EL84s Are there any you like best?
- Thread starter B Bent
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Fresh_Start
New member
Re: EL84s Are there any you like best?
Here's a thread from the 18-Watt forum's "Tube Talk" about EL-84's: http://www.18watt.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=9871&highlight=el84 (Please keep in mind some of these guys appear to have unlimited budgets and strong opinions
) There are more threads where this one came from.
I just got an order including JJ and Ei EL-84's in, but am experimenting with the 12AX7 preamp tubes first. Have EH's in the Blues Jr. now, and they were a big improvement over the Sovtek OEM tubes.
Here's a thread from the 18-Watt forum's "Tube Talk" about EL-84's: http://www.18watt.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=9871&highlight=el84 (Please keep in mind some of these guys appear to have unlimited budgets and strong opinions
) There are more threads where this one came from.I just got an order including JJ and Ei EL-84's in, but am experimenting with the 12AX7 preamp tubes first. Have EH's in the Blues Jr. now, and they were a big improvement over the Sovtek OEM tubes.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: EL84s Are there any you like best?
I'd just go with JJ's. They sound nice and full and don't cost that much.
My recent aquisition...a Gibson Goldtone 30RVS uses 4 EL-84's, and I immediately replaced the Ruby Tubes with JJ's, and the bottom end tightened up a bit. I've always been overjoyed with JJ power tubes, and use them in all my EL-34 amps. Even compared to more expensive esoteric tubes, they sound as good and often better.
I'd just go with JJ's. They sound nice and full and don't cost that much.
My recent aquisition...a Gibson Goldtone 30RVS uses 4 EL-84's, and I immediately replaced the Ruby Tubes with JJ's, and the bottom end tightened up a bit. I've always been overjoyed with JJ power tubes, and use them in all my EL-34 amps. Even compared to more expensive esoteric tubes, they sound as good and often better.
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: EL84s Are there any you like best?
I REALLY like the Ei's with my 18 watt, very musical with great breakup. A close second would be the TAD's which have a solid warm tone, but more headroom than the Ei's. JJ's are good tubes, but I found that they were just.....blaa in comparison to the Ei and TAD. **All three were tried in the same amp, so what works with this amp may not be the case with others**
I REALLY like the Ei's with my 18 watt, very musical with great breakup. A close second would be the TAD's which have a solid warm tone, but more headroom than the Ei's. JJ's are good tubes, but I found that they were just.....blaa in comparison to the Ei and TAD. **All three were tried in the same amp, so what works with this amp may not be the case with others**
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JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: EL84s Are there any you like best?
LOL, I know....I was suprised at how good the Ei's sounded! After the experience I had with their crappy 12ax7's, I figured that the 84's would be similar....not at all.
Luke Duke said:
LOL, I know....I was suprised at how good the Ei's sounded! After the experience I had with their crappy 12ax7's, I figured that the 84's would be similar....not at all.
B Bent
Vibroluxologist
Re: EL84s Are there any you like best?
The Z currently has JJs. I have no idea how old, but it sounds pretty darn good. I have some Tung-Sols coming for the 12AX7s and I just put a NOS 12AT7 in reverb. As cheap as EL84s are I might just buy several pairs and try them all and have a few spare sets.
The Z currently has JJs. I have no idea how old, but it sounds pretty darn good. I have some Tung-Sols coming for the 12AX7s and I just put a NOS 12AT7 in reverb. As cheap as EL84s are I might just buy several pairs and try them all and have a few spare sets.
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: EL84s Are there any you like best?
That's a good idea.....basically what I did. I'm pretty happy with the new production and haven't really considered NOS, especially for power tubes.
B Bent said:
That's a good idea.....basically what I did. I'm pretty happy with the new production and haven't really considered NOS, especially for power tubes.
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: EL84s Are there any you like best?
JJ's are the standard for EL-84s, I've been happy with multiple amps I've tried them in (at this point, I swear by them). Ironically enough, I'm not a huge fan of JJ's preamp tubes.
JJ's are the standard for EL-84s, I've been happy with multiple amps I've tried them in (at this point, I swear by them). Ironically enough, I'm not a huge fan of JJ's preamp tubes.
Fresh_Start
New member
Re: EL84s Are there any you like best?
That's exactly what I did - figuring whichever pair I like best, the other set will always be around for backups.
The Tung Sol 12AX7 seems pretty hot and breaks up quickly. Not much clean headroom, but nice raunchy distortion. Seems louder than any of the others I'm cycling through.
Chip
B Bent said:
That's exactly what I did - figuring whichever pair I like best, the other set will always be around for backups.
The Tung Sol 12AX7 seems pretty hot and breaks up quickly. Not much clean headroom, but nice raunchy distortion. Seems louder than any of the others I'm cycling through.
Chip
wixedmords
New member
Re: EL84s Are there any you like best?
Another JJ fan here. EH EL84's are good too.
It really is hard to beat the JJ EL84. But, if you amp is a little bit dark, which very few EL84 amps are, then it will be a bit darker, only a bit though.
Another JJ fan here. EH EL84's are good too.
It really is hard to beat the JJ EL84. But, if you amp is a little bit dark, which very few EL84 amps are, then it will be a bit darker, only a bit though.
Christobevii3
New member
Re: EL84s Are there any you like best?
What tubes would you recommend me in my Crate v3112T? I've always kinda thought the overdrive channel sounds kinda thin and thinking maybe the tubes could help, maybe a little higher gain ones?
Thanks
What tubes would you recommend me in my Crate v3112T? I've always kinda thought the overdrive channel sounds kinda thin and thinking maybe the tubes could help, maybe a little higher gain ones?
Thanks
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: EL84s Are there any you like best?
I really love the Gibson Goldtone 30RVS 2-12 combo I got a few weeks ago. It's hard for me to grasp why Gibson discontinued them, because they sound great with Gibsons, especially my LP w/Seths. It's also extremely nice sounding with the strats. It has 2 gain levels, so essentially it's a channel switching amp with a switch. It'll get Petty to Joe Perry tones, and the reverb is just as good as Fender spring reverb. I like the tone of British breakup more than Fender breakup, so the amp suits me fine. The only thing I might do is remove the tube retainer springs, so I don't hear them when playing the amp loud.
I put in JJ EL-84s, and GT mullard copy 12AX7M's in it. The amp rocks and has shimmering cleans.
Luke Duke said:
I really love the Gibson Goldtone 30RVS 2-12 combo I got a few weeks ago. It's hard for me to grasp why Gibson discontinued them, because they sound great with Gibsons, especially my LP w/Seths. It's also extremely nice sounding with the strats. It has 2 gain levels, so essentially it's a channel switching amp with a switch. It'll get Petty to Joe Perry tones, and the reverb is just as good as Fender spring reverb. I like the tone of British breakup more than Fender breakup, so the amp suits me fine. The only thing I might do is remove the tube retainer springs, so I don't hear them when playing the amp loud.
I put in JJ EL-84s, and GT mullard copy 12AX7M's in it. The amp rocks and has shimmering cleans.
