Rex Rocker
Well-known member
So... which are the EL84's with the most headroom that sound more big-bottle-like? What are the JJ 6V6S's of the EL84 world? Is it TAD EL84STR's or the Sovtek EL84M's or something else?
Thank you.
Thank you.
fusedbrain
Well-known member
Rex Rocker
Well-known member
Interesting. Thank you.
Any experience with the TAD's, Sovteks or maybe JJ's even? How would they compare?
Any experience with the TAD's, Sovteks or maybe JJ's even? How would they compare?
fusedbrain
Well-known member
Sovteks and JJ's - meh, OK for the price I guess. nothing special. Prefer the JJ's if I had to choose between these 2.
TAD - Sounded pretty good, but only lasted about 5 minutes in a fixed biased JCA22H I tried them in. YMMV but I'll pass on buying these again.
Mullard re-issue - sound great but less headroom. Not what you said you are looking for. I use these in an 18watt Plexi / TMB thing I built. Killer cruchy plexi tones for classic rock.
TS preferred series - best sounding EL84 I've tried, though the Mullard is close, but these have more headroom. Bullet proof. Using these in the JCA22H and Vox AC30. Best sounding tube I've tried in the Vox, and I want the headroom in the JCA22H. The JCA is modded into a mini SLO, and is fixed bias, so I want a tough tube that stays clean as long as possible because all the distortion is coming from the preamp. These fit the bill.
TAD - Sounded pretty good, but only lasted about 5 minutes in a fixed biased JCA22H I tried them in. YMMV but I'll pass on buying these again.
Mullard re-issue - sound great but less headroom. Not what you said you are looking for. I use these in an 18watt Plexi / TMB thing I built. Killer cruchy plexi tones for classic rock.
TS preferred series - best sounding EL84 I've tried, though the Mullard is close, but these have more headroom. Bullet proof. Using these in the JCA22H and Vox AC30. Best sounding tube I've tried in the Vox, and I want the headroom in the JCA22H. The JCA is modded into a mini SLO, and is fixed bias, so I want a tough tube that stays clean as long as possible because all the distortion is coming from the preamp. These fit the bill.
skullfxr
Well-known member
Yikes! Those cost 3x more than JJ.
I have had great success with JJ's EL84's in a lot of amps. They have always lasted a long time, and are cheap. I like the new production mullards better, but there is a price gap. Right now I have mullards in my 18w I built and love it. My dual terror loved the JJ's. An old JCA22 loved the JJ's too. I modded the heck out of that one though.
It is a cost to benefit differential for me.
I have had great success with JJ's EL84's in a lot of amps. They have always lasted a long time, and are cheap. I like the new production mullards better, but there is a price gap. Right now I have mullards in my 18w I built and love it. My dual terror loved the JJ's. An old JCA22 loved the JJ's too. I modded the heck out of that one though.
It is a cost to benefit differential for me.
Rex Rocker
Well-known member
Alright, thanks for the replies, dudes!
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