Talk EL84's with me guys!

[Guest]

Okay, I've been thinking about picking up a pair of used Yellow Jackets to use with my Bluesbreaker... at least try and see how it sounds.

You know the Yellow Jackets means chaning to EL84's and Class A operation, in other words more Voxy. But I want to try even though it will change the tone.

I don't have much experience with EL84 tubes. I know it will cut the bass a little, but that's no problem since this amp has tons of bass. It's going to be more "jangly" (at least from what I've read). Which EL84 tube would YOU recommend that changes the sound to as little "Voxy" as possible?

I have a set of TAD EL84-Cz in my Pro Junior though, I like em in there. Tube Amp Doctors description "The EL84-Cz is the most powerful EL84 tube we ever heard. Big tone and very dynamic. Our recommendation, when best tone is what you're looking for."

What would be your EL84 suggestion?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Talk EL84's with me guys!

same tube, I love them!

Just got a fresh pair into my Vox clone amp...and it drives a 15" speaker

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Talk EL84's with me guys!

If you get the YellowJackets new, they come with GT EL84s.

GT has a numbering system for their tubes going from clean to dirty (I don't recall which number is cleanest/dirtiest).

The ones I have aren't horrific...I've also used Sovteks, which are pretty crunchy, JJs aren't bad, Ei's sound nice but for some reason, they don't last very long.

FWIW, I had a Bluesbreaker & the YJs/EL84 combo was very nice in it. The volume drop allowed you to crank it, OD'd nice & fat...I think you'll like it :bigok:

AND...on a side note: how do you like those TADs?
I'm looking for some new ones to throw in my Tophat.

 

[Guest]

Re: Talk EL84's with me guys!

Great news Pluckboy! Now I feel even more confident to get a pair of them

I just waited for Rid to tell me to get the religious tube... the EL84-Cz

Might actually be that I go with those. I really like them in my PJ Pluckboy... I think "big tone" describes it quite well! Well worth checking them out imo... obviously alot better than the Sovteks that sat in the PJ before

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Talk EL84's with me guys!

According to the THD site:

How do they work?
They give you simple Class-A operation from any amp.Yellow Jacket® Converters not only rearrange the pin locations of the tubes, but also provide the necessary current limiting on the screens and cathode as well as blocking the amplifier's grid bias voltage, while configuring the EL84 in a Class-A, Self-adjusiting cathode-bias circuit. In other words, there are no adjustments to make and no modifications necesary, you simply plug the Yellow Jackets® into the amp's output tube sockets, (in cathode-bias amplifiers) screw the ground wires under one of the output tube socket mounting screws, plug the provided EL84's into the Yellow Jackets®, turn on the amp and play.

How will they change my amplifier?
It's like getting a whole new amplifier! In Champ and Deluxe type amplifiers, the Yellow Jackets® output is smooth, strong and more even than with the stock 6V6s. When the Yellow jackets® Converters are installed inlarger amplifiers intended for 6L6s or EL34 output tubes, the high plate and screen voltages are reduced as well as current limited to protect the EL84 and to drop output power. When a pair of Yellow Jackets® are used in a Marshall 50 watt or similar amplifier, the overall power drops to about 20 watts and takes on more of the character of an old Vox AC30. The distortion is smoother and more even and the output is both substantially reduced and more compressed due to the Class-A nature of the Yellow Jackets®. In a 100 watt amp like a Twin Reverb or Marshall 100, either two or four Yellow Jackets® can be used. If only two are used and the other two sockets are left empy, the output is dropped to about 20 watts. With four in place, the amp puts out about 40 watts and takes on a whole new warmth and richness.

:fing25: