EL 84 recommendations

[Andrew W]

Hello BKP hivemind.  I think the time has come to swap out the EL 84 in my Cornell Plexi Seven.  I'm utterly clueless in what to go for as I've never had an amp with EL84s in before.  Looking at this thread it appears that Hotrox is the favoured UK based supplier so I guess I'll go there unless anyone has a particular favourite from somewhere else.  But the question is which one to get?  The amp only has one power valve so I don't need to worry about matched pairs and as I only need one I don't mind spending a little but I could use some advice from the wise heads here on what's hot and what's not?  Thanks a million in advance.

[Elliot]

My view is that as EL84s only last about 1 year, its pointless getting NOS ones unless your a) rich or b) can get them cheap.

Of the one's i've used in my Blues Junior (which is about to be converted to a 6V6):

Groove Tubes - Stock in Fenders, not good, not bad.
EH - I used them for a couple of changes and found them to be nice.
Harma - Rebranded from somewhere east European, didn't really shine
TAD - Junk deluxe, avoid
JJs - Personally didn't like them as they were a bit dark, but most people rate them, so maybe I got a bad pair.
New Sensor 'Mullard' from Ebay USA - I use inverted commas because they are nothing like real Mullards but my favourite EL84s - they add a presence the others miss.

[hermetico]

According to the tube store, the best currently produced ones are the Gold Lion (I've got a pair but, still not tested).
New production Mullard are also very well rated.
And some named Telam & Polam (never seen).

EH are well balanced, a good compromisse.

Sovtek are plain, have a flat bottle and are prone to microphonics but, they work awesome in Blues Jr.

JJ are dark, womans' tone, very prone to microphonics.

TAD EL84M are sterile but, reliable as a tank, encellent to fix microphonic issues, no tone there.

TAD EL84-STR a radical EL84, hate or love. Deep bass, high trebles, strident mids, big bottle!.

So, I'd go for Gold Lion, Mullard and EH and check what I like more.

[Twinfan]

I'm liking Gold Lion KT-66s at the mo, so maybe their EL84s could be worth a try?

Twice the price of JJs though.....

[martinw]

JJ are dark, womans' tone, very prone to microphonics.

Where are you getting this nonsense from? :)

[Pete24v]

I have JJ EL84s in my LC15, they sound great, much better than the original 14yr old sovteks that came out

[hermetico]

JJ are dark, womans' tone, very prone to microphonics.

Where are you getting this nonsense from? :)

I mentioned it, dude. The Tube store.

And I agree, JJ are dark in already dark amps. Maybe they work better in some kind of fenderish amp.
Microphonics is more noticiable in combos, not in heads.
What makes no sense to you?

Not every valve will work in every amp, as it's well known. Sometimes, cheaper can work better than expensivier. Each amp is a world.

[martinw]

My experience (my actual experience) differs from what you said, that's all. I've used a lot of JJ EL84s, in both my own combos and replacements in loads of Blues Juniors and the like, with no problems with microphonics, and I don't find them dark at all.

The Tube Store actually said:
"With the JJ EL84 tube you seem to get a compromise between tone and reliability. Nice mids, sparkling highs and solid bottom end characterize this tube. From a construction standpoint I think JJ has hit the mark. As with any EL84 tube they can be prone to mechanical noise in combo amps. However, they seem to take the heat and vibration in stride without any negative tonal effects. In the AC30 the JJ EL84 tube will really deliver the VOX chime with lots of swirl and shimmery harmonic content. In the little Pro Junior just crank it up and you get a great, nasty, overdriven sound."

[hermetico]

My experience (my actual experience) differs from what you said, that's all. I've used a lot of JJ EL84s, in both my own combos and replacements in loads of Blues Juniors and the like, with no problems with microphonics, and I don't find them dark at all.

The Tube Store actually said:
"With the JJ EL84 tube you seem to get a compromise between tone and reliability. Nice mids, sparkling highs and solid bottom end characterize this tube. From a construction standpoint I think JJ has hit the mark. As with any EL84 tube they can be prone to mechanical noise in combo amps. However, they seem to take the heat and vibration in stride without any negative tonal effects. In the AC30 the JJ EL84 tube will really deliver the VOX chime with lots of swirl and shimmery harmonic content. In the little Pro Junior just crank it up and you get a great, nasty, overdriven sound."

Thanks for the complete quote and, fortunatelly it works in all your amps and helps your tone. Nothing wrong.

[jpfamps]

According to the tube store...

Not sure a valve vendour's website is the best source of impartial advice. And surprise, surprise they claim the most expensive valve is the best!

I  use two types of EL84s for revalving amps: JJs and Sovtek.

Although I prefer the sound of the JJs, I actually really like the cheaper Sovtek valves as well and they have proved very reliable.

The JJs tend to draw more current than the Sovteks, which can be problematic in some amps, so it is useful for me to have some of both.

The Sovteks have a larger diameter than most EL84s, which means they won't fit in some amps, eg the Marshall DSL401.

My expereinces with EH EL84s hasn't been that stellar.

[Andrew W]

Thanks everyone.  I've made a few choices and ordered a couple, just to see if I can hear the differences.  I'll post when I've received them and had a play.

[hermetico]

According to the tube store...

Not sure a valve vendour's website is the best source of impartial advice. And surprise, surprise they claim the most expensive valve is the best!

I  use two types of EL84s for revalving amps: JJs and Sovtek.

Although I prefer the sound of the JJs, I actually really like the cheaper Sovtek valves as well and they have proved very reliable.

The JJs tend to draw more current than the Sovteks, which can be problematic in some amps, so it is useful for me to have some of both.

The Sovteks have a larger diameter than most EL84s, which means they won't fit in some amps, eg the Marshall DSL401.

My expereinces with EH EL84s hasn't been that stellar.

I already explained my own experience, throwing more expensive valves in a Blues Jr. and finding that, at the end it sounded better to all us (not only me but the mixing engeneer) with a pair of Sovtek.
Maybe, the matching number have a definitive roll there (early break up, gain, etc). The truth is that I didn't take note of the different matching numbers.

Anyway, I prefere the advice of a vendor that DOESN'T RELABELS to those from people that re-labels and has make-to-order special productions. In the oposite way, amp builders (big brands) usually mount the more reliable and affordable ones. Surprise, surprise.

I am not trying to say that something is better or worst. I know what works for my amps and my taste. Nothing else.
I only wanted to give some tips to the original requester. It's hard to go for a tube without having ever experienced the swapping dance in that particular amp and, it's a very expensive thing to test all them.

[hermetico]

I  use two types of EL84s for revalving amps: JJs and Sovtek.

Although I prefer the sound of the JJs, I actually really like the cheaper Sovtek valves as well and they have proved very reliable.

The JJs tend to draw more current than the Sovteks, which can be problematic in some amps, so it is useful for me to have some of both.

The Sovteks have a larger diameter than most EL84s, which means they won't fit in some amps, eg the Marshall DSL401.

My expereinces with EH EL84s hasn't been that stellar.

Thanks to share that info.
Just curious, did you ever try the Gold Lion and the Mullard re-issue?
I am curious about your findings. I would try those in two weeks more or less (no time by now).

[Tellboy]

I've tried a few different EL84s in my Cornfords but surprisingly have ended up with Sovteks. Like JPF I have found they are very reliable.

[jpfamps]

I  use two types of EL84s for revalving amps: JJs and Sovtek.

Although I prefer the sound of the JJs, I actually really like the cheaper Sovtek valves as well and they have proved very reliable.

The JJs tend to draw more current than the Sovteks, which can be problematic in some amps, so it is useful for me to have some of both.

The Sovteks have a larger diameter than most EL84s, which means they won't fit in some amps, eg the Marshall DSL401.

My expereinces with EH EL84s hasn't been that stellar.

Thanks to share that info.
Just curious, did you ever try the Gold Lion and the Mullard re-issue?
I am curious about your findings. I would try those in two weeks more or less (no time by now).

I haven't tried either Gold Lion or Mullard "reissues".

I don't own any EL84 loaded amps, so I've not been motivated to try out differnent brands for my personal use.

I run a repair workshop and most customers don't want to spend £20 on an EL84.

Also I  order 50-100 pieces at a time, so I need to be confident that the valves I am buying will be reliable, which is why I've stuck with Sovtek and JJ valves after a brief flirtation with EH.

Furthermore getting large amounts of Mullards in the UK is problematic.

In fact if it wasn't for the issues with the diameter of the glass enevlope I would probably just stock Sovteks.