EL84 recommendations?
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
EL84 recommendations?
Looking to retube my Peavey Delta Blues 1-15.. obviously, I'm looking for late breakup.
It came to me with Mesa branded tubes that I like the sound of, and would buy again, but they're $50 a pair.. and I need 4! I've had too many failures with JJ's, so, not interested in those.
Anyone using a quad EL84 amp that they like the sound of? TIA!
It came to me with Mesa branded tubes that I like the sound of, and would buy again, but they're $50 a pair.. and I need 4! I've had too many failures with JJ's, so, not interested in those.
Anyone using a quad EL84 amp that they like the sound of? TIA!
- Mike Auman
- Posts: 268
- Joined: 16 Apr 2020 8:36 pm
- Location: North Texas, USA
I know you said you had trouble with JJ, but I have a dual EL84 amp (Maven Peal Zeeta) and when I needed to re-tube I talked to the guy that designed it (Dave Zimmerman) and of all the options, he recommended a matched set of JJ tubes from Tubes and More/Antique Electronic Supply. I've been very happy with those. A set of 4 will run you in the $50 range, or burned-in for $5 more. But if you want other brands, they have a good range that they'll match and burn in, they use Apex matching, https://www.apexmatching.com/ .They're at https://www.tubesandmore.com Mike
Long-time guitar player now working on lap steel.
- Mark Draycott
- Posts: 129
- Joined: 13 Jun 2012 4:29 pm
- Location: Princeton, Ontario, Canada
El84
I have had good luck with the Russian 6P14P-EV.
They have a tighter feel and later breakup. They work very well for me. I have read that they are very robust and will last.
They have a tighter feel and later breakup. They work very well for me. I have read that they are very robust and will last.
1976 Sho-Bud Pro II, 1976 Sho-Bud LDG, BF Fender Deluxe, Evans FET 500 LV, BF Princeton Reverb, '68 Vibrolux Reverb
-
- Posts: 249
- Joined: 16 Apr 2017 7:43 am
- Location: Lemoore, CA
@Mike: JJ seems to have a solid reputation, but after having failures with the 6L6's (catastrophic) and EL84's (noisy at idle), I lost confidence in the brand... I wish they had worked for me, considering their cost and availability..
@Mark and Aaron: I see that tube with many suffixes..K, M, ER, EV, no suffix.. where do you get yours? I see the Reflektor factory has their own site, too.
Thanks!
@Mark and Aaron: I see that tube with many suffixes..K, M, ER, EV, no suffix.. where do you get yours? I see the Reflektor factory has their own site, too.
Thanks!
- Ken Metcalf
- Posts: 3575
- Joined: 21 Oct 2005 12:01 am
- Location: San Antonio Texas USA
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 328
- Joined: 3 Apr 2020 1:05 pm
- Location: Colorado, USA
-
- Posts: 249
- Joined: 16 Apr 2017 7:43 am
- Location: Lemoore, CA
Re: El84
I had a Drz Z with el84s, I fixed the problem of them red plating by changing to Russian 500v military grade tubes. Seems, and I may not have the terminology correct, that the Dr Z was supplying/drawing 300v to the tubes, which is what the JJ were rated at so, any tube that was below spec would red plate when driven.Mark Draycott wrote:I have had good luck with the Russian 6P14P-EV.
They have a tighter feel and later breakup. They work very well for me. I have read that they are very robust and will last.
-
- Posts: 304
- Joined: 4 May 2011 11:54 am
- Location: New Hampshire, USA
EL84 Tubes
Try this site:
https://www.thetubestore.com/power-tube ... tube-types
The "preferred" series is very good, but might be more $. I've also had good results with the Tong Sol they sell.
There is a lot of good info on this site as well.
JD
https://www.thetubestore.com/power-tube ... tube-types
The "preferred" series is very good, but might be more $. I've also had good results with the Tong Sol they sell.
There is a lot of good info on this site as well.
JD