EL84 Tube characteristics?

rivera213

rivera213

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Hey guys/gals,

I'm looking into buying the VHT Pitbull Super 30 amp which uses EL84 tubes in the power section.

I know the charcteristics of 6L6 & EL34 tubes but am completely ignorant of the charcteristics of EL84 tubes.

Does anyone use an amp using EL84 tubes?

The specifics i want to know are:

* Gain level
* EQ levels (are EL84's more enclined to either low, middle or high frequencies)
* Do they react well with tube OD pedals such as the Ibanez TS-808

Thanks in advance!

- Steve.
 
Re: EL84 Tube characteristics?

They're a lot middier than 6L6, and the bass is looser than an EL34. When they break up, the tone is thick and greasy, and not very glassy.
I use them in an Ampeg Jet re-issue (J12-T) , and they break up at four on the dial, and get sweeter up til 7 or 8, then go into the "edge of freakout" thing around 9 or 10.
 
Re: EL84 Tube characteristics?

power tubes don't really have "gain levels"-- those are mostly preamp tubes; and while power tubes do breakup (or overdrive) at high volumes-- that doesn't produce what you would normally associate with the sound of pre-amp gain; it just produces a more warmer, more saturated sound. EL84s, are low wattage-- so they break up sooner than both 6L6 and El34s.


They are like EL34s little kid brother in terms of EQ/tone. They basically sound like a small screaming EL34 with a rich fat midrange voice and great distortion tone.

ODs like tubescreamers are the domain of preamp.
 
Re: EL84 Tube characteristics?

Most associate the EL84 with the Vox AC30. Think Beatles, Queen, U2...ect...

It really depends on the circut, if it has a strong midrange focus or not. I find it pushed in small amps to get a kinda of ragged midrange.

It was used in the 18 watt Marshalls and that is a different sound from a Vox AC. It's still like a Marshall. In a Marshall DSL40 as another example, it is still a lot like an EL34 Marshall.
 
Re: EL84 Tube characteristics?

Thanks for the replies guys!

I've seen amps where the 50w version(s) are 6L6 or EL34 and the 25w version(s) are 6V6 or EL84.

I've also heard that you need double the EL84 tubes than EL34 tubes. I'm not sure if that's right or not but since the VHT Pitbull Super 30 uses 4 x EL84 tubes- that's the equivalent of having 2 EL34 tubes if this theory is correct?

That'd be a powerful 30w amp!

I'd probably have the volume around 3 so i doubt the low wattage would make much of a difference to me.

The EL34 sound is what i'm looking for & VHT amps are tight as hell so i think they'll be great.

Thanks for your help guys!

If you wanna make a donation to my amp fund by all means do. I currently have a Marshall MG30dfx so any help is greatly appreciated! Lol.
 
Re: EL84 Tube characteristics?

30 watts of EL84 power is not low wattage just to clear that up. In my loungeroom I can't put the volume past about 2 or 3 on the VOX without drowning out a human voice and less then halfway can cope with a heavy handed drummer.
 
Re: EL84 Tube characteristics?

James Rock said:
30 watts of EL84 power is not low wattage just to clear that up. In my loungeroom I can't put the volume past about 2 or 3 on the VOX without drowning out a human voice and less then halfway can cope with a heavy handed drummer.
Click to expand...

+1. my 18 watter (powered by a pair of EL84's) can keep with a drummer, bassist, and another guitarist.

EL84's are what EL34's babies would be like. they share about the same tonal characteristics, but EL84's are typically used for lower wattage applications.
 
Re: EL84 Tube characteristics?

Cool, 30w isn't low wattage for myself, but i think they mean compared to the 120w amps.
 
Re: EL84 Tube characteristics?

Another BIG +1....30w tube power is NOT low wattage; it'll crank !!!!

http://www.proguitar.de/AudioDemo/CompareAmps/CompareAmps.html

Check out the Matchless HC/DC-30, Vox AC-30, & some of the Dr Z clips.

A lot of the EL84 charm for me is TYPICALLY, they're:

1) LowER wattage, so you can crank it a little more & more often than a 50watter or higher without pissing the neighborhood off.

2) Cathode biased class A...they'll burn up quicker, but saturating those little beauties is where it's at.

That Pitbull Super 30 is a HOT amp...ENJOY !!!!
 
Re: EL84 Tube characteristics?

I have a 1 x 12" combo with 4 x EL84's and a Classic Lead. It's class AB, I think they're biased but I don't know much about the topic. Two channels: clean and OD. The clean channel has high headroom and three voicings: dark, bright and one that reminds me of a clean Fender. When pushed, the EL84's will make the sound shimmer like nothing else yet it remains warm with an organic feel. IMO EL84's sound best on the verge of breakup. They sound quite flabby and grainy when pushed too hard. The OD channel is that of the Diezel VH4, the tech tweaked it until it sounded nice in this combo. It has a lot of gain on tap. While it's a great sound for rock and soloing due to that organic EL84-feel, the bass is neither big or very tight so I wouldn't use it for extreme styles.

I once played on-stage using a 22W EL84 poweramp and a 2 x 12" cab and didn't have any loudness issues. On the following concert in a hall I used a 22W EL84 Mesa combo without PA. I had to really push that amp, though, it was a large gym.
 
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