Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: rzenc on April 24, 2013, 12:37:36 pm

Title: EL84 new production
Post by: rzenc on April 24, 2013, 12:37:36 pm

Hi gents!

I would like to know what you guys think about the new production EL84 tubes - what you prefer and if possible why :wink:.

Thanks in advance!

Best Regards

R.

Title: Re: EL84 new production
Post by: thermion on April 24, 2013, 04:05:24 pm

Sovtek...good value.

Title: Re: EL84 new production
Post by: plexi50 on April 24, 2013, 06:46:53 pm

I like the Sovteks too. I have one too many JJ bite the plate

Title: Re: EL84 new production
Post by: phsyconoodler on April 24, 2013, 07:35:58 pm

TAD's , Preferred Series from The Tube Store(they are awesome). Mullards cause hey break up really early(new mullard's)

 Sovteks are fine too,but they don't sound as good as the others I mentioned.EH are fine IMHO.

Title: Re: EL84 new production
Post by: HotBluePlates on April 25, 2013, 06:56:00 am

Quote from: phsyconoodler on April 24, 2013, 07:35:58 pm

TAD's , Preferred Series from The Tube Store(they are awesome).

If both of those are "house brands" for a retailer, I'd assume they are taking some other company's product and relabeling. So what are you noticing that is different about those retailers' tubes?

Title: Re: EL84 new production
Post by: rzenc on April 25, 2013, 09:05:44 am

Thanks for the answers guys!

The amp has JJ-EL84 but I don't have any in stock.

Do you have exp with gold lion N709/EL84? Or SOvtek EL84M?

TIA

Best Regards

R.

Title: Re: EL84 new production
Post by: phsyconoodler on April 25, 2013, 02:55:34 pm

I used the preferred series EL84's in a vox AC30 and the tone was leaps and bounds better than a new set of Sovteks.They are lasting a long time too.
  The 12AX7's I used in a recent D style build and they had all the tone that my NOS tubes have and they are dead quiet microphonically.
  I really like them,plus the extended 6 month warranty is nice too.

Title: Re: EL84 new production
Post by: jojokeo on April 25, 2013, 10:38:39 pm

I don't think JJ's are acutally "bad" but I have to say I've blown one before and had one or two make the random odd buzz noise or rather a distorted tone that suddenly drops away on a long sustain in a quiet room. It depends on how picky you are or if recording for some of those things but jamming w/ others or in a gig environment you wouldn't hear/notice those subtle things. Mullards have a more mellow tone and Sovteks are pretty standard - very heavy duty to take a lot of abuse playing wise and good tolerance with higher than normal voltages. Long ago a few various TAD tubes left me flat sound-wise for what was paid and I've never warmed back up to them since. I haven't used what was described by phsyco so in all fairness I have no opinion on those.