Why is it that a good el84 amp is so hard to find?

F

foo3001

New member
Been wondering this for quite a while.

There´s plenty of both new and old, affordable 6l6 amps on the market.

A good el34 amp is a bit more rare, but not impossible to find.

But if You want an el84 - amp, it´s either a crap, chinese-made VOX reissue or a >2500€ boutique amp. Seems there´s nothing in between.

Now why could that be? I really like the el84, it´s IMHO the best power tube for guitar use out of the three most popular tubes. I find it really weird that the "better-than-average, not-boutique-top-dollar" amp is missing from the market completely.

Opinions?
 
Re: Why is it that a good el84 amp is so hard to find?

its not hard to find, they are just expensive as you said. matchless, bad cat, star, vox all make amazing el84 amps.

personally i think the fender blues jr is a good amp for the money but you do have a point that there is somewhat of a hole in the $700-$1500 range
 
Re: Why is it that a good el84 amp is so hard to find?

TOPHAT KING ROYALE....the AC-30 you always wanted.

......AND THEN SOME :beerchug:
 
Re: Why is it that a good el84 amp is so hard to find?

the guy who invented fire said:
Not really...let me ask, what are you looking for in the amp in question?
Click to expand...

Well.

Reliability. Not found in the cheap el84-amps.. I´ve had a few.

The full el84 sound. I´ve had an english 90´s AC30-reissue and an Orange 2x12 30watter. I didn´t like the way they sounded at all when pushed a bit. I think that´s when a good el84 amp really shines but those two didn´t deliver at all.. The Vox sounded harsh and the sustain just wasn´t there and the Orange was all upper mids and really brittle. Of course if re-tubed with NOS and changed speakers they could´ve been better but.. A friend of mine has a 3000€ handbuilt ac30 clone and it sounds brilliant with the same JJs and v30s the Vox and Orange didn´t.

Affordability. I want a good amp for <2000€. I think that´s not too much to ask.

Power. I want 30 watts.

EDIT : Oh and I forgot, If possible I´d like to get it from Europe. Would be cheaper and I don´t want to end up carrying a transformer with the amp everywhere I gig it.
 
Re: Why is it that a good el84 amp is so hard to find?

jeremy said:
. . . personally i think the fender blues jr is a good amp for the money but you do have a point that there is somewhat of a hole in the $700-$1500 range
Click to expand...


. . . so you wanna say you think i have a good amp for the price i paid ?

Everyone keep on saying (except Billm - Fender Forum dude, nice bloke) the Blues Jr. is a budget amp with no honest/true vintage Fender'ish tone, with a crap speaker, the reverb is un-usable, blah, blah, blah . . .

I like my Blues Jr. but a lot of folks say it will not hold up in na band context etc.
 
Re: Why is it that a good el84 amp is so hard to find?

Just wanted to say that even though the newer Vox AC-30 amps are printed circuit board amps, the one I had with Celestion alnico blue speakers was a fabulous sounding amp. Very heavy and very loud...but fabulous sounding.

I now have a hand wired Matchless SC-30 and love it to death...but the Vox was wonderful too.

Lew
 
Re: Why is it that a good el84 amp is so hard to find?

SirJackdeFuzz said:
. . . so you wanna say you think i have a good amp for the price i paid ?

Everyone keep on saying (except Billm - Fender Forum dude, nice bloke) the Blues Jr. is a budget amp with no honest/true vintage Fender'ish tone, with a crap speaker, the reverb is un-usable, blah, blah, blah . . .

I like my Blues Jr. but a lot of folks say it will not hold up in na band context etc.
Click to expand...

Hey the BJ is a cool amp...
And I'll tell you something... noone really needs a 100W beast anyone nowadays cause most volume is usually transported by PAs anyway when you get to the point where you'd need a 100W amp.


Regarding the original question...

Framus Ruby Riot. Looks like a hell of a nice amp.
 
Re: Why is it that a good el84 amp is so hard to find?

Laney LC-15, awesome awesome amp for very cheap. Made in UK too, not china.
 
Re: Why is it that a good el84 amp is so hard to find?

Traynor Bassmates are easily found for 300.00 Sound as good as any EL84 amp ever made.
 
Re: Why is it that a good el84 amp is so hard to find?

SirJackdeFuzz said:
Check out Celtic amps - they will not break the bank, are boutique, and are made with love . . . and PTP :smokin:
Click to expand...

Perluss Whun!

IMG_1348.jpg
 
Re: Why is it that a good el84 amp is so hard to find?

Peavey Delta Blues and classic 30 amps are EL84. The delta Blues amps in particular sound very good for the cash. I'm no peavey fan but would happily welcome a DB into my collection.

Also s/h Mesa Blue Angels are fantastic amps for less than boutique prices.
 
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