


If not, are there any other tubes that can be swapped with the EL-84. I'm just trying to get an understanding of what I have and how it compares to types of tubes that are available.

Thanks

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: El-34 and EL-84

EL34, think Marshall

EL84, think Vox, Crate, Peavey.....

They aren't interchangeable. Dave Hunter's book "The Guitar Amp Handbook" describes their sound really nicely. I don;t have the book with me right now, or I'd quote it for you.

 

[jmh151]

Re: El-34 and EL-84

You canput EL-84'a in an EL-34 amp with THD Yellowjacets. It lowers the wattage by half, and give the amp a spongier tone

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: El-34 and EL-84

You canput EL-84'a in an EL-34 amp with THD Yellowjacets. It lowers the wattage by half, and give the amp a spongier tone

Thanks. I forgot all about those little guys. I was thinking of a straight replacement w/o doing any modification.

 

[claytonc]

Re: El-34 and EL-84

Yellow Jackets only work if using EL84's in an EL34 amp. It's a one way street there.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: El-34 and EL-84

EL-34's have 8 pins. EL-84's have nine pins. Different sockets.

Also, EL-34's have unusual internal wiring even for octal tubes. Unless the socket is specifically wired for an EL-34, they won't work properly. There are two elements in the tube that are typically tied together internally, but have separate pin-outs in the EL-34.

In addition, an EL-34 draws a crapload more current than an EL-84, both at the plate and for the heaters. Another good reason that you may be able to go "down" but not "up" (power transformer may not be able to handle the current).

Chip

 

[Kane17]

Re: El-34 and EL-84

Ok,

What about different brands of tubes, Are they significantly different?


I don't even know what the stock tube is and I'm not a fan of fixing things that aren't broken, again I'm just curious about how the sound I have compares to that which is available.

Anybody know what these little dogs come with or should I just pop open the hood?

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: El-34 and EL-84

Hey Kane -

There is a massive thread over on the 18watt.com bulletin board about modding/gutting/morphing Valve Jrs. You should be able to find virtually anything you want there.

As far as brands of EL-84's, do a search here, in the Archives here, on 18watt.com and on the Trinity Amps forum. Should be easy to find info.

FWIW the JJ's are very popular, Electro Harmonix not so much (they're ok in my book), and I really like the Ei EL-84's - nice smooth breakup and the high end isn't too sharp/brittle. (Describing tubes is like trying to tell a blind man about a sunset.)

HTH

Chip