SICK SICK SICK of El84s

[Snake Aces]

Re: SICK SICK SICK of El84s

If you guys honestly think different tubes dont sound different when pushed then you all are tone deaf, sorry...why bother with different pickups, speakers, pedals or strings? They all sound pretty much the same, right?

Even in the exact same circuit, like an Avatar 18w, there is a marked difference in the sound of the 6v6 and el84 version. Or old 800 series Marshalls with 6550 vs. El34s.

I definitely know and have heard the difference between different tubes. However, when a certain amp sounds bad with one kind of tube but that same exact set of tubes goes into another amp and it sounds amazing then there is an example where the circuits might have helped (or hurt) the opinion.

In your case specifically though, you have great EL84 amps so the problem is not the circuit. The problem is there is no problem, you just do not like the way EL84's sound. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[JeffB]

Re: SICK SICK SICK of El84s

you just do not like the way EL84's sound. Nothing wrong with that.

I thought that was what I was saying in my first post

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: SICK SICK SICK of El84s

a buddy of mines has a uber rare el84 60's Fender Blonde , forget if its a bassman or waht, but my guess is you wouldn't mind that one so much.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SICK SICK SICK of El84s

My Blue Angel uses EL84s and 6v6s, which you can use alone or separately. I like the 6v6s more, or at higher volumes, the combined sound. I like the lower mid thing the 6v6s have. These are with the stock Mesa tubes. I did switch them out once for JJs, but after a few gigs, hated them.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: SICK SICK SICK of El84s

If you guys honestly think different tubes dont sound different when pushed then you all are tone deaf, sorry...why bother with different pickups, speakers, pedals or strings? They all sound pretty much the same, right?

Even in the exact same circuit, like an Avatar 18w, there is a marked difference in the sound of the 6v6 and el84 version. Or old 800 series Marshalls with 6550 vs. El34s.

I'm not saying 'different tubes sound the same'. I'm saying 'not all EL84 amps sound the same way', much in the same way how certain pickups don't sound the same way in every guitar, or how certain speakers don't sound the same way in every cabinet. The problem is when people say 'EL84s can't sound big' - that's just straight up BS.

As for the Avatar 18w, if you can truly get the same exact circuit (including the power amp's circuit - except the type of tube), there's no way the circuit is truly optimized for both types of tubes, because then the circuit is a compromise.

 

[JeffB]

Re: SICK SICK SICK of El84s

Yawn.

I have spent an hour listening to a jacked up budda 30 through their 4x12. Widely considered the biggest baddest sounding el84 amp around. It still sounds like 84s.

My guitar mentor owned a handful of vintage vox amps. I played his vintage ac30 on many occasions. It still sounds like el84s.

I had a mesa studio 22 w/ dynawatt power..it still sounds like l84s.

Im not going to get into an internet argument about "how big is big?" (go ask 10 women and you will get 12 different answers) or spend pages defending my opinion. Please anyone else feel free to start a new thread if need be. Theres another evh thread in the pickup forum too if anyone feels particularly angsty.

Everyone who gave me recco's for tubes (the question I actually asked), Thanks :bigthumb: