Let's talk EL84's

[CTN]

I have a Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 18 which is an EL84 amp. But it's quite unlike what most people imagine when "EL84 amp" is mentioned. For the most part, it's a hard rock/metal amp.

Coming from having a big american 6L6 powered Soldano-esque amp (Jet Ctiy 100H), downsizing to this lil dinky EL84er, while it does satisfy my needs for gain, I find it lacking in bigness, growl, warmth, and silky clean tones.

Kinda wondering what my options are in terms of getting a slightly different feel, hopefully more warmth from an EL84/7189/6BQ5/6P14P.
I've read that the TAD EL84-STR is somewhat closer to a 6V6 than a typical EL84. What's that mean? Would that be up my alley?

I guess what I'm looking for is a tube that'll fit (mechanically and electrically) into my amp but that sounds a bit closer to the 6L6's I'm more used to.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Let's talk EL84's

Nothing sounds like big bottles, except big bottles.

I have been down the tube go around with mine. Conclusion: fantastic amp that does not do the one sound I absolutely need. I hav e not decided yet whether to sell it or see how it does as a pedal platform.

Mullard RI 84s will smooth the amps power section/distortion out, but it lost some mids and lows compared to the JJ 84s.

Preamp tubes have made massive differences too. If you want bigger thicker tones, put something like amullard ri ecc83 or jj 83s in V2, and a svetlana, tungsol, or ShugangB in V1 to keep things from turning to mud.

But, you will never get it anywhere remotely close to sounding like a 6l6 powered amp..or el34, or KT66, etc.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Let's talk EL84's

Thats one thing that I like alot about the Tubemiesters is that they dont sound as what Ive come to expect from el 84 equipped amps.

JeffB, you should check out the Grandmiester they are coming out with. MOAR GAYNE!! and Gain is good!!

 

[glassman]

Re: Let's talk EL84's

Quite a few of my metal players run a sonic maximizer or a sonic stomp in their effects loop and leave it on all the time. The effect is similar to what you're looking for. For the most part they all play higher powered amps and the SM gives them more beef at stage appropriate volumes. I have no idea if it would work on your amp but, in theory, it should help.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Let's talk EL84's

Ive always been curious about the sonic max's. Ive heard such mixed feeling on them online.