Yellowjackets and Substi-tubes

[reverendfrankie]

Hello gang. I'm considering one of these two for my Traynor YCV40. I've retubed it courtesy of Doug's Tubes and KCA (2 thumbs up!) and swap back and forth between and Eminence Cannibis Rex and Red Fang.

1. Aside from the South Valley Vintage Amps comparo - has anyone else had experience with both? I'm looking to lower overall volume, and break into smooth crunch a little more gradually. Mike and Doug have already made tube suggestions that I plan to follow up.

2. Regarding YellowJackets - they sell 2 model variations. The one they advertize turns an el84 into a triode. I assume this means that it somehow bypasses the suppressor grid and beam control grid (I think I'm guessing correctly) - how would this lower the gain of the tube?

thanks for reading - hopin' you can enlighten
Frank

[reverendfrankie]

Bump - anyone?
Frankie;)

[teleman55]

I tried the GT version in my Pro Reverb....nice, chimey,...AC-30 like. But, I've got an EL84 amp and missed the 6L6 thump out of the Pro so I don't use 'em much. Maybe it's time to get them out again.

[reverendfrankie]

Thanks Teleman - I've also observed that people consider them well constructed.
Did they bring you part of the way to an EL84 sound?

Did they lower the volume noticeably?

Did you get earlier breakup?

Thanks for your time and answers,
Frank

I'm on what my wife considers and endless tonequest (she's right!) and ultimately would like to own Traynors' limited run 15 watt EL84 amp.

[teleman55]

Rev...
1. Yes. They don't turn the Fender into an AC-30 but they do head in that direction. Let me put it another way. My main amps are the '70 Pro and a Crate V-32 Palomino with 4 EL84's. My wife says the Pro (with it's normal 6L6's) croons and the Crate chimes. When I put the substitubes in the Pro she said it chimed. One of my kids (he's a drummer) said it had a "Beatles" sound.
2. It lowers the volume, but doesn't turn 40W with 2 12's into a bedroom amp.
3. You get breakup at a lower volume because of less overall power but I can't really say earlier. It's actually a smoother breakup, if that means anything...hard to describe.
There is no biasing involved. Try 'em.

[reverendfrankie]

Teleman - thanks a ton. Those are exactly the answers I was looking for. Now I just have to convince my wife that we should up my 'tone' budget. I just finished putting in a tube order with Mike @ KCA and my beloved thinks that should hold me for awhile:rolleyes:

Does your wife's appreciation of your tone make her more agreeable to spending money on tone?
Maybe I should change my song selection:rotflmao

[rkymtnhi]

I've used yellow jackets for a few years in my DRRI. The tone changes significantly. The el-84s sounded more chimey and alive compared to the EH 6v6s that were in the DRRI. It helped it sound more class-a'ish, but not quite all the way there. It did help me figure out that I really like el-84s and now I own 2 el-84 amps (Orange AD30HTC and Hayseed 30) and am plannin g on selling the DRRI. Try them out--for a few bucks you'll get a different sounding amp. You can't go wrong...

[reverendfrankie]

Thanks Rkymtnhi - the general consensus seems to be 'it's an inexpensive, reversible mod that makes an interesting and noticeable change'.
I'll give it a whirl as soon as my sweetheart gives me the 'spend money' now sign:AOK